Almanac Footy: Photos from Otway Districts FC 125th Anniversary weekend

Otway Districts FC celebrated their 125th anniversary last weekend. Old Dog provides photographs of the memorable occasion.

Almanac Footy: Pride – Otway Districts FC 125th Year Celebrations Saturday 26 April

Otway Districts FNC is celebrating 125 years of football in the ranges this Saturday. It will be huge! Past players coming from everywhere. In honour of the occasion, Old Dog takes the time to talk to one of its best ever, his former teammate, Sammy Harriott, about what it means to play for the mighty Demons.

Almanac Footy: Let’s talk about Melbourne

What to make of the Dees? The dive has been distinct and Old Dog thinks he’s cottoned on to the fraying threads of a former heavyweight contender now soul searching as the Ship of Theseus that is AFL tactics sails forward.

Almanac Footy: Stubbornness Got Me This Far

After 719 games of footy, Old Dog is still committed to his beloved Otway Districts FC, and will be running the drinks across four grades on Saturday.

Almanac Music: Suzi Quatro – ‘If You Can’t Give Me Love’

Matt Zurbo takes his daughter to see her idol, Suzi Quatro. It’s a killer show… then something magic happens.

Almanac Life: Old Dog, the kid, a footy, the roof!

A small piece from Old Dog about kicking the footy with the kid when the obvious happens.

Almanac Music: Spectrum’s ‘I’ll Be Gone’

Matt Zurbo fondly remembers that great Australian classic song, Spectrum’s ‘I’ll Be Gone’, its effect on him, its relationship to Apollo Bay, and in a moving tribute, on the death of his father. [That’s quite a funeral Old Dog – JTH]

Grand Final 2024 – Sydney v Brisbane: Gameplans

The Old Dog watched the Grand Final at the Port Campbell pub, and this is his account of the day and the game.

Almanac Footy: Gloves off!

The Old Dog wants to get a few things about footy off his chest so he can relax and enjoy the Big One!
[Language warning -Ed]

Finals Week 3 – Geelong v Brisbane: Starcevich

What a cracking Preliminary Final between Geelong and Brisbane! The Old Dog certainly thinks so, and Brandon Starcevich had a lot to do with Brisbane’s thrilling win.

Almanac Life: Ditchley Park

In the bush, the local pub and sporting clubs are the heart and soul of their small communities. When these organisations cease to exist a sense of devastating loss is felt by the community as Old Dog recalls in his heartfelt account of the way things were, not all that long ago.

Almanac Footy: The AA

The 2024 AFL All-Australian Team has Old Dog fuming as he vents his spleen regarding the selections.

Almanac Footy: The Bump

The coach cancels Tuesday night training for Old Dog and his team mates so it’s down to the pub for a meal and a chat about a bump. [Language warning – Ed]

Almanac Olympics: Raygun

No matter what others thought, Matt Zurbo thoroughly enjoyed the breakdancing performance by Raygun at the Olympics because of the humour, irreverence, ‘and a laconic disregard for norms’ that were displayed, but mostly because it was so bad!!.

Almanac Podcasts: Matt Zurbo interview on CDFNL Insiders Podcast

Matt Zurbo was recently interviewed on the ‘CDFNL Insiders’ podcast reflecting on his life in country footy.

Bush Footy Match Review

Old Dog has been writing for us for twelve years now. This is his ultimate bush footy match review. [Brilliant – Ed]

Round 15 – Carlton v Geelong: Football, and death on the clifftops.

The magnificence of the Otways, the pounding surf, its rugged coastline, and a dark side all provide a backdrop for Old Dog as he reflects on life, death and the football.

Once a Tiger – an interview with Ron Branton

Vale Ron Branton.

We reprise Matt Zurbo’s interview with him from 2016. It captures the life of a 1950s footballer superbly. Sections of this interview appear in Matt’s book ‘Champions All’.

Almanac (Local) Footy: The One Percenters

Old Dog gives thanks to volunteer Jacquie Langley – and to all the behind-the-scenes workers at local footy clubs