Round 1 (2012) – Fremantle v Geelong: The greatest of all pests

Head back to Round 1 at Subiaco in 2012. JTH and P. Flynn were in the crowd. It was a memorable opening match.

Local Footy and Mighty Wallpaper

Matt Zurbo is the subject of Martin Flanagan’s column in The Age today. Here is a piece he wrote in July 2012.

Round 1- Western Bulldogs v Fremantle: Jail-Break

It’s time for the Western Bulldogs to make their own ‘Jail-Break’ and take the leap from mediocre to elite, says Mortlake’s biggest Bulldogs fan Neil Anderson, from his vantage point at the front row of Etihad Stadium.

Five minutes of Stevie J: the argument for a footy instinct

John Harms takes us back to five minutes of genius from Stevie J v the Bulldogs in 2012. Remember the moment? Is there a footy instinct?

Let’s hope it’s not a knee

Anson Cameron wrote this beauty of D Menzel and his cursed knee back in 2012. [Timely – thanks Anson – Ed].

2012 AFL Grand Final: Hug me like the world is ending

The recent Hawks v Swans blockbuster had more than a touch of 2012 Grand Final magic. Its a good time for a look back at Swans fan David Williams’ recollection of that great match.

Don’t ban the Bombers players

Jackson Clark thinks that the Essendon players are victims not perpetrators. Punishment should be directed at coaches and management not players.

AFL Round 6 – Richmond v Geelong: Johnson Bloody Johnson

Paddy Grindlay lives in a family where the parents have seen it all before, whereas the kids live in Richmond-hope. On a chilly night in Kyneton they hope for the best.

How to Watch Footy, Part 6

Vin Maskell explains another way of experiencing the great game – this time on ANZAC Day

Footy’s other hemisphere

Singapore’s Boomarang Bar is one of those Australian themed-pubs that is both brilliant and dreadful. Mickey Randall watched his Crows take on the Hawks in last year’s preliminary final.

Twenty Twelve: A Tale Of Two Games

PC Paterson reports from two footy games he attended this year – the first featured the team he barracked for in an irrational sense, the second featured the team that lives closest to his current address. Similar margins at the end of the game, yet utterly different feelings.

2012 Grand Final: A Hawks fan turns to A.B. Paterson for inspiration

Hawks fan Dave Goodwin has had a crazy notion for a few years now that 19th Century bush ballads could become a new form of sports reporting. What better game to test his theory than the 2012 Grand Final.

The Footy Almanac 2012 on sale here

The 2012 Footy Almanac – the game by game account of the season written by fans, for fans, and graced with a John Spooner cover portrait of Sydney’s Adam Goodes – is available for purchase through our online store now.

A night at the draft, not exactly the opera

Mick Jeffrey was one of 1500 members of the Gold Coast community invited to attend the AFL Draft live.

Great Expectations – The AFL draft is just a lottery

The intense media coverage of 17 year old kids drafted by AFL clubs is ridiculous and unfair, says Simon Dobbie. Many won’t have the maturity, determination and dedication needed to be a successful AFL footballer.

The Number One Draft Pick

Jake “Cobba” Stevens constructs an infographic to help assess the success of the AFL’s number one draft picks.

The 2012 Phantom Draft

Josh Barnstable has studied the form of the AFL’s future stars and presents his phantom draft in time for the real event next Thursday.

Swans should pass on Kurt

The pursuit and possible landing of Kurt Tippett at the Swans flies in the face of the famous ‘Bloods Culture’ and Craig Dodson hope he lands in the glorious surrounds of Blacktown and GWS.

What really happens at the Brownlow

Beachcrave reports from the Brownlow Medal count powder room – a year before Channel 7 goes there.

AFL Grand Final: Missed Opportunity

Some say the Grand Final was an honourable loss. Hawks fan Michael Parker says it was a wasted season.