The incredible limited series from Optus Sport, Football Belongs, hosted by David Davutovic and authored by John Didulica, and featuring a host of prominent sporting personalities in this country, has been nominated for two awards in the upcoming 2021 Australian Podcast Awards: Best Sports Podcast Best Indigenous Podcast If you haven't yet taken the time to soak up the depth of this series, here is a short taste of what you can hear throughout. Or, if you are ready to rip in, click here to listen: https://play.acast.com/s/football-belongs Football Belongs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p ..read more

Former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, Matildas great Kate Gill and journalist Francis Leach are our special guests, as we close out the Football Belongs podcast series. They join series inspiration John Didulica and our host David Davutovic in a passionate discussion on: Looking forward to the future of the game in Australia The event that could create a new path How will the game and its people earn a legitimate place in Australian life? Can football become 'mainstream'? If you haven't already, we urge you to visit Optus Sport's digital platforms to read the chapters - authored by John ..read more

In the penultimate episode of the series, former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, Football Australia chairman Chris Nikou and sports reporter Richard Hinds join John Didulica and David Davutovic to discuss football in this country through the lens of a particular match. This episode looks at: The incredible 2015 Asian Cup campaign and gripping final between Australia and South Korea A concept that a critical thread of being Australian is tracking our success at major sporting events Don't miss our final episode in coming weeks where we wrap up an incredible series with another stable of gre ..read more

Matildas greats Kate Gill and Tal Karp plus current star Tameka Yallop, along with esteemed writer and academic Fiona Crawford, join John Didulica and David Davutovic for a strong-hearted discussion about the gulf that was (partially) bridged after a brave move by a group of Aussie football players. In this episode: The match between USA v Australia in Detroit, Michigan in September 2015, and why the Matildas didn't play The power of unity and solidarity in trying to break down disparity Equality in sport, how it has changed, and what still remains to be done Produced & edited by Lucas ..read more

Esteemed football historian & author Roy Hay and researcher & blogger Paul Mavroudis join John Didulica and David Davutovic for the latest instalment of Football Belongs. The match in focus is a day in 1964 when the VFL All-Stars took on Slavia-Port Melbourne, in front of tens of thousands of fans at Olympic Park. Some incredible stories feature in this episode, including: How the game of Australian Rules has continued to impact the game of football in Victoria. A classic yarn about a sequel to the above game, in 1991, where the 'Aussies' took on 'the wogs' - and who came out on top ..read more

There are still four incredible episodes to come in the limited edition Football Belongs series, in which John Didulica and David Davutovic will be joined by a host of engaging personalities to speak on these truly important topics. If you haven't already, here's your chance to catch up on the first six episodes, as well as make your way through the chapters that have been compiled by John Didulica You can find the chapters on the Optus Sport app, or visit https://sport.optus.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Ros Moriarty and Travis Dodd are the special guests on this episode of Football Belongs, as they join John Didulica and David Davutovic to have a powerful conversation about: The outrageous notion of Aussie football superstar John Moriarty being selected to represent his country - before being allowed to vote An unheralded role football and its migrant communities played in embracing the First Nations people The Socceroos’ 1960 tour of South-East Asia - and why it was cancelled Difficulties faced by Indigenous culture and football culture in gaining legitimacy and acceptance in mainstream Au ..read more

Cultural cringe: it runs through our entire cultural and political zeitgeist in Australia, and as former Socceroo Paul Trimboli and broadcaster Francis Leach join John Didulica and David Davutovic, they discuss this in detail, including: The 81 minute 'classic' between Australia and AC Milan at Princes Park in 1993 How cultural cringe played a part in Ange Postecoglou's shock 2017 Socceroos exit Why Paul Trimboli is Australian football's version of Forrest Gump The synergies between local football and Australian cinema Produced & edited by Lucas Perry, Optus Sport. Hosted on Acast. Se ..read more

Australia has been shaped by a persistent - often irrational - obsession with borders. As an accompaniment to the next chapter in the Football Belongs series: "Borders", which you can read at https://sport.optus.com.au/, John Didulica and David Davutovic are joined by broadcaster and Socceroos great Craig Foster for a deep and moving discussion on: The early days of the fledgling National Soccer League - and what it represented then and now Border issues we are facing today that have been consistent threads in our history Australia's role in an incredible campaign to Save Hakeem - and why it ..read more

The Legend of ANZAC sits in the awareness of most Australians. But why is it that football seems to be left behind in the conversation, when the game has such a rich history with the ANZAC spirit? John Didulica and David Davutovic are joined by Socceroos legend Ray Baartz and Victoria University academic and author Ian Syson to discuss: The Socceroos' 3-2 win over South Korea in the final of the 1967 National Day Tournament in Vietnam - Australia's first ever international football trophy How the 1915 landing at Gallipoli created a national ritual and identity The commercialisation of the AN ..read more