AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
On this day in 1982, Carlton defeated Sydney by 102 points at Princes Park. There have been 11 VFL/AFL matches in history decided by a margin of 102 points and the Blues have been involved in five of them, winning four and losing one. - Andrew Gigacz
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Essendon's JOHN SOMERVILLE made his debut on this day in 1960, kicking two goals against Carlton. Somerville played in Essendon's 1962 flag side but missed the 1965 premiership after he was knocked unconscious behind play in the Preliminary Final and had to be taken from the field. That moment was perhaps best captured by the anagram of his name: JOHN'S ILL - REMOVE. - Andrew Gigacz
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Former leading VFL umpire, Jack McMurray Jnr, talks to Hugh Buggy of The Argus, about the great players he has umpired.
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Writing for The Mail (SA), in 1954, former Sturt champ and new Hawthorn recruit, Clayton 'Candles' Thompson, looks at footy in Victoria as compared to SA.
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On this day in 2000, Carlton 20.9 (129) d North Melbourne 15.9 (99) at Princes Park. That match remains the only one in VFL/AFL history to have finished with a final score of 129 v 99. - Andrew Gigacz
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RAY STEELE, who played 42 games for Richmond between 1940 and 1943, was born on this day in 1917. A player who may or may not have been known for his good peripheral vision, he was an anagram of ALERT EYES. - Andrew Gigacz
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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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Western Mail writer Tasman Gay looks back on the life and untimely death of Phil Matson, one of the game's greatest stars - as a player and coach.
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On the eve of the 1936 VFL season, Neville Smith of The Argus reflects on the history of the game and some of the features that make it uniquely Australian.
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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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Kicking off a premiership defence with five wins on the trot is a good thing, yeah? Maybe not, says Gigs.
Andrew Gigacz | 21 Apr 2022
Men's AFL is back, and so is Micro Noises. Andrew Gigacz looks at Hawthorn's one-point win and invokes Mozart to describe Gold Coast's AFLW loss.
Andrew Gigacz | 24 Mar 2021
Media Release: Eight new members have been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
AFL Media | 14 Jun 2022
In response to a question from a fan, Andrew Gigacz looks at past V/AFL teams that have flown out of the blocks before falling short of finals.
Andrew Gigacz | 10 Jun 2022
A summary of the awards and honours bestowed in the 2021 AFL season, compiled by Andrew Gigacz.
Andrew Gigacz | 10 Oct 2021