Dan Hoban has a tidbit on Charlie Spargo, the Melbourne small forward about to play in his first Grand Final, and his family’s (and Albury’s) rich sporting history.
Almanac Footy: Life in Ten Grand Finals
September 22, 2021 by 4 Comments
Peter Baulderstone shares Grand Final memories. Not just the winning or the losing. It’s the time, the place, the people we shared it with that sticks with us. What are your Grand Final memories beyond the result?
Almanac Footy – The 1964 Grand Final
September 22, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Melbourne haven’t won a Grand Final since 1964. Norm Smith was sacked the year after, then re-instated, bringing about the 57-year curse that has beleaguered the club for much of that time. Here are some highlights of their last grand final victory.
Geelong’s Record Run – Round 14, 1953: Geelong v Collingwood – The end of the run
September 22, 2021 by 6 Comments
It was 26 and out for Geelong, who were defeated by Phonse Kyne’s Magpies at Kardinia Park on August 1st, 1953. Four goals to one in the final quarter were enough to stop Geelong’s remarkable run. Peter Clark enters his penultimate piece into his mammoth series.
Tom Wills – what happens now?
September 21, 2021 by 11 Comments
Andrew Starkie asks how we might respond to recent research which suggests that iconic Australian sports figure Tom Wills was ‘a member of a party that hunted down and slaughtered hundreds of Aboriginals in reprisal for the murder of his father and others in outback Queensland…’ (Challenging indeed – Ed.)
Almanac Footy – WAFL semi-finals: The Lions are back!
September 21, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Les Everett continues his coverage of the WAFL finals series. The Lions are back after a poor year in 2020!
The day I saw the Bulldogs win the Grand Final.
September 21, 2021 by 16 Comments
Five years ago, as the Bulldogs prepared for the 2016 Grand Final, Neil Anderson recalled attending the 1954 Grand Final. between Footscray and Melbourne.
Memories of Bob and the Mighty Blues: Tony De Bolfo with John Menzies
September 21, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Carlton Media’s Tony De Bolfo shares the thoughts of John Menzies, lifelong Carlton supporter and also the nephew of the former Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. It’s a journey back to a different age.
Almanac Footy: Screw the Brownlow
September 20, 2021 by 27 Comments
Old Dog just cannot abide the Brownlow as it is these days. And, while he has the floor, he has a crack at a few other contemporary elements of AFL footy on the way.
Almanac Teams: Twenty-one gun salute (1980- )
September 20, 2021 by 3 Comments
There might not be a hidden ace up the sleeve in Rodney Boyd’s best of Number 21 team, but this side has plenty of solid depth in important areas of the ground.
Almanac Politics and Footy: Who else was in government when your team won the flag…and a winner in 2021!
September 20, 2021 by 5 Comments
Following hot on the heels from her last take on politics and footy, Anne Cahill Lambert adds further layers in reponse to queries and comments.
Almanac book review – Nick Richardson’s ‘Chadwick: a man of many parts’ by Roger Lowrey
September 20, 2021 by 1 Comment
Roger Lowrey reviews the biography of one of the most influential figures in Victorian sports, business and administration history, Sir Albert Chadwick.
Almanac Footy: A Grand Final week postcard from the Tiwi Islands where a whisper of history is at play
September 19, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Mention the Tiwi Islands and you immediately think football, and haven’t they produced some greats! Michael Sexton presents a postcard from the islands in the lead up to the Grand Final.
Almanac Politics and Footy: Who was in government when your team won the flag?
September 19, 2021 by 8 Comments
Anne Cahill Lambert lives in Canberra. By her own admission ACL’s life revolves around footy and politics. Here she considers which party was in power at the time teams have won the flag. [It’s a bit of fun – Ed]. And she night be fishing for a prediction.
Almanac Footy: Why Grannies ain’t what they used to be
September 17, 2021 by 3 Comments
Prominent sports journalist Ron Reed, ponders the question of how much footy has changed since the last time the Demons and the Bulldogs played off for the flag. Beyond recognition he suggests, and so has the way it is written about – and by whom.
Grand Final – Melbourne v Western Bulldogs: Bulldogs Anonymous
September 17, 2021 by 8 Comments
Neil Anderson channels the great work of AA inputting together this personal Bulldog admission based on years of not getting to the big dance and then suddenly in the last few years, ‘the chance to take your partners.’
Almanac (Footy) Musing: On Footy Commentary
The Muse is musing on footy commentary, and boy oh boy, wowee, he doesn’t miss, as he passes the time until his beloved Bulldogs play in their second grand final in six years.