My team: Premiers 2008

Football has been good to me, in many ways. It gave me a career in journalism covering a sport that I love. It gave me an involvement with the administration of the game, via the privileged role of producing the AFL’s publications for 15 years running. But these are things that happen via endeavour, and business, and hard work. Following a team like Hawthorn throughout my life is a lucky break; more remarkable to ponder – especially if you barrack for Footscray, St Kilda and Melbourne, and you’re of my age (55) – is this: I have seen Hawthorn play in 14 Grand Finals, and win nine premierships. The only one I missed was 1971, said to be the most brutal of all. I was working that day on my other sporting love, thoroughbred racing, this day at the Moonee Valley Stakes.

I think of all those premierships, this year's might be the most satisfying of all: a win created by hard work, commitment to a plan, and the totality of the team before the individual. It’s pure Hawthorn, and I loved it.
Geoff Slattery, CEO, The Slattery Media Group.

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Cricket Australia Season Guide Book Signings

The football boots are hung, and the cricket season is upon us. To celebrate the release of Cricket Australia Season Guide 2008-09, a series of book signings will be conducted nationally, to coincide with the summer test cricket series.

The first signing will take place at Borders Brisbane (162 Albert St, Brisbane) on Tuesday, 18 November at 3pm. Test wicket-keeper Brad Haddin will be on hand to sign copies of the book.

Schedule of upcoming signings in capital cities:

BRISBANE: With Brad Haddin. Brisbane Borders. 162 Albert St, Brisbane. Tuesday 18 November at 3pm.

ADELAIDE: With Shane Watson. Adelaide Borders. 97 Rundle Mall, Adelaide. Wednesday 26 November at 3pm.

PERTH: With Mike Hussey. Perth Borders. 625 – 635 Hay St, Perth. Monday 15 December at 3pm.

MELBOURNE: With Brett Lee, Cameron White, Brad Hodge, Matt Hayden and Peter Siddle at Federation Square. Tuesday 23 December from 1pm.

One City, One Club, for 150 Years

Many Cats supporters have never had it this good, but the Geelong Football Club emerged as a force long before it asserted itself as football’s newest dynasty in 2007 and 2008. In fact, the club was officially formed in 1859 – only 24 years after John Batman landed on the site we now call Geelong.

Remarkably, for a town 80 kilometres away from Melbourne in the mid-19th century, Geelong exerted significant influence in the game’s formative years, as it battled for bragging rights with Melbourne – on both a sporting and commercial front. The people of Geelong and the club have enjoyed a mutual love affair ever since. It’s been an emotional roller coaster. The club has had remarkable success (seven VFA premierships from 1878-86, for example) and more than its fair share of pain (most notably, four losing Grand Finals from 1989-95), as well as several homes – it was evicted from Argyle Square in the 19th century for failing to pay its rent, then in 1941 forced to Kardinia Park from Corio Oval, which was required for World War II military training.

In 2009, the Geelong Football Club will celebrate its 150th anniversary. The Slattery Media Group is publishing an illustrated history of the club, with essays from leading football writers and historians, complemented by strong photographs and memorabilia. The book will hit shelves in July next year.