Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin, Game 2: Four Queenslanders in Melbourne

Almanac rugba league columnists Rabbit in the Vineyard and Prop in the Canefield travelled to Melbourne for State of Origin 2. They were joined by Gilbo Half and John Harms. It was a tour of contrasts: wonderful Melbourne and the MCG, but an unfortunate game.

Almanac Rugby League – Never the twain shall meet

As he was twelve years ago, John Harms is on the tram and on his way to the State of Origin match to be played at the MCG tonight. We reprise an Origin memory from 2012 by John. What would Mark Twain have thought?

Almanac Radio Interview: Conversations with Cornesy

Conversations with Cornesy on 5AA recently featured John Harms.

Almanac Memories: Drinking with Billy Serong Part 2

Bill Serong, who died a month ago, drank at the North Fitzroy Arms. John Harms had a few beers with him over the years.

Almanac Footy: The Lions, The Cats, The Gabba and The Divine

John Harms will be talking about the Gabba on 612 4QR this afternoon. We reprise this piece from the Covid years…

The Gabba! Before it became yet another monolith to Mammon, it was a ground of immense character. In his 2020 preview of the Brisbane v Geelong Preliminary Final, John Harms explains the mystique of former days.

AFL Round 2 – Port Adelaide v Adelaide: The Parish

Gather Round has been a triumph for South Australia and Adelaide, again. Here’s a celebration of the Adelaide Oval, written by John Harms after Round 2 in 2014, the first AFL game for points at the new Adelaide Oval. {Or was there a game the season before?]

John Harms could not keep himself away from one of his favourite places on the planet. He travels to Adelaide for a significant moment in the life of the South Australian nation.

Round 19 – Hawthorn v Geelong: Tomahawk and spontaneous ring-a-ring-a-rosey

This John Harms story of the famous Tom Hawkins goal after the siren was first published a week after the event. P. Flynn’s analysis is also included.

Stawell Gift: W.K. Trewick (Brisbane)

How Ken Trewick won the 1950 Stawell Gift.

Vale Bob Speechley

Bob Speechley has died at the age of 81. He was a much-loved member of the Almanac fraternity. We will miss him. [Feel free to add a comment or an anecdote at the end of JTH’s tribute.] Details of his memorial gathering are in this post.

Almanac Pro-running: The Stawell Gift Monday program from 1961

Swish Schwerdt and JTH help Dips recover from the shock banning of bookies at the Stawell Gift by publishing this gem of an artifact [a holy relic no less] from 1961. Can you help build the story?

Almanac Music: Taylor, Anna and me

John Harms is about to jump in the car to drive his daughter Anna to Melbourne for the Tay Tay concert. He’s interested in your thoughts on the phenomenon.

Almanac (Blacks) Premiership: Grand Final Player Profiles

It’s Malcolm Rulebook Ashwood’s birthday and to celebrate here’s a photo of three greats of both the Adelaide Uni Blacks and The Footy Almanac. We hope they answer the probing questions.

Almanac Life: Stuff that happened during Covid lockdown

John Harms has collated the nine short pieces he wrote about home-schooling during Covid.

Almanac Golf: The Brown Slipper

This was published in 2012.

It tells the story of The Harms Family’s Brown Slipper in 2012.

The 2023 Brown Slipper is in Hamilton and Port Fairy next week.

Almanac Melbourne Cup: The time-honoured trifecta think-tank and other absurdities

Last night’s think-tank has generated this report, with these selections.

Almanac Anniversary Celebrations: Citrus Bob at the MCC Library 150th Anniversary Luncheon – A minnow among the big fish

Citrus Bob Utber was among the who’s who of the sporting writers world at the MCC Library 150th anniversary luncheon on Monday, and he had a fabulous time.

Almanac Life: Meeting Ron Barassi

Everyone, it seems, has their Meeting Ron Barassi story – including John Harms who bumped into him Up North.

Almanac (World Cup) Soccer: It’s been a fascinating few weeks

John Harms has his thoughts on the response to the World Cup and the Matildas. He’s interested in yours.

Almanac Cricket (Memoir): Falling towards Headingley

John Harms remembers 1993, and his trip to the Headingley Test with T.G. White.

Almanac Cricket: What I was reminded of while watching the AB doco

Like many, John Harms has the cricket on in the background. As the rain kept falling during the Sydney Test he reckons he saw the Allan Border docos umpteen times. Here’s some things the doco reminded him of.