Otway Districts FNC is celebrating 125 years of football in the ranges this Saturday. It will be huge! Past players coming from everywhere. In honour of the occasion, Old Dog takes the time to talk to one of its best ever, his former teammate, Sammy Harriott, about what it means to play for the mighty Demons.
Almanac Footy: Pride – Otway Districts FC 125th Year Celebrations Saturday 26 April
April 25, 2025 by 5 Comments
Almanac Footy: Let’s talk about Melbourne
April 7, 2025 by 3 Comments
What to make of the Dees? The dive has been distinct and Old Dog thinks he’s cottoned on to the fraying threads of a former heavyweight contender now soul searching as the Ship of Theseus that is AFL tactics sails forward.
Almanac Footy: Stubbornness Got Me This Far
April 5, 2025 by 7 Comments
After 719 games of footy, Old Dog is still committed to his beloved Otway Districts FC, and will be running the drinks across four grades on Saturday.
Almanac Life: Old Dog, the kid, a footy, the roof!
January 10, 2025 by 2 Comments
A small piece from Old Dog about kicking the footy with the kid when the obvious happens.
Grand Final 2024 – Sydney v Brisbane: Gameplans
September 29, 2024 by 13 Comments
The Old Dog watched the Grand Final at the Port Campbell pub, and this is his account of the day and the game.
Almanac Footy: Gloves off!
September 27, 2024 by 6 Comments
The Old Dog wants to get a few things about footy off his chest so he can relax and enjoy the Big One!
[Language warning -Ed]
Almanac Footy: Like-A-Looks 11
August 31, 2024 by 4 Comments
It’s time for Old Dog’s Annual Like-A-Looks!
Almanac Footy: The AA
August 30, 2024 by 9 Comments
The 2024 AFL All-Australian Team has Old Dog fuming as he vents his spleen regarding the selections.
Almanac Footy: The Bump
August 28, 2024 by 9 Comments
The coach cancels Tuesday night training for Old Dog and his team mates so it’s down to the pub for a meal and a chat about a bump. [Language warning – Ed]
Almanac Olympics: Raygun
August 13, 2024 by 9 Comments
No matter what others thought, Matt Zurbo thoroughly enjoyed the breakdancing performance by Raygun at the Olympics because of the humour, irreverence, ‘and a laconic disregard for norms’ that were displayed, but mostly because it was so bad!!.
Almanac Podcasts: Matt Zurbo interview on CDFNL Insiders Podcast
August 10, 2024 by 3 Comments
Matt Zurbo was recently interviewed on the ‘CDFNL Insiders’ podcast reflecting on his life in country footy.
Bush Footy Match Review
July 24, 2024 by 2 Comments
Old Dog has been writing for us for twelve years now. This is his ultimate bush footy match review. [Brilliant – Ed]
Round 15 – Carlton v Geelong: Football, and death on the clifftops.
June 25, 2024 by 11 Comments
The magnificence of the Otways, the pounding surf, its rugged coastline, and a dark side all provide a backdrop for Old Dog as he reflects on life, death and the football.
Once a Tiger – an interview with Ron Branton
June 6, 2024 by 7 Comments
Vale Ron Branton.
We reprise Matt Zurbo’s interview with him from 2016. It captures the life of a 1950s footballer superbly. Sections of this interview appear in Matt’s book ‘Champions All’.
Round 8: Snippets of footy
May 9, 2024 by 3 Comments
Old Dog cast an eye over last weekend’s Round 8. His vast experience helped him to pick out the key components.
Round 6 – Adelaide v Essendon: Speed
April 20, 2024 by 4 Comments
In the still of the night, the croaking of the frogs around him, Old Dog is blown away by the pace the match between the Crows v Bombers was played at as he watched the game flopped in his chair after his day of toil. It was a cracking game!
Almanac Travel: Old Dog returns to the town of his first senior flag, Lilydale in Tasmania.
March 12, 2024 by 3 Comments
The Old Dog takes the family to one of his former stomping grounds and catches up with some old footy mates in Lilydale, Tasmania.
Opening Round – GWS v Collingwood: Up and … chipping?
March 11, 2024 by 3 Comments
Matt Zurbo reviews the GWS v Collingwood game. One thing that struck while watching the match was more chipping occurred in the game than in the whole Tasmanian timber industry!
Almanac Literary: A letter to my agent
October 10, 2023 by 7 Comments
Tommy Mallet is an author who ‘headed east to go north, just for now, and never righted’ as he mulls on the plight of the writer in a letter to his agent.
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