AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great australian game
On this day in 1996. Fitzroy won its last ever match in the AFL, defeating Fremantle 16.11.107 to 10.16.76. Fitzroy had also been involved in the only other game to finish with a score of 107-76, losing to Melbourne in May 1929 at the MCG. - Andrew Gigacz
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West Coast and North Melbourne, who meet tonight at Subiaco, have played each other once before on May 17th. In 2008, the Kangaroos won a thriller 13.11 (89) to 12.11 (83). The match, North Melbourne's home game, was played at Carrara on the Gold Coast in front of 6,354 spectators. - Andrew Gigacz
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Happy birthday to Cash Fitzgerald, born on this day in 1921. Fitzgerald played three games for Hawthorn in 1947 and remains the only player in VFL/AFL history to have Cash as a first name. Coincidentally, the only player to have the surname Cash, Pat Cash Senior, was also a Hawthorn player. - Andrew Gigacz
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Did you enter the Gigs Ladder Comp this season? Check out how your ladder's looking after seven rounds.
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Between 1943 and 1954, VFL football was played on May 15th on three occasions. On each of those occasions, a draw was registered. North Melbourne and St Kilda drew on May 15, 1943, Essendon and Richmond tied exactly five years later and Fitzroy and St Kilda finished level on that date in 1954. - Andrew Gigacz
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On this day in 1898, Essendon opened their season with a 10.10 (70) to 2.5 (17) win over Fitzroy. It remains the only game in VFL/AFL history to finish with a final score of 70 v 17. The Bombers will face the Lions (of the Brisbane variety) this Saturday but a repeat of that score is unlikely under the roof at Etihad Stadium. - Andrew Gigacz
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Three anagrams, a postcode, a year and a rare tale of two Magpie teams. Gigs has got something for everyone this week.
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Tonight's St Kilda v Carlton match will be third time the two sides have met on May 13th. In 1967, Carlton pipped the Saints by 5 points, 11.14 to 11.9 in front of 44,382 fans at Moorabbin (the third-highest crowd in history at the venue) and in 2000 the Blues prevailed 15.19 to 11.16 at Docklands. - Andrew Gigacz
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Happy 116th birthday to RAY ELLIS, who played two games for Geelong in 1923. As hard it may be to believe, he really is an anagram of REALLY IS. - Andrew Gigacz
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Prior to today, Geelong and Essendon have met on four occasions on the 10th of May. Essendon were triumphant in 1902 and 1947 but the Cats won out in 1975 and 1980. In all four matches, the "away" team has been the victor. - Andrew Gigacz
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Happy 127th birthday to ALBY INGLEMAN, who played 21 games for Carlton between 1905 and 1908. Presumably he was one to keep a close watch on the oval-shaped, air-filled piece of leather, as he's an anagram of MAN EYING BALL. - Andrew Gigacz
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Gigs looks at omens for Essendon and Geelong, and makes a case for a West Coast v North Melbourne Grand Final in 2013.
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On this day in 1897, the very first round of the newly formed Victorian Football League was played. In that round, Collingwood defeated St Kilda by 25 points (one less than last Friday night) and Essendon defeated Geelong by 23 points. Will history repeat this Friday night? - Andrew Gigacz
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Happy 38th birthday to DUSTIN FLETCHER. Now in his 21st season, the Bomber champion's skin is as pale as it was on the day his career started. And that's really rather ironic, given that he's an anagram of TINCTURED FLESH. - Andrew Gigacz
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Carlton and Essendon drew 7.14 (56) apiece on this day in 1924. It was the second of five draws to have occurred between these two sides. The only combination of teams to have drawn on more occasions is Carlton and the Swans, who have finished a match level six times, the last of those being in 1967 at the Lake Oval. - Andrew Gigacz
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Gigs this week looks at the link recent ANZAC rounds and explains why North fans might be feeling a sense of déjà vu.
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The only two drawn games in VFL/AFL history to finish with a score of 96-96 both occurred on May 2nd. In 1987 Essendon 14.12 (96) drew Geelong 13.18 (96) at Windy Hill. On the same date in 1992, Melbourne and Sydney scored 13.18 (96) apiece at the MCG. - Andrew Gigacz
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On this day in 1909, West Adelaide 9.12 (66) d Port Adelaide 5.5 (35) and Sturt 12.15 (87) d South Adelaide 5.5 (35) in the SAFL (now SANFL). Amazingly, neither of those score-lines (66 v 35 and 87 v 35) has ever been registered in 14,211 VFL/AFL matches. - Andrew Gigacz
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Happy 112th birthday to FRANK BULT, who played 20 games for Footscray in 1927-28. While it's unclear if Frank struggled to keep weight off around the middle, there is a potential clue in the anagram of his name: TRUNK FLAB. - Andrew Gigacz
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On this day in 1933, North Melbourne and Fitzroy played a draw at Arden Street, kicking 11.13 (79) apiece. It was the only time these two sides ever drew, although the Kangaroos did tie with the Brisbane version of the Lions in 2003. - Andrew Gigacz
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Andrew Gigacz
Ranked Leadership Group ✭✭✭✭
Points 625 What's this?
Joined 6th Jun 2012
Last seen 11th Feb 2013
AFL: Western Bulldogs (VIC)
Local: Williamstown (VIC)
Footy-head since I fell in love with the game in 1973 after receiving the Murfett "Aussie Footy" game for my 8th birthday. Born and bred in the western suburbs, I'm a passionate FOOTSCRAY supporter. David Smorgon might like the name Western Bulldogs, but they'll always be Footscray to me and many others.
Robert Groenewegen, Bob Murphy
1. In a reserves game in 1978 at the Western Oval, from deep in the pocket at the Barkly St end, Peter Welsh sent a handball towards a team-mate in the goal square. He overcooked it and it went straight through the big sticks. The goal umpire thought he'd kicked it and signalled a goal, putting the Dogs in front against Essendon just before the final siren. The sight of the Essendon cheer-squad going nuts at the injustice will always be a highlight for me. 2. Footscray's next flag. It won't happen overnight, but it WILL happen. Won't it?
