Write. From the Heart.
From Old Dog (Matt Zurbo):
“I present to you, lovers of footy, in memory of a great coach, footballer and genuine family man, a quote from Ray Wilson, followed by my full, 10,000 word chat with John Kennedy Snr… A transcript I could only title: ‘Hawthorn’.”
This is a must-read.
Time has changed for Old Dog. But some things remain the same.
Old Dog has been out late, running to get the kilometres into his legs, sharing the night with an owl, also sharing some insights into training in the age of coronavirus.
Old Dog has been tidying up his laptop. He found this piece about Nick Kyrgios, written during the Australian Open.
Saddling up for footy season 38, Old Dog has road trips on the mind, along with a few other matters.
Life in Venezuela can be very tough for the ordinary citizen. It’s sport, especially soccer that people turn to for relief as Matt Zurbo explains.
In an Almanac Flashback from 2014, Matt Zurbo reflects on the traditions of racing, from about as far away from the glamour of Flemington as you can get.
Here is a fabulous Footy Almanac Flashback from Matt Zurbo about his good mate Bruce Pascoe. Ripper read!
Old Dog’s Grand Final thoughts have been a must-read on the Almanac site for years. And this one on Richmond’s thrashing of GWS is no different. He describes and analyses and thinks about what it all means from a shed in south-east Tassie. [Thanks Old Dog – JTH]
Old Dog reviews the Richmond-Geelong game that he saw, with his trademark description, analysis and respect for the players. [Kelly’s a bit stiff missing a vote – JTH]
When Damien came to Tassie to interview Old Dog for The New York Times, he was given a pair of boots and a training jumper so he could have a kick. Old Dog and Damo (as he became) stayed in contact with each other and got together via the phone to watch Geelong play the Eagles. Old Dog conveys Damo’s observations while making a few of his own.
A terrific piece by Matt Zurbo on the inception of the Dodges Ferry Colts (in Tassie), a side that has given the senior club a youthful boost.
Old Dog was recently the special guest at an Almanac lunch at the North Fitzroy Arms where we launched his book Heart & Soul. He brought some guests whom he’s met along the way. It was a memorable day, as he explains.
With Matt Zurbo lunching at the North Fitzroy Arms this Friday, let’s revisit his 2012 road trip, where he caught up with none other than Malcolm Blight.
Matt Zurbo turned on the TV on Queen’s Birthday to watch the battle within a battle. He gave the points to Max Gawn despite Brodie Grundy’s Collingwood winning the encounter.
Old Dog has had a gutful of the haters in the peanut (comments) gallery. Herein lies his opine on D.Rampe, characters and missed opportunities…
Matt Zurbo looks at the clock and realises he’s been writing for the Almanac for ten years. He’s a do-er. But he stops for a minute to think about why. [Thanks Matt. It’s yours as much as anyone’s. – JTH]
Half time
Oh to be a fly on the wall in Round 1 – Matt Zurbo takes us into the “fictional” inner sanctum of a club in the time of coronavirus.