Football in Melbourne was less than two years old when an official notice appeared in the Bendigo Advertiser on 3 June 1861. It called for a “meeting of gentlemen (notice, no women mentioned), desirous of establishing a Sandhurst Football Club.”

Fremantle fans knew their high expectations for the 2023 season were misplaced when their team managed to lose to North Melbourne – at home – in round two. A scare from the hapless hopeless banged-up Eagles in round three was confirmation.

The season provided some highlights and hope – including beating Melbourne at the MCG and a win over Geelong down at the Kardinia Park that was part of a promising last five rounds. The 101-point derby win in round 22 was required viewing.

The expected announcement that Liam Henry wants out is food for thought on three fronts.

There was some hope among Fremantle fans that the 2023 season would end at the MCG. And it will with a meeting with fellow strugglers Hawthorn in round 24. It’s on the big stage in one of the few games of the weekend that means almost nothing.

But, in fact, this young Fremantle line-up could achieve something the club has never pulled off before.

A look at Blackberry (M)

When you think back to the brand names of mobile smartphones you’ve used down the years does Blackberry resonate with you? My only memories are TV shots of President Obama fiddling about with his Blackberry, but only when allowed to by his security minders.

High hopes were held for the Blues in 2023.

They’ve lost their last five games. Here’s the mid-season report.

The East Fremantle Oval scoreboard has gone. Victim of the long overdue redevelopment of the oval Old East and the Sharks have called home since 1953.

Mrs Harris Goes To Paris (PG)

Ada Harris is a Cockney cleaning woman in 1950s London whose life is slowly slipping away down the drainpipe. There’s not much joy in the war widow’s life although she does enjoy a few after-work beers with her fellow cleaner Vi Butterfield (Ellen Thomas). Not all of her employers are great with Ada’s payments, though. Lady Dant (Anna Chancellor) is a mean-spirited upstart who has weekly losses of memory about where Ada’s pay might be lurking.