It all started Round 4, 1983! Old Dog takes a funny look at the start to his 39th season of adult footy. As well as a love of family and football.
Heroes of Footy
January 18, 2021 by 11 Comments
Old Dog has a New Year’s hope: that the Otway Districts Footy and Netball Club will have an Under 18s again and that the young people of the area will have a chance to feel what it is to be part of this club and community and to get to really know the people at the heart and soul of it all and fully understand what it all means.
Almanac Footy: The Best Fullback of All Time
December 8, 2020 by 20 Comments
Matt Zurbo presents his thoughts on the best fullbacks of all time; those he has seen, and those from a historical perspective.
Grand Final – Richmond v Geelong: Dynasties
October 27, 2020 by 21 Comments
Old Dog reviews the Grand Final from the rainswept Otways. With Bourbon.
Almanac Footy Memoir: Fred Wooller and Bowl-o-matics.
October 23, 2020 by 3 Comments
Fred Wooller captained the Cats to premiership victory in 1963. Old Dog caught up with him.
Nankervis
October 22, 2020 by 31 Comments
The Old Dog knows a thing or two about ruck work. He also knows a few things about Toby Nankervis, who he coached as a youngster. He was very proud on Friday night.
Finals Week 1 – Port Adelaide v Geelong: Yesterday and tomorrow
October 2, 2020 by 10 Comments
The first 2020 final was a brutal clash. Old Dog saw the old and the new. He observes the differing playing styles and how they stood up under finals pressure.
Dark Blue, Maroon & White
September 14, 2020 by 24 Comments
Old Dog shares a video clip he’s seen of the boys from old Fitzroy, playing at Glenferrie in 1958. It has many characters of the club, colour and movement of the time, fading “What if?” questions and a jumper better than any other in the world. [Magic stuff – Ed.]
Off Season Odyssey – Part 14: Kicking Over Wheat Silos
September 7, 2020 by 11 Comments
Remember when we could all travel around?
One of the great troubadours of footy life, Matt Zurbo embarked on an epic tour some years ago. Here’s just one of the many highlights – from wheatbelt country close to the meeting point of three states and a lot of sunshine.
Round 8 – Port Adelaide v St Kilda: A ten minute doorway to football heaven
July 29, 2020 by 5 Comments
A 10 minute period on Saturday night caught Matt Zurbo’s eye. He thinks it represents much about what is great with the modern game. Relive those minutes with him (with a detour into the Friday night efforts of Dusty and Toby Greene).
‘Hawthorn’: In the words of John Kennedy Snr
July 1, 2020 by 11 Comments
From Old Dog (Matt Zurbo):
“I present to you, lovers of footy, in memory of a great coach, footballer and genuine family man, a quote from Ray Wilson, followed by my full, 10,000 word chat with John Kennedy Snr… A transcript I could only title: ‘Hawthorn’.”
This is a must-read.
Life Speeds Up
June 23, 2020 by 15 Comments
Time has changed for Old Dog. But some things remain the same.
Almanac Life (and training): It’s 10.30pm
May 15, 2020 by 5 Comments
Old Dog has been out late, running to get the kilometres into his legs, sharing the night with an owl, also sharing some insights into training in the age of coronavirus.
Season 38
March 18, 2020 by 9 Comments
Saddling up for footy season 38, Old Dog has road trips on the mind, along with a few other matters.
Zamora – Soccer and life in Venezuela
December 13, 2019 by 2 Comments
Life in Venezuela can be very tough for the ordinary citizen. It’s sport, especially soccer that people turn to for relief as Matt Zurbo explains.
Almanac Flashback – The Melbourne Cup: Matt Zurbo
November 5, 2019 by 9 Comments
In an Almanac Flashback from 2014, Matt Zurbo reflects on the traditions of racing, from about as far away from the glamour of Flemington as you can get.
Half time
Oh to be a fly on the wall in Round 1 – Matt Zurbo takes us into the “fictional” inner sanctum of a club in the time of coronavirus.