AUSSIE HUMOUR. “No tribal colours,” the bouncer tells me, holding his hand out. We both look at the North jumper I’m wearing. “It’s okay, he’s with the band,” Gav says. “I know the band,” the bouncer says. He’s from Warrnambool. So are the Monaros. Like the King and Queen are from England, and David Boon [Read more]
The Footygods: the Algea
September 10, 2012 by 9 Comments
The Footygods must have enjoyed Saturday. Adelaide and Geelong thought they just had to turn up to win. A mate of mine from Adelaide said that most people there thought that the cup was in the bag. The crows had stormed home to second. They had beaten the swans early and others had beaten them [Read more]
Temper Trap – An inoffensive selection
September 4, 2012 by 42 Comments
Almanac music aficionado, Andrew Fithall, finds himself in a tender trap with this year’s Grand Final entertainment.
Haiku Bob: so little done
August 30, 2012 by 3 Comments
Haiku Bob’s take on the recent West Coast v Collingwood match
Footy as Religion: A Myth for All Seasons
August 28, 2012 by 14 Comments
By Phil Dimitriadis Man has built in himself images as a sense of security – religious, political, personal. These manifest as symbols, ideas, and beliefs. The burden of these dominates man’s thinking, relationships and his daily life. (J. Krishnamurti) Corporate, religious and political rhetoric often sits comfortably with Australian Rules expression and its desire [Read more]
Footy Poetry: Josh
August 27, 2012 by 2 Comments
Matt Zurbo is at a footy-watching, beer-drinking, rock’n’roll, Saturday night thirtieth.
Swans are live
August 19, 2012 by 2 Comments
With the Sydney Swans experiencing a somewhat unseen resurgence it feels appropriate to mention another bunch of Swans also making their own understated comeback this year. Born in the bowels of NYC in the early ‘80’s the band Swans, led by Michael Gira, have been unleashing their genre-defining sound on the world for thirty years [Read more]
where there’s no light
August 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
setting sun far fr o m it Beams where there’s no light wet under foot Harry’s careful side steps through traffic rain falls swirling & bobbing up Didak sliver of moon Fasolo threads it through on & off rain Cloke’s form blurred night closes in two and a half [Read more]
seconds ticking
August 9, 2012 by 4 Comments
august night hot puffs of breath enter the stadium the moon witness to all the mistakes under the sun night chill Reid rises from the mist bare trees all authority gone from our game Saints hit the front the stadium changes tune long bomb the rush [Read more]
light and shade
August 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
sunset a few purple patches kill off the game evening sky no great signs only flashes playing the bottom team the caller questions a lack of urgency twilight game the zig-zag path to goal empty seats Cloke marks alone and unattended fading light Wood losing what little he had twilight the light and shade of [Read more]
Rotunda in the West: Conversations with Australian Writers
July 27, 2012 by 2 Comments
Almanac Admin
haiku bob: more than daylight
July 26, 2012 by 2 Comments
hawks glide casting shadows across the ‘G bright winter sun – more than daylight between the two teams static forward line winter stillness ice cold hands even in the sunshine – the slumping star for a moment nothing but Rioli heavy defeat looms my life too lacks direction packed [Read more]
POW priest and the sacrament of sport – Eureka Street
July 24, 2012 by 3 Comments
One time when visiting Sydney from the US, author Brian Doyle got into a conversation with an elderly priest who had spent most of his working life on Bougainville Island. Talking about cricket on Bougainville sent him back to one particular cricket match which he had witnessed as a prisoner of the Japanese Imperial Army [Read more]
Man on the gate
July 23, 2012 by 7 Comments
By Brendan Ryan Oilskin keeping out the cold the muscles in his legs wearing down through the under 12s, netball, under 14s, under 18s, reserves and finally seniors around two. A job we all expect somebody to do. A man who complements the scene of cars nosed up to the boundary fence, [Read more]
already gone
July 19, 2012 by 1 Comment
cat wakes up magpies already gone night mist – the tagger looks around for his man rain and fog – still no sign of Cloke pouring rain a long stream of handballs rain squalls – players chase the ball to and fro Swan streams forward rain begins to clear 8 goal quarter – [Read more]
Our land of plenty
July 17, 2012 by 3 Comments
Our land of plenty, a faraway zone That lodged in the mind of this schoolboy at home O’er the horizon and far from my gaze But a hot-bed of promise even in Bloods bad old days The Farrer League clubs carried names full of song There was Culcairn , Coolamon and Grong Grong Matong [Read more]
changing pitch
July 12, 2012 by 2 Comments
four beers in things a little ragged down back and up forward winter frost yawning cracks in the back half Beams unsighted the moon hiding in the clouds needing a goal from anywhere Thomas from nowhere back in it the crowd’s noise changes pitch wellinghamagro [Read more]
the rainbow’s arch
July 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
how to stay warm – the game opens with more tackles than kicks break in the clouds play gets switched to the sunny side burst of sunshine a tangle of shadows around the ball changing conditions the ruckman does the roving icy wind and rain an Irishman prepares to [Read more]
Lessons I Learnt in India and Sri Lanka (Part 2)
July 4, 2012 by 4 Comments
Lesson 2: I’m a celebrity in India. I am a celebrity in India. I’m famous. The people love me…I think. You see, as a white-haired fair skinned teenage Australian, I was quite a rarity in India. Frequently, people would stop me in the streets (inner Mumbai especially) and ask for a photo or autograph. I [Read more]
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