John Harms was up late one night when an email lobbed. It was from Hayden Kelly. Things have moved along since then, as this welcome explains. [Great to have you involved Hayden – JTH]
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 10 – St Kilda v Geelong: Jimmy Bartel’s taken to show and tell
June 4, 2020 by 1 Comment
In front of a bursting Telstra Dome on a Sunday night in 2007, John Harms witnessed the Cats break free of a Riewoldt-led St Kilda to stamp their September intentions on the competition.
Almanac Life: The Age of Corona
May 28, 2020 by 24 Comments
This Age of Corona is not the first as John Harms recalls.
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 9 – Carlton v Adelaide: Carlton’s wastefulness opens the door
May 25, 2020 by Leave a Comment
For all of their effort, Carlton just couldn’t quite get over the line against Adelaide in the 2007 Indigenous Round. John Harms has the report from the Telstra Dome.
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 8 – Geelong v Fremantle: A licence to carry
May 19, 2020 by 1 Comment
It was the sort of Kardinia Park day where the ducks are looking for shelter, but John Harms braved the conditions to watch the Cats and Dockers go at it.
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 7 – Geelong v West Coast Eagles: Questions answered!
May 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Geelong gave their supporters a lot to feel good about in their Round 7 2007 convincing win against the Eagles reported John Harms. John’s report first appeared in ‘The Footy Almanac 2007’.
Almanac Memoir: Denouement, September 2010
May 7, 2020 by 17 Comments
John Harms remembers September, 2010. Especially the night of the Preliminary Final between Geelong and Collingwood, the night his father died. [First published in The Footy Almanac 2010]
Almanac Cricket: If you love cricket, you love initials.
May 7, 2020 by 14 Comments
Given the Citrus Bob Utber challenge of recent days, we’re reprising this piece from 2016.
There are so many elements to cricket. John Harms looks at the multi-initialled player throughout history. You probably have a favourite. A piece first published in The Cricket Monthly.
Almanac Footy History: Fitzroy premiers again in 1899
May 5, 2020 by 6 Comments
In the second of his Grand Finals series, John Harms tells the story of the Maroons premiership amid the push for Federation in 1899.
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 6 – St Kilda v Carlton: A typical Carlton night and a decent left boot
May 3, 2020 by 1 Comment
John Harms soaked up the business of Carlton on a Friday night. But the charm of the town soon changed once the Blues ran into a precise St Kilda side.
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 5 – Geelong v North Melbourne: Strife in the Cattery
April 30, 2020 by 6 Comments
‘The bookies had Geelong warm favourites to beat the Kangaroos. Interrogation of sections of the terrace, however, may have uncovered a tendency (at once self-loathing and self-protection) for hardened Cats fans to back their opponent.’ John Harms couldn’t help but feel that his Cats were already in strife so early in the season.
Round 10, 1967 – St Kilda v Geelong: History and Memory
April 29, 2020 by 5 Comments
John Harms has been enjoying Peter Clark’s coverage of the 1966 season. But something troubled him about the Geelong game which he always thought was the first VFL match he ever attended.
Almanac Footy History: Fitzroy wins the 1898 flag
April 24, 2020 by 11 Comments
The Almanac has been featuring quite a bit of Fitzroy FC history in recent times. John Harms continues the trend with this piece about Fitzroy’s 1898 premiership season. It also coincides with Anzac Day as one of Fitzroy’s footballers, Stan Reid, whose story is told in the piece, was killed during the Boer War. [Make yourself a cuppa for this one – Ed]
Almanac Obituary: Vale Michael Bowden
April 23, 2020 by 4 Comments
Michael Bowden was a wonderful man. John Harms shares a few thoughts in introducing the obituary which appeared in the Fairfax papers. [We are thinking of The Bowdens at this sad time – JTH]
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 4 – Hawthorn v Geelong: A memorable match
April 22, 2020 by 3 Comments
Although Geelong lost, for John Harms it was a match to remember, his first at York Park in Launceston, Round 4 2007, Hawthorn v Geelong. This is John’s report from The Footy Almanac 2007.
A Memory of Might and Power on Cox Plate Day, 1998.
April 12, 2020 by 6 Comments
Might and Power: what a great horse! One of John Harms’s favourites. Here he tells the story of the 1998 Cox Plate.
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 2 – Carlton v Geelong: On the board.
April 7, 2020 by 5 Comments
A couple of notable debutants for the Cats, on a night that reinforced for John Harms how much people crave meaning in footy.
Almanac Poetry: A greeting from Bruce Dawe
April 3, 2020 by 12 Comments
This piece was written by John Harms just after he had received a beaut greeting card from Bruce Dawe around Christmas time 2016. Bruce Dawe’s poetry, loved by many, was special to John Harms.
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