Why Footy is Attractive for a Japanese Bloke

Yoshi Imagawa strives to explain what he finds attractive and unique about Australian Rules footy.

AFL Fans Association kicked goals despite itself

Jeff Dowsing gives us a ‘before, during and after’ view of his AFL Fans Association experience and its efforts taking on the AFL. “Not so much playing Goliath versus David as we were David’s kid sister”. Salient points about the growth, maintenance and renewal of any organised movement.

A media release from the Fans’ Association. Your thoughts?

The AFL Fans Association is keen to have a voice at the (match day) summit which starts tomorrow. Your thoughts? Should they have an invited representative? What’s your view of the AFLFA?

The golden age of indigenous Australian footy in Victoria (Patrick Skene in the Guardian)

Patrick Skene has had a fantastic debut year as a feature writer both with us here at the Almanac and now he has been picked up by the Guardian. Here’s his latest.

The 2014 Jack Miller Cup

A little off-season update from Earl O’Neill. Cricket’s stuffed; NFL’s great but bikes and music are better. Oh, and there have been a few changes on the home front (did my invite get lost in the mail – Ed?)

AFL Coaches and Technology

Yoshi Imagawa is interested in the different technologies that coaches deploy to communicate or capture match stats. Phone or headset? Paper or tablet? Boomer or Gen X?

Killing the Mockingbird: Recollections of the 1997 Bulldogs and Crows Preliminary Final

Sensational dreamlike memoir from Mickey Randall as he naps during the 1997 Prelim. Sadly for the Doggies, the nightmare was theirs on this day.

Hird et al: some observations

James Hird is back in court again. E.Regnans reckons he’s a gift that keeps on giving (for QC’s and outraged writers).

Who is the mystery kicker in this photo?

Who is this mystery man? [Thebarton Oval, early 1980s]

NTFL ROUND SIX WRAP-UP

All the weekend’s matches from the Top End as young dynamos and some old AFL stars make starring performances [Includes an appearance from arguably the silkiest Aboriginal player to pull on a pair of boots – Ed.]

Hobart footy, late 1800s

E. Regnans shares some historical research he found in a history of the North Hobart Football Club. How the twig was bent in the 19th century shapes the bough of today’s monolithic AFL oak.

Potential NZ Blockbuster between Saints and Blues

Yoshi Imagawa thinks that taking on the Blues in New Zealand will be good for his Saints, and good for football.

Great Loyalty, Motivation and Striving for a Flag

Inspired by his Saints’ positive outlook, Yoshi is confident that things are looking up for him also.

Sean Gorman’s request – information on Indigenous footballers, clubs, leagues

Sean Gorman is embarking on a significant research project and seeks our assistance.

Life and football: John Harms at Ainslie

David Fordyce takes us to an Ainslie Football Club function, August 2014, Canberra. The speaker: John Harms. The subject: connections between life and football. Take it away David…

My Excitements of St Kilda’s Anzac Day Clash in 2015

Yoshi has had his wish granted with his Saints playing Carlton next Anzac Day in Wellington. He wants to get back to New Zealand for the game.

Simplifying Football

Ben Rutten has inspired this piece because Old Dog loves backmen. He loves watching backmen. He hates how they’re ignored when votes are awarded. He doesn’t like how stats rule – and he points out a ripper stat about the Swans premiership back line

NTFL Wrap-Up: Round 4

Brilliant young talent is on display in Darwin as Jackson Clark reviews the Round 4 clashes in the NTFL.

Sydney, don’t think

Matt Watson consults a leading sports psychologist to explore the mental side of Hawthorn’s domination and Sydney’s capitulation in the 2014 AFL Grand Final.

Every team needs their own ‘Wheels’

The story of “Wheels” and the impact he had on a local footy club. [Funny – Ed]