I'M BACK!

I've made it through year twelve and Schoolies, a long summer and my first five weeks of uni... and now I've made it back on to the front page of the Footy Almanac! I actually quite like this piece that I have written- my penmanship skills may be a little rusty but I'm awfully proud of what I've produced.

Would love it if you gave it a read-

http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/round-2-essendon-v-hawthorn-grant-denyer-lifeless-hawks-and-kittens/

...Brendan Whitecross deserves better luck

Two ACLs in two years. That's devastating


http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/watching-success-from-the-bench/

...we're half arsed come half way

I do not seriously believe any of my offered opinions.


http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/season-2013-down-and-out/

...it's heart over head

To dedicate my time to exam study or footy, it was a tough afternoon...

http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/afl-round-9-hawthorn-v-gold-coast-suns-swoop-on-hawks/

...Hello America!

Bruce Berglund, host of 'New Books in Sports', had a chat with me regarding my interest in sports and writing (I'm around the 1 hour, 42 min mark).

http://newbooksinsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nbs-summer-seminar-sports-books-for-children/


As always, the Footy Almanac has been extremely supportive, with a small write-up featured on the website.

http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/us-podcast-shines-spotlight-on-the-footy-almanac/

...Mick Malthouse is a genius

Christi and Mick Malthouse are not your typical father and daughter pair. Read my review of Malthouse: A Football Life for snippets from my interview with the powerhouse family

http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/inside-the-malthouse-2/

...how can the AFL and child labour be so closely related?

My take on the Sherrin debacle:

http://theunderage.com.au/2012/10/15/indian-stitch-up-tip-of-the-iceberg/

...junior sport should be about fun

My first article for the Footy Almanac looks at the morals behind childrens' sport.

http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/morals-v-medals-who-comes-out-on-top/

...about cortisone

After being crunched in a tackle playing open age schoolgirls AFL in April 2011, I hurt my ribs. They ache whilst breathing, doing push ups, lifting heavy stuff, even in situations such as listening to bass-heavy music. I decided to visit the sports doctor. He prescribed  me some anti-inflammatory pain relief gel which didn't help, and now he suggests I visit the hospital and get a cortisone injection. Not knowing much about this treatment, I have done some research.

Cortisone is a type of legal steroid which comes in the form of injection, pill, cream, eye drop and lotion. They are used to reduce inflammation and therefore pain in soft-tissue injuries, inflamed joints, bursitis and arthritis. It works by preventing white blood cells (they fight infections, sickness, bleeding etc) gathering in the affected area. One injection can reduce pain for several months, years or even remove pain forever. Of course there are rare negative side effects: facial flushing, skin colour lightening and soreness. More major side effects are known but I don't want to think about them!

Having an enormous phobia of needles, medical procedures and blood, this procedure makes me feel faint just thinking about it, except I have had enough of this continuous ache. I think I may just have to put my fears behind me, which will be extremely difficult. But hopefully it's possible.

...how hard is it to write 400 words in an hour or so?

After reading English journalist Simon Barnes' book The Meaning of Sport, Barnes simply stated how he writes match reports, between 400 and 800 words in length, during the game. He pre-empts the result of the game and predicts the turning points of the games as they happen. I tried to write under these conditions, here's the result:

http://theunderage.com.au/2012/06/12/tenacious-dees-show-spark/