The Day I Earned My Place in the Dream Team

Alex Darling remembers the day for Hampton Rovers U10s when he finally felt that he belonged.

Almanac Footy History: The man behind the medal – the life of Charles Brownlow (1861-1924)

Read (Geelong FC) this detailed piece by Bob Gartland and Tony Joel on the life of Charles Brownlow. [Published in The International Journal of the History of Sport]

Almanac Footy: The Battle of the Bridge and a Spinal Tap Moment

Richard Griffiths tells the tale of the cup that wasn’t, the cup that is and all the drama that went on behind the scenes in the lead up to the inaugural Sydney derby.

Almanac Footy: Minor Encounter with a Major Legend – Ted Whitten at Elizabeth Oval

Philip Peel recalls a brief but very memorable encounter he had with EJ Whitten at the Elizabeth Oval in 1968.

Almanac (Sporting) Life: Heremas and his ‘Sputnik’

What’s a suburban footy club if you can’t play a few pranks on committee members? Pestwac recalls his younger footy days playing rugby.

Almanac Footy: St Kilda’s 2026 season preview

They may have a couple of question marks about them, but the Saints appear to have a better look about them this year, according to Mickey McTigger.

‘ “Wild Bill”…the street-fighter in flannels’…by KB Hill

KB Hill profiles one of the bigger-than-life characters he’s had the pleasure of coming across over the years – ‘Wild Bill’ Albury.

Almanac Golf: Part 1 – Building a golf course: how to

Tony Moffat recalls his younger days, his interest in golf, and assisting his local community in the development of a new golf course.

‘Swansong for WDCA at Melbourne Cricket Week…?’ by KB Hill

KB Hill traces Wangaratta’s proud history in Melbourne Country Week cricket. But is it now all over?

Almanac Footy: GWS 2026 season preview

GWS are next up as Micky McTigger continues his evaluation of each club’s roster for the 2026 AFL season.

Almanac Life: A desperate thirteenth step to recovery

In a bid to overcome specific health issues, Ian Wilson gave up alcohol and took on the challenge of running marathons.

Almanac (Local) Cricket – Round 8: West Warrion v Colac

The regional cricket season has resumed after the Christmas/New Year break with West Warrion taking the field against Colac. Liam McCullagh reports on one of his not so good days.

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 1: Introducing Herbie

Today we begin a new series focusing on Herb Barkle, Bantamweight champion of Queensland 1926-29 and contender for the national title. Almanacker Dave Goodwin, originally from Kingaroy, unfolds the story of the man who, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, ‘one time, could have been the champion of Australia’.

Almanac Observation: Why we love sport!

It’s the unpredictability of sport that is one of the reasons Ian Hauser loves it. Here’s another example from the weekend.

‘Made in Sri Lanka…’ by KB Hill

KB Hill charts the rich contribution of Sri Lankan cricketers to the Wangaratta District Cricket Association.

Almanac Cricket – Two Superlative Innings: When Tony Greig and Geoff Boycott Padded Up For Waverley

Braham Dabscheck offers a detailed insight into a watershed moment in Sydney grade cricket when England captain Tony Greig agreed to play for Waverley Cricket Club. The repercussions changed cricket forever.

Almanac Cricket: An appreciation of Ian Chappell – Part 2

Reject Phil continues his appreciation of Ian Chappell with an overview of why it was good to be in South Australia in the 60s and 70s.

Almanac Footy Comment: Gather Round is the solution

Miles Wilks thinks that the recently announced Wildcard Round is an answer to the wrong question. By drawing on overseas examples, he offers an alternative framework which may well provide the answer to what he believes to be the right question.

Almanac (Irish) Life: My day at Páirc MacUílín, Ballycastle

Murray Bird recently had a couple of weeks in Ireland. He was so taken and moved by the people, their sport and their music, their friendliness and their likability, that he just had to get his thoughts on the page. This is an Almanac classic. It’s travel, observation and understated commentary. It’s wholehearted participation and engagement. Please, pour yourself a Guinness or a whisky, and immerse yourself in a superb account of a hurling game and what happened along the way in getting there. This is the story of a grand people and their rich history and culture.

‘The day the Poms arrived in town…’ by KB Hill

As the 2025/26 Ashes series approaches, KB Hill takes us back to the 1958/59 Tour when the Poms came to Wangaratta to play the Victoria Country XI.

‘Vaudeville in the dressing rooms…’ by KB Hill

KB Hill charts the career of Stan Trebilcock with the Wangaratta Rovers and the local cricket association.