In a timely poem, Dips sums up the current atmosphere in Melbourne as they bunker into a fourth lockdown. Saturday’s clash, according to Dips, epitomised the current mood in the town as Collingwood and Geelong spluttered along.
Round 8 – Richmond v Geelong: Poleaxed
May 11, 2021 by 15 Comments
Dips O’Donnell’s Covid-19 vaccination spoiled his pizza and shiraz, and bed was a welcome relief. There, in his post-vaccination haze, watching the Cats great victory over the Tigers eased his pain. Get vaccinated says Dips, it’s better than the real thing!
Almanac Footy and Life (and Lunches): Engaging the Cats
April 27, 2021 by 17 Comments
Dips O’Donnell attended the Almanac/Odd Friday lunch with Ron Reed. There was a significant family event happening the next day, so he wasn’t going to stay late. Then the Carlton Draught started slide down easily…
At Easter-time Stawell Giveth and Stawell Taketh Away
April 5, 2021 by 49 Comments
After a year in the wilderness, the Gift has returned to Stawell. Hayley Orman and Ed Ware were the triumphant winning pair in 2021…but there are thousands of stories from the Gift.
We re-visit this classic Almanac yarn each Easter (for good reason):
Dips O’Donnell tells the story of his crack at Stawell and what the event and the weekend mean to the O’Donnell family.
Almanac Footy: AFL Practice Match – Cats v Pies
March 2, 2021 by 6 Comments
Dips O’Donnell took his time to watch the Geelong v Collingwood practice match last week. With his eye on the next new thing out of the Cattery, he was impressed by an array of players and tactics.
Almanac Life: A Short Note to 2020.
December 31, 2020 by 12 Comments
2020 was a year like no other but Dips O’Donnell is optimistic for 2021.
Grand Final – Richmond v Geelong: Cactus
October 28, 2020 by 20 Comments
The bitter taste of a grand final loss is an unwelcome experience as Geelong supporter Dips O’Donnell explains.
Round 17 – Geelong v Richmond: Zero
September 12, 2020 by 19 Comments
So, I’m thinking the Almanac has entered its Sgt Pepper’s stage, thanks to Dips who has really been affected by Geelong’s loss to the Tiges. Gather around him as he cleans the loos, vacuums the stairs while listening to a philosophy podcast and some classic music. [This is your 200th piece on the Almanac site Dips. Thank you. – JTH]
Almanac Poetry: There was a brown land called Australia
September 2, 2020 by 9 Comments
Dips O’Donnell has been moved to poetry by the plight of Victoria.
Almanac Footy Comment: Reconnecting without contact
August 18, 2020 by 15 Comments
When the pandemic walls started to close in and the AFL hit the decks in the attempt to salvage the season, Dips thought the whole experiment might be a fool’s errand. With time, he now confesses that the physically-distant competition has allowed him the peace and space to reconnect with his team [Marvellous – Ed.]
Almanac Poetry: The Pub
July 31, 2020 by 11 Comments
The local pub is a living history museum with many stories to tell. Dips takes a nostalgic look at these institutions in his poem, ‘The Pub’.
Almanac Life: Looking back in lockdown
July 17, 2020 by 21 Comments
Nostalgia, going home, the innocence of childhood, living life – 50 years down the track, Dips O’Donnell remembers and relishes a rich tapestry.
AFL: Curving the Curve
May 25, 2020 by 13 Comments
Dips takes time out after some hard yakka to reminisce – on oil heaters and premiership droughts broken, bulbs dormant and thorns more active. [Perhaps JTH has done the same Youtube searches? Ed.]
Almanac Poetry – A Beer With No Pub
May 6, 2020 by 12 Comments
Dips has had enough! Airing his frustration in satirical verse, it’s time to re-open the pubs and let the good times roll he urges. [Ed: We’ll drink to that!]
Footy: The Rise of the Fall
May 6, 2020 by 34 Comments
Dips muses on the push to bring back footy (prematurely?) and the nature of the AFL beast that demands a conversation be had on the merits of the spectacle and its perhaps seedier underbelly.
Almanac Surfing: Surfing and the middle-aged accountant
April 20, 2020 by 6 Comments
Following Dips O’Donnell’s excellent Queen’s Birthday weekend surfing piece, we thought we’d let you know where it all started. Here’s Dips’ first crack at the caper, a piece which was published in Long Bombs to Snake I.
Those Other Days Are Gone
March 25, 2020 by 8 Comments
In this ever-changing world, a poignant futuristic (and historical) story from Dips O’Donnell, father and son discuss footy in the good old days.
Almanac (Footy) Linguistics: AFL Terminology
The dictionary defines ‘pithy’ as ‘terse and vigorously expressive’. Dips gets pithy about the over-used sobriquet ‘blockbuster’.