Middle-aged Icarus

Phil Dimitriadis wonders whether it was wise to play competitive cricket again after 16 years.

Third Test – Day 1: Intelligent bowling/Lazy batting

Phil Dimitriadis watches the batsmen forget the basics in the Third Test ‘Grand Final’ at the WACA.

The Rhyce Shaw (Shank) Redemption

Phil Dimitriadis follows Rhyce Shaw’s journey from maligned Magpie to heroic Swan.

The Book of VFL/AFL Finals

It’s that time of year when Phil Dimitriadis reaches for the ‘Bible’ of AFL finals.

Champagne Football: Myth and Bubbles

By Phil Dimitriadis Champagne is the alcoholic drink commonly associated with upper class tastes. It appears absurdly paradoxical that many fans that utter this expression would probably do so with while drinking beer or soft drinks. The only time we see champagne after a game of football is when it is poured into the premiership [Read more]

Footy as Religion: A Myth for All Seasons

By Phil Dimitriadis Man has built in himself images as a sense of security – religious, political, personal. These manifest as symbols, ideas, and beliefs. The burden of these dominates man’s thinking, relationships and his daily life. (J. Krishnamurti)   Corporate, religious and political rhetoric often sits comfortably with Australian Rules expression and its desire [Read more]

Domenic Favata Interview

By Phil Dimitriadis PD: Hi Domenic and welcome to the Junior Footy Almanac. Can you start by telling us how you became involved with the Footy Almanac? DF: Thanks Phil. My involvement with the Footy Almanac began with a gift, the 2008 Footy Almanac, which began a series of events that led to my eventual [Read more]

A Tiger in a nest of Magpies

    By Phil Dimitriadis Alexander John Eastham is a different cat. In fact, he is a tiger. Yes, my grandnephew barracks for Richmond. The noteworthy feature of this highly unexpected phenomenon is that 99% of his immediate family are Pies fans. His paternal grandfather Jock is the president of the Gippsland Magpies and has [Read more]

Lessons I Learnt in India and Sri Lanka (Part 2)

Lesson 2: I’m a celebrity in India. I am a celebrity in India. I’m famous. The people love me…I think. You see, as a white-haired fair skinned teenage Australian, I was quite a rarity in India. Frequently, people would stop me in the streets (inner Mumbai especially) and ask for a photo or autograph. I [Read more]

Hell of the Northcote – Melburn Roobaix

By Jake ‘Cobba’ Stevens “It’s like the Paris Roubaix, but shorter and sillier.” My first ever Melburn Roobaix was one of my favourite rides I’ve ever done. Like its older, professional cousin, the Melburn Roobaix sends riders over tough terrain, including excruciating cobblestone alleyways. The aim of the day is to have fun. It is [Read more]

Write for the Junior Almanac

Welcome to the Junior Almanac page. We publish the words of keen young writers. You can write about footy. But really, we just want to see kids learning to love stories and words, and to become published writers and enthusiastic readers. So we’d love you to write about your passion, whether it be footy or [Read more]

Posts: A Concrete Poem

Susie Giese: The Facebook Interview

Susie Giese: The Facebook Interview Susie Giese is an emotional, yet intelligent Geelong fan who has just graduated in the field of Sports Journalism from Deakin University. Writing for The Footy Almanac helped her land her first job for the Geelong Advertiser  and she is well on the way to being a major force in the world [Read more]

A Dove Among Pigeons

By Jake ‘Cobba’ Stevens Not that long ago I was on a train in India. True Story. (More on my adventures in India later…) Aside from my Parents and my sister I was the only non-Indian on the train. It was packed, and I estimate I was the only person with white hair within a [Read more]

Sports of All Sorts

                                                              Sports of all sorts                                                      By Anastasia Dimitriadis                                                                   Grade 6   As a little child, sport has always and still [Read more]

Junior Footy Almanac Success Stories

To coincide with the launch of the Junior Footy Almanac we feature the most recent articles from our talented young writers. If you would like to submit your stories and photos please email Phil Dimitriadis at [email protected] Geelong versus Hawthorn Day! By Susie Giese So painfully, agonisingly and tigerishly close By Catherine Durkin Stripes of survival By [Read more]

Josh Barnstable: The Facebook Interview

Interview with Josh Barnstable Josh Barnstable started writing for the Footy Almanac at 14 years of age. He covered his first match in the book in round one 2009 which resulted in a win for his beloved North Melbourne. He has since written many engaging reports for both the book and the website. He is [Read more]

Migrants and Footy

Phil Dimitriadis be speaking with Lindy Burns tonight on ABC 774 at 7.30pm about Migrants and Footy. Hope Knackers get a chance to listen in, send a text or  call if you have a story to share.

Migrants and the footy experience

Dear Almanackers, I’m looking for 30-40 writers who may be first or second generation migrants to share stories about their relationship with footy. The idea is to publish a book that will reflect the authentic multicultural fan base of the AFL. This does not only include people from non-English speaking backgrounds. Indeed, there would be [Read more]

Relatively Gutted

By Phil Dimitriadis   The gut holds our emotions, our food, our poisons, our hopes and our fears. We get inspired by those who show guts, but do we get gutted too easily when things don’t go our way? Jimmy’s dead. Wounds are raw and words are plenty. He reached out and people are reaching [Read more]