It was midsummer this week in Sweden. Haiku Bob spent the weekend at the family’s summer house north of Stockholm on an island called Vätö. Beautiful spot. Went on a fishing expedition while the Pies and Swans slugged it out. The Pies got the points and we brought home the herring (about 60 0f them!)
Clarence Clemons – The Passing of a Musical Inspiration
June 21, 2011 by 11 Comments
by Peter Baulderstone One of the great things about the Almanac is that its’ about more than footy. Its’ footy and sport as an entrée to things that are deepest and most important in life. Stuff that would sound ‘preachy’ if stated overtly, but sounds natural and unforced in the context of fandom, mateship [Read more]
Haiku Bob: Round 12- change of scenery
June 20, 2011 by 2 Comments
change of scenery — the first gamer adds some colour rolling waves — leon breaks the last line pale clouds — the Demon’s defence wearing thin another sunburnt Pom — Wellingham slices through like they’re witches hats [Read more]
Her hair glistened…
June 14, 2011 by 5 Comments
Every year, English teachers from across the United States submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year’s winners. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two [Read more]
flinging shadows
June 8, 2011 by 4 Comments
remnants of the sun — Goddard strikes the first blow leaves tumble… tonight Cloke marking everything floodlights flinging shadows — a hurried snap for goal sharp cold — late goals before the long break bite the Saints autumn [Read more]
Q and A dream panel?
June 7, 2011 by 26 Comments
Much discussion today about the disappointing Q and A last night. Was it disappointing? Who is your Q and A dream panel?
When Greg Met the Butcher
June 3, 2011 by 2 Comments
A Football Fable (Colours and clubs have been changed to protect the colours and clubs) I Footballers up and back through the Wimmera Knew well the name Greg Trotter His number sixteen and his muscular arms Strung tight like a horse’s hindquarter They cowardly stepped away When they saw that number they knew But men [Read more]
the shudder of bones
June 1, 2011 by 4 Comments
autumn rain — Pendlebury slips into the stream when I crack my knuckles our first goal chilly MCG — empty seats but not too much to be quiet about mist blunt air head down Ball hammers into the shudder of bones the sun has gone off somewhere but here’s Daisy! dusk presents itself Cloke [Read more]
Beauty pageants, buttocks and badminton
May 25, 2011 by 6 Comments
Heard about the World Badminton Federation’s new dress code edict for women? Almanacker Angela Pippos has, and has a few words to say about it, along with some thoughts on child beauty pageants, royal buttocks and (gasp!) an unmarried prime-minister who has a live-in partner! Check out Angela’s great piece at the link below [Read more]
My favourite drop-kick: part 8
May 24, 2011 by 1 Comment
by Vin Maskell The Australian Rules Drop-Kick Appreciation Society is delighted to announce that poet, mathematician and Fitzroy fan Tom Petsinis has been inducted into the society’s Hall of Fame (Literature). Petsinis’ 2006 book Four Quarters includes the 12 verse, 48 line poem Drop Kick. It is a lovely ode to the lost art, [Read more]
blushing leaves
May 24, 2011 by 4 Comments
scattered leaves — none of our players where they were named closed roof — a lull overhangs our rustiness one miss from close in then two, then three… — blushing leaves wind-lashed trees — goals from turnovers pile up Wellingham crumbs — bodies swirl in his wake closed roof — all eyes on Daisy’s torp [Read more]
every good move
May 17, 2011 by 1 Comment
fallen leaves the ground they cover chasing Joel Selwood just like old times every good move contains Buckley rain holding off the forwards can’t get near it chilled to the bone the felled player motionless cloud blocked moon — a good chance the ball is where Selwood is entering time on a goal down — [Read more]
Geelong v Collingwood Rd 8 MCG
May 16, 2011 by 1 Comment
Round 8 Geelong v Collingwood Freezing weather Wet and windy at the G HUGE game Friday night footy 1 versus 2 Cats and Pies Both undefeated Old champs new champs Hunter Hunted role reversal Collingwood favourites Siren sounds Ottens wins the ruck No Jolly will hurt Magpies Geelong wins the clearance Menzel marks inside 50 [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – The Goodna Footy Floods of 2011
May 12, 2011 by 2 Comments
THE GOODNA FOOTY FLOODS of 2011 by Tony Caswell (or TC, The Goodna Gunna) The river came up, and the rain came down A playing field of green, became a slush of brown The footballs are gone, along with tackling bags All the teams jerseys, are now muddied rags Gary, the President, he carried the [Read more]
Ted Hopkins
May 10, 2011 by 2 Comments
by Graham Jackson Having just read and enjoyed ‘The Stats Revolution’ I thought I might revisit a poem of mine published in the Winter 1974 number of ‘Canberra Poetry’. It’s called ‘Ted Hopkins: The Twentieth Century Identity’. I first met Ted in 1968/9, but only got to know him in the early 1970s, in Albury, some [Read more]
Haiku Bob Rd 6: clear moments after
May 5, 2011 by 1 Comment
wet afternoon the football used as a lure Johnno subbed off the game loses a little right-side brain sprinting in the clear then on meeting Luke Ball stopped wind-tossed rain a perfect pass by mistake moon strains through clouds a goal clear moments after watering my dead plant Leeroy explodes to life the rain lighter [Read more]
Notes on Tom Wills Paintings
May 1, 2011 by 1 Comment
By Richard Webber *The Predestination of Tom Wills (Acrylic on canvas, 84 x 60 inch) *Tom Wills Death Scene (Acrylic on canvas, 84 x 60 inch) Thomas Wentworth (Tom) Wills has been popularized as the iconic (heroic?) personality behind the inception of Australian Rules Football. The AFL ‘Tom Wills’ Round, an MCG statue, Geoffrey Blainey’s [Read more]
Haiku Bob- Rd 5: various shades
April 28, 2011 by 1 Comment
red leaves the Bombers hold on but soon fall away opening skirmishes sun ripples across the ‘G Anzac Day – the shadows of the players brush the crowd in my new country watching Collingwood feels new bright afternoon the extra edge in our play autumn colours goals of various shades the moon about to appear a [Read more]
Haiku Bob Rd 4: last of the snow
April 20, 2011 by 3 Comments
It’s fair to say I’m a little confused. Not (just) because I’m on the other side of the world while my beloved Pies enjoy their most purple of purple of patches in living memory! As a haiku poet, I’m a captive of nature and the cycle of the seasons. It’s as it should be. Part [Read more]
Recent Comments