Almanac Tribute: Gareth Andrews remembers Frank Costa

Frank Costa was Geelong through and through, the driving force behind the Geelong Football Club becoming the on-field powerhouse it has been in recent times. Gareth Andrews remembers Frank Costa’s passing with a fitting tribute that was recently published in The Age.

Round 9 – Sal’s preview: Another great round of footy

Sal Ciardulli has cast his experienced eye over the form and has made his predictions for the Round 9 matches this weekend.

WAFL: Round 7 – Contrasts and comebacks Schoenfield, Schloithe and Schlensog

Les Everett reports from Western Australia with the latest news and results from Round 7 in the WAFL.

Keith Thomas: Redlegs champion

‘Rulebook’ is back! After a long absence, by his standards, Malcolm Ashwood returns to the Almanac with a profile of Keith Thomas, a member of the Norwood ‘Team of the Century’.

Almanac (Football) Humour: The Artist from Port Adelaide

Footballers’ nicknames aren’t as interesting and colourful as they used to be, KD laments. In a creative mood, he invents a new one for a Port Adelaide player, as an example of the way ahead.

Tongue in cheek?

Rick Trewavas, perhaps with tongue in cheek, gets creative on how to resolve questionable on-field physicality (ie, ‘the biff’).

Book Review – Merger: The Fitzroy Lions and the tragedy of 1996 by William Westerman

Craig Horne reviews William Westerman’s book, Merger: The Fitzroy Lions and the tragedy of 1996.

Book Extract – Merger: The Fitzroy Lions and the Tragedy of 1996

Another extract from William Westerman’s book, ‘Merger: the Fitzroy Lions and the Tragedy of 1996’. Was this day the worst of a very grim season?

Geelong’s Record Run – Round 16, 1952: Cats race away from Gorillas

With finals a month away, Geelong faced a red hot Fitzroy team at Kardinia Park. Peter Clark’s series on Geelong’s amazing unbeaten run through 1952-53 continues.

Round 9 – AFL fixture 2021: Details for matches this round

Round 9 match details of who, where, and when your favourite team is playing.

Round 8 – GWS v Essendon: Besotted with Baby Bombers

Sam Laffy is besotted with the current batch of ‘Baby Bombers’. Although the results may not be on the board the future looks bright for the Bombers as he reports.

Round 8 – Richmond v Geelong: Poleaxed

Dips O’Donnell’s Covid-19 vaccination spoiled his pizza and shiraz, and bed was a welcome relief. There, in his post-vaccination haze, watching the Cats great victory over the Tigers eased his pain. Get vaccinated says Dips, it’s better than the real thing!

Round 8 – North Melbourne v Collingwood – Floreat Pica Society report by Jim Kesselschmidt

A better result for the Collingwood faithful as Jim Kesselschmidt reports on behalf of the Floreat Pica Society.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Eddie Betts’s Shorts’ – Steve Rogers

Steve Rogers expresses his love of footy with memories of icons of the game, especially Eddie Betts’s shorts.

Almanac Teams: The Elevens Hour (1980- )

Back into the swing of things this week, Rodney Boyd provides his more interesting Number 11s side of the past forty years; this one contains a slow Brownlow winner and a benched premiership captain.

Round 8 – Gold Coast v St Kilda: Saints prevail over Suns in dour contest

Braham Dabscheck suggests this dour Round 8 clash between Gold Coast and St Kilda could be termed a ‘bad win’ for the Saints if there is such a thing.

Round 8 – North Melbourne v Collingwood

Phil Hill loves going to watch sporting events. However, he has a pet hate, the assault and insult of the extraneous noise associated with the game as he explains. Phil also reports on the football game he watched, the North and Collingwood Round 8 match which the Pies won by three goals.

Round 8 – Melbourne v Sydney (and lots of other observations): Barry Gibb plays for Sydney

Pure genius from Old Dog. Who players look like. [So glad you stayed up through the night to write this Old Dog – JTH]

Almanac Footy: The Muse – what would happen if it was really a Grand Old Flag?

With the hopes of Demons supporters justifiably growing, Hayden Kelly shares his personal recollections of some other recent drought-breaking premierships. He also offers a distinctly Gordon St. perspective on what the celebration of a Melbourne flag might look like.

Almanac Local (Junior) Footy: Debuting for South Colac (Part 2)

Continuing the family tradition, proud dad Luke Reynolds reports on the debut of his second son, Josh, for South Colac Under 14s.