Almanac Local History – Pine Ridge Cemetery Coburg: Peter James Martin (1875-1918) – Collingwood FC

November 22, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Former Collingwood footballer Peter James Martin (1875-1918) is one of many sportsmen buried at the Pine Ridge Cemetery Coburg.

Almanac Local History – Pine Ridge Cemetery Coburg: Pervical and Terence Ogden

November 15, 2023 by Leave a Comment

The focus of this week’s excerpt from Allan Barden’s essay ‘Sporting history in abundance at Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery’ falls on the father/son duo of Percival and Terence Ogden.

Almanac Local History – Pine Ridge Cemetery Coburg: James Francis ‘Jock’ McHale (1882-1953)

November 8, 2023 by Leave a Comment

The legendary James Francis ‘Jock’ McHale is the focus of this week’s excerpt from Alan Barden’s essay, ‘Sporting history in abundance at Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery’.

Almanac Footy: Fitzroy’s Jack Worrall – 19th century sporting superstar

October 13, 2023 by 4 Comments

Rod Gillett profiles the career of Jack Worrall, a superstar footballer and cricketer of the 19th Century,who later became a successful football coach and sporting journalist.

Almanac Footy: Number 31

September 19, 2023 by 6 Comments

Paul Crowe remembers back to footy after school, dreaming he was a Demon star from the 60s, but there was only one star – number 31, the great Ron Barassi.

Round 24 – Geelong v Western Bulldogs: Glass half full with Cats’ past players

August 29, 2023 by 6 Comments

Roger Lowrey caught up with a few former Geelong FC players before the Cats’ match against the Bulldogs.

SA v WA 1968: Home Ground Advantage

August 22, 2023 by 14 Comments

When South Australia and Western Australia met in Adelaide in 1968 the result went as expected. Both sides were sprinkled with names that were legendary in their respective states, some went on to national prominence but for others it was their only shot at State-level footy. Read what the SA Football Budget had to say about these stars of the 1960s. There’s a treat in store for those with a connection to Broken Hill also.

Almanac Footy: The Story of Jack Wrout – Roger Spaull

July 8, 2023 by 1 Comment

Jack Wrout was ‘one of the most influential Blues of his time’ according to the Carlton FC. Roger Spaull has taken a well researched journey into the life and times of this former champion footballer with his in-depth study to produce another outstanding footy history.

Almanac Footy: Bemoaning Today’s AFL Commentary

July 1, 2023 by 16 Comments

The quality of footy commentary today leaves a lot to be desired when compared to commentators from the the 70s as Ian Wilson suggests.

Almanac Book Launch: ‘The Lancefield Football Club 1873 – 2023’

May 26, 2023 by Leave a Comment

The Lancefield Football-Netball Club celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion the club will launch the release of ‘The Lancefield Football Club: 1873-2023’ at the match against traditional rivals Romsey, tomorrow Saturday 27 May.

Almanac Lunch: ‘The Footy Jumper Book’ with Swan, Hughie, and John.

May 22, 2023 by 3 Comments

A full house at the recent Footy Almanac lunch to introduce ‘The Footy Jumper Book’ enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of entertainment with the special guest speakers, football greats David McKay, Hugh Mitchell, and John Birt discussing their celebrated footy careers.

Almanac Life: Two Giants of Indigenous Leadership

May 19, 2023 by 2 Comments

With the Indigenous round of footy this week, Ian Wilson pays tribute to two giants of Aboriginal leadership – Sir Doug Nicholls, and Archie Roach who will be celebrated over the weekend.

Almanac Footy History: Why Not Tom Leahy?

May 8, 2023 by 10 Comments

Michael Sexton suggests there is a compelling case for the induction of former South Australian champion Tom Leahy into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

SANFL Blow-ins 1960-1990 Part 4: North Adelaide

December 23, 2022 by 12 Comments

After a lengthy hiatus, Swish returns with the next club in his series of SANFL Blow-Ins, looking at the North Adelaide Roosters.

Almanac Footy: A Team for all seasons

November 22, 2022 by 13 Comments

Citrus Bob Utber presents his footy team for all seasons made up of players he has watched play over the past seventy years.

1971 SANFL Mobil Cards – Part 10: Woodville

September 19, 2022 by 13 Comments

Here’s the final club of Swish’s SANFL 1971 Mobil Cards series, the Woodville Woodpeckers (as they were). Blight, Holland, Huppatz, Simunsen – what stars they all were!

Almanac Footy Life: The Russo Dynasty

August 19, 2022 by 2 Comments

Citrus Bob Utber examines the Russo dynasty that produced some of the biggest names to play league football. In total they played 1195 games, kicked  605 goals, won 8 premierships, scored four best and fairest awards, all-Australian 4 times and 1 ‘Big Vee’ an incredible feat in anyone’s language.

Almanac Life: Ian ‘Goals’ Drohan (1932- 2019)

August 5, 2022 by 34 Comments

David Clerehan remembers with affection former St Kilda footballer, Ian ‘Goals’ Drohan, and their pleasant Sunday mornings together around the streets of St Kilda.

Almanac Footy History: A tribute to Gordon Proudfoot of the Fitzroy FC

July 27, 2022 by 1 Comment

Historian Roger Spaull pays tribute to former Fitzroy FC player Gordon Proudfoot who passed away recently.

1972 SANFL Grand Final – North Adelaide v Port Adelaide: Same Again Thanks

May 5, 2022 by 21 Comments

It’s fifty years since North Adelaide completed back-to-back SANFL flags. Swish takes a look at the 1972 Grand Final Footy Budget and provides some observations from the Roosters’ acclaimed win in the Champions of Australia a fortnight later.