Almanac Memoir: Half a century at the Gabba

Murray Bird offers a panoramic memoir of Gabba days of yore. [Reckon 500 is conservative Muz – JTH]

Almanac Country Footy: Yeppoon Swans crack the code

Murray Bird made the 1300km round trip from Brisbane to Rockhampton to catch up with an old football colleague and watch the AFL Capricornia grand final in September 2015. He brings to life some of the characters and history of this northern footy miracle. [We re-visit this piece after the Swans broke the consecutive games record on the weekend – Ed]

Almanac Rugby League: ‘Rugby league – the greatest game of all’

Murray Bird may be better known in Almanac circles for his Australian football pedigree but he has long-term roots in rugby league as well. A few years ago, he took in a Queensland Cup match to test out the code’s claim to be ‘the greatest game of all’.

“More of the Kangaroo” – An excerpt: Darling Downs, pacesetters of the 19th century

An excerpt from “More of the Kangaroo” relating to some of the history of footy in the Darling Downs region.

Almanac Footy History – Extract from More of the Kangaroo: 1985 – The Sharks and Tigers play one of the great QAFL Grand Finals

From Murray Bird and Greg Parker’s forthcoming book, “More of the Kangaroo: 150 Years of Australian Football in Queensland 1866 – 2016” is an extract about one of the great QAFL Grand Finals.

Jack Cavanagh – The Gentleman of Gold Coast Football

With the recent passing of Jack Cavanagh, footy in Queensland has lost a legendary figure. Murray Bird shares part of his story, including a famous grand final.

QWAFL Grand Final – Coorparoo Kings v Yeronga South Brisbane Devils: Ten Lions stars line up in the big one

It’s Grand Final day (Aug 27) in women’s footy in Queensland. This preview is from Murray Bird who will provide live stats on the game – you can find out how to access them here.

Can we now stop the whingeing?

Murray Bird responds to an observable Vic-centric state of footy affairs, offering comment on all the states and their competitions, and the running of the AFL (which he points out is the AUSTRALIA FL). Where does all the whingeing come from? [This should generate some interesting discussion – Ed]

Almanac Footy History: Footage of the great grudge match of 1950

This is one story from the history of Australian football in Queensland. Murray Bird and his team are finalising the history with a view to publish the book in this the sesquicentennial year. More information to come. And more footage to come as well. [Brilliant – JTH]

Almanac Classic (Footy Poetry): The Year the ‘Roos First Wunner

This, my friends, is one of the contributions of the year. Murray Bird and he QAFF group have discovered this epic poem which tells the story of the Brisbane D Grade Grand Final in 1946. [A snapshot of a moment in time, this is a dead-set classic – JTH]

Almanac Rugby League – “Rugby League: the greatest game of all”

Murray Bird returned to Langlands Park for some enjoyable late season Queensland Cup Rugby League action. A lot had changed since he was last there in the 1970s, but not the drinking (or smoking) preferences of the locals.

Book Launch June 18: Athenians and Red Invincibles: The Origins of Queensland Football

Murray Bird’s book Athenians and Red Invincibles: The Origins of Queensland Football will be launched in Melbourne on Thursday.

Footy History: Frank Ivory

Frank Ivory was Australia’s best Indigenous footballer in any code in the late nineteenth century. And he was a Queenslander, as Murray Bird explains in this extract from his book Athenians and Red Invincibles: The Origins of football in Queensland (to be launched on June 18 at 6pm at the Royal Melbourne Hotel.

Introducing Interchanger; Player Management Made Easy

Almanacker Murray Bird and his team have developed INTERCHANGER; Player management technology that is currently being used by 10 AFL clubs is now available for your club or sports group. Read more…

PNG in International Cup Grand Final

Out (visa problems) is something you don’t usually see when the teams are announced on a Thursday Night. Murray Bird keeps us up to date with the PNG Mosquitoes’ sometime rocky path into the Grand Final of the 2014 International Cup.

Muz returns to see the Lions less mighty

It is 25 years since my last journey to a Melbourne stadium to watch a Brisbane team in a home and away game. A late Saturday night text invite from a mate in Bris Vegas had me rearranging my Sunday to go to the footy. Brad is originally from Townsville, a Kangaroos sponsor, and he [Read more]