Martin is leaving us and heading back to Tassie, I hope he keeps writing.

"My words about footy upon parting: you need at least two people on the AFL Commission representing grassroots footy," writes Martin Flanagan, who is heading back to Tasmania. "We’re heading into a rough, tough century. Grassroots footy is where the game’s version of climate change is occurring."

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/my-parting-advice-for-the-afl-20191227-p53n3d.html

He's the best by a country mile, Loved it when he was 'embeded' at the Dees for a season or two.

Writing fluff pieces about a sheet side.

1 hour ago, Fork 'em said:

Writing fluff pieces about a sheet side.

I've gotta hang up, can't communicate.

Edited December 27, 20196 yr by binman

I am sure they still write in Tasmania

I had the pleasure of sitting with Martin at the footy a few years ago. (Friend of a friend.) Brilliant writer ... top bloke.

I don't know whether he reads this. But if so ... all the best Martin !!

 

9 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

Writing fluff pieces about a sheet side.

Reading’s not your strong suite? I can’t think of any one other sports writer (or non sports journo, for that matter) who comes close to capturing the spirit of the game in the way that Flanagan does.

8 hours ago, binman said:

I've gotta hang up, can't communicate

Edited December 28, 20196 yr by hardtack

"Grassroots footy is where the game’s version of climate change is occurring. The game is shrinking at its base. Best thing I saw in footy this year? More African kids coming through. For the same reason, we need women’s footy to prosper."

I only hope Gill & the Commission are not asleep at the wheel with this...unfortunately I think they may be.

Or perhaps it's just self interest being put ahead of the game.

This article where he gives my old man a good ol pump up reflects his love of grassroots footy, a great man.A beer with Dummy puts sport in glorious perspective

 

21 hours ago, hardtack said:

I can’t think of any one other sports writer (or non sports journo, for that matter) who comes close to capturing the spirit of the game in the way that Flanagan does.

As a Sydney-sider you wouldn't have seen his work, hardtack, but Garrie Hutchinson, who like Flanagan wrote a column for the Age, was a similar sort of writer.

His book From the Outer is a great collection of yarns about footy in the early 80's - the sights and smells of standing on the terraces and that kind of stuff. 

Well worth a read if you like Flanagan, although I don't think it would be easy to get your hands on a copy.*

There's a piece in there on the pleasure of watching Robbie Flower put Richmond to the sword one afternoon - 22 kicks, 16 handballs, 15 marks, 2 goals "and another dozen dive-ins and knock-ons" in what Hutchinson writes must be one of the best games ever played on the MCG.  

Presciently, he also wrote the following (in 1982 !!): "We’ll end up with covered entertainment centres, in Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast and Perth, where football is played under equal, identical conditions by colourful teams in carpet slippers on television two nights a week, nationally.” 

*Edit: Melbourne Sports Books, which I think is being run out of Santo's home these days, may have it. 

Edited December 29, 20196 yr by Grapeviney

21 hours ago, hardtack said:

Reading’s not your strong suite? I can’t think of any one other sports writer (or non sports journo, for that matter) who comes close to capturing the spirit of the game in the way that Flanagan does.

I read fine thanks but I also know when a turd's getting polished.

And it's "strong suit".
Not "strong suite".
Maybe reading isn't your strong suit.

Edited December 29, 20196 yr by Fork 'em

22 hours ago, hardtack said:

Reading’s not your strong suite? I can’t think of any one other sports writer (or non sports journo, for that matter) who comes close to capturing the spirit of the game in the way that Flanagan does.

mebbe gideon haigh? vic marks?

martin is a terrific writer, as is his (booker prize winning) brother

richard is proof positive (as is augie march's glenn richards) that they can definitely still write down in tassie

3 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

I read fine thanks but I also know when a turd's getting polished.

And it's "strong suit".
Not "strong suite".
Maybe reading isn't your strong suit.

Having misspelt the word, I would say that writing is not my strong suit. 
Now, rather than deflecting any further, perhaps you’d like to explain just how Flanagan’s insights into the operations of a club, could be dismissed as mere fluff pieces?

5 hours ago, Grapeviney said:

As a Sydney-sider you wouldn't have seen his work, hardtack, but Garrie Hutchinson, who like Flanagan wrote a column for the Age, was a similar sort of writer.

His book From the Outer is a great collection of yarns about footy in the early 80's - the sights and smells of standing on the terraces and that kind of stuff. 

Well worth a read if you like Flanagan, although I don't think it would be easy to get your hands on a copy.*

There's a piece in there on the pleasure of watching Robbie Flower put Richmond to the sword one afternoon - 22 kicks, 16 handballs, 15 marks, 2 goals "and another dozen dive-ins and knock-ons" in what Hutchinson writes must be one of the best games ever played on the MCG.  

Presciently, he also wrote the following (in 1982 !!): "We’ll end up with covered entertainment centres, in Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast and Perth, where football is played under equal, identical conditions by colourful teams in carpet slippers on television two nights a week, nationally.” 

*Edit: Melbourne Sports Books, which I think is being run out of Santo's home these days, may have it. 

Thanks for that info GV... Richardson’s name does ring a bell, and having moved from Melbourne to Sydney in 1979, perhaps I had read his Age contributions back in the day. I’m down in Melbourne mid January, so I’ll keep an eye out for his book.

All the best Martin, for the future.

Hope you keep an eye on the red and the blue?

On 12/29/2019 at 4:51 PM, whatwhatsaywhat said:

mebbe gideon haigh? vic marks?

martin is a terrific writer, as is his (booker prize winning) brother

richard is proof positive (as is augie march's glenn richards) that they can definitely still write down in tassie

How good is Glenn Richards!

2 hours ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

How good is Glenn Richards!

He's a strange bird that one