The Tigers Almanac 2019 – Extract: Pickett’s Pirouette

Here’s an extract from The Tigers Almanac 2019. It is rising star Jack Banister’s piece about Marlion Pickett. It is one of five forewords in the book – others are by Ben Northey, John ‘Mr Wrap’ Mosig, George Grossek and Matt Quartermaine. There are also numerous other features as well as all of the match reports.

Finals Week 1 – Qualifying Final: Richmond v Hawthorn: Dustin Martin, revisited

Dusty and the Tigers roar, plucking the Hawk’s feathers in an ominous premiership defining performance.

VFL Round 20 – Williamstown v Port Melbourne: What’s the weather doing? 

Jack Banister gives us a peek at both weather and match in this starkly visual piece.

Photo Essay – AFL Round 19: Richmond v Collingwood

A time-honoured rivalry, movers and shakers in footy and media, Richmond station beyond capacity. These are some of Jack Banister’s well-captured things…

A Forgotten Isle – The State of Football in a ‘Football State’

Jack Banister spoke to some key players in Tasmanian footy on the current situation and the future for the code.

AFLM Round 13 – Geelong v Richmond: Playing in the Puddles

Jack Banister remembers the good times of playing wet-weather footy and what it means to look like a footy player while watching Geelong v Richmond on a sodden MCG deck.

Mother’s Day, with Gram

Jack Banister writes poignantly of his Grandma, going to the footy and visiting her in Middle Park.

Round 6 – Collingwood v Richmond: D.Wilson & B.Grundy 

The Tigers run out 43-point winners on one of the rare occasions when everyone leaves the ground somewhat satisfied. The Pies showed enough to challenge the premiers, which bodes well for the rest of their year. And the premiers rose to the challenge, as very good sides do reports Jack.

AFLM Round 2 – Adelaide v Richmond: Not Our Night

For the Richmond faithful, watching on as the umpire crosses his arms and uncrosses them again for the sake of theatre, you can only avert your eyes, remind yourself it’s round two, and gently proclaim, “it’s just not been our night.”

Round 1 – Hawthorn v Collingwood: A Pom’s Perspective

Jack Banister’s old hockey mate from university days, Matt Rose, picked a very opportune time to visit Australia. He penned this reflection after attending his first AFL game at the weekend.

A Profile of AFLW Pioneer Chyloe Kurdas

Jack Banister profiles Chloe Kurdas. (first published in The Age)

AFLW Round 5 – Western Bulldogs v Collingwood: Woof 

The Daughters of the West solidified their place as top Dogs on the AFLW ladder on Sunday while on the road in Moe against the in-form Pies. Jack Banister reports.

Book Review (4 of 52): The Cricket War by Gideon Haigh

Jack Banister is back with his 4th book review of 2018. Under the Banister microscope is Gideon Haigh’s masterpiece ‘The Cricket War’. In the new cricketing climate that now exists, Jack recommends you revisit the game’s original revolution

The People’s Game Podcast 

Jack Banister has started a new footy podcast. Here’s the run down and the first episode.

AFLW Round 1 – Carlton v Collingwood: Unusual Crowds

The diverse crowd at Princes Park contributed significantly to Jack Banister’s match day experience at Friday night’s AFLW Season Opener.

Almanac Books: Empathy, Race and Australia Day – thoughts based on A Rightful Place, edited by Shireen Morris, & Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race, by Reni Eddo-Lodge.  

Jack Banister responds to the discussions which make up Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge and A Rightful Place: A Roadmap to Recognition by various authors. His review essay is timely. [These are books 3 and 4 in Jack’s 52 book odyssey]

Almanac Books: A Clear Blue Sky by Jonny Bairstow & Duncan Hamilton – Book Review 1 of 52

Jack Banister has kicked off his ambitious 2018 goal of reading a book a week with a thoughtful review of Jonny Bairstow & Duncan Hamilton’s ‘A Clear Blue Sky’. One down, Fifty-one to go Jack!

Australia v England ODIs – MCG: In the Shadow of the BBL

Jack Banister ponders the future of ODIs against our love of epic tests and the shiny new toy that is BBL.

The Ashes – Fifth Test, Day 3: The Brothers Marsh

It was hot in Melbourne yesterday – perfect for taking it easy in front of the TV, which is what Jack Banister did while sipping cool drinks and reading Gideon Haigh’s The Cricket War. It was a lot tougher for the English bowlers as the runs flowed for the Australian batsmen, some of whom were intent on booking their passage to South Africa.

The Ashes – Fifth Test: Call For Writers 

This is an invitation for writers of Test cricket; all styles, all ages; to submit their observations and thoughts on the fifth Ashes Test from the SCG.