Here’s today’s e-newsletter. What a terrific week of writing. Such diversity and originality. Thanks to all.
JTH
G’day Sportsfans
Hawthorn are having another amazing season: unbeaten so far in 2016. They keep raising the bar. In a great moment for Mankind they’ve beaten Carlton. In Tasmania. In February. (I suspect Brendon Bolton’s old home ground – North Lonny? WAG, can you confirm?)
Anyway, footy has germinated and is breaking through the top soil. And that has stirred some of our Regulars into action. (I think 2016 could be the Year of the Capital Letter) This week we’ve had pieces from Cam Hooke (Pie-love), Mathilde de Hauteclocque (Life-love), Robbo (Thinking love), Kate Birrell (Fifteen-love), Mickey (Monster Truck-love), Archie has Banjo licked (when he writes on the 50th anniversary of the Geebung Ladies Bowls Club), Hamish Neal (on soccer), Dennis Gedling (Bulgaria-love), Joe Moore previews the Swans season, Yoshi (from Japan), Swish Schwerdt (a cracker on teacher-footballers, which had the bonus of flushing out Lucia Nardo’s great piece on Barry Gill), other sides picked by DaveP (Blondes) and Glen (Nude Nut love) Wes Hulls (two beaut pieces in the Hulls style of celebrating diversity and the essence of the game), Keiran Croker on the 50th anniversary of W.M.Lawry’s outrageous determination playing for The People’s Republic (of Northcote), Keiran (again) remembering mid-70s Lakeside stats responsibilities, Glen Natalier (Andy Bichel-love). [Hey, you won’t get that level of originality anywhere else – Ed]
Debuts from Monivae student Matilda Dohle (our first wakeboarding yarn) and Hoops (on the Tatura races). Welcome.
Timely to remember that Citrus Bob Utber holds it all together.
Look out for the Nelson Twins. They will come to your school. They will also team up with Evan Hocking et al to play footy for your club, have a shower, and then make you laugh (a lot). Their flyers are in the list below.
Also, just a reminder that Howitt Partners will save you a stack of Coins (I was going to say Folding Stuff but then I remembered it’s The Almanac).
Season launch is March 17 at the North Fitzroy Arms from 6pm. Patty’s Day Guinness after work. Or an extension of lunch for A-Graders. Let us know if you are coming. [email protected]
And a sponsor.
Or just enjoy the craic.
Congratulations Hawthorn.
JTH
Please Sir – Schoolteacher Footy Players
Swish asks for any of your stories about school teaching footy players, using the 1986 VFL lists as a starting point.
Remember this classic piece from Lucia Nardo recalling her inspirational Grade 5 teacher, who happened to be a premiership footballer. [This is a seriously good article – and some terrific comments too. Ed]
Evocative summer words and image from Kate Birrell.
Rejoice. Mathilde de Hauteclocque is back for 2016. “It’s easy at the start of the season to take up the obvious, reassuring footy narrative. Positive thinking, the best of sports science mindfulness, confidence and pre-emptive strength. But the fact is, that the intra-club is the very beginning of something, the plan before it’s even hatched and we don’t know what will come. It can’t ever be truly mapped or pre-prepared. And it cannot be hurried. This is true light heartedness…”
David P has put together a team of blondes, do you have others to add?
Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2016 continues with Intra-Club game and usual CFC optimism
The Christchurch Test starts on Saturday. Let’s give Citrus Bob a hand in covering the game, as Brendon Barrie McCullum hangs them up.
Robbo questions whether genetic engineering and testing will deliver the elite sportsperson.
With the sudden death of Bulgaria’s Trifan ‘The Wolf Man’ Ivanov, Dennis Gedling applauds his achievements.
Yoshi likes the look of St Kilda’s forward potential
Hamish Neal compares two games 8 years apart and the story within.
The fields step up a notch this weekend and punters need to pay attention. There’s better to come but the racing this Saturday is pivotal to many autumn hopes.
Gareth Andrews sums up The Basin and the First Test against NZ
No one who was there will forget Evan Hocking and the Nelson Twins performing the Melbourne launch of The Footy Almanac 2015. Get them involved at your club.
Another gem from Glen!, with this “hair today, gone tomorrow” team of nude nuts. Who else should get a run?
Wesley Hulls sees the future growth of school footy in the UK and Europe
Wesley Hull explains the simplicity of putting a smile on a kid’s face – give them a footy.
An amazing scorecard in the 1965/66 Victorian District Cricket Final with Phantom scoring a double ton to help win the game for Northcote. Essendon would have been quietly confident posting 9d/514…from Keiran Croker
The Geebung Ladies Bowls Club is turning 50. Archie got the flyer in his letterbox.
Stand up and be counted: Education package from Classic Comedy Company
The Nelson Twins are offering an education package for schools called “Stand up and be counted.”
Where were you in 1976? Keiran Croker, uni student of the time, was central to the high-tech capturing of footy statistics for the South Melbourne Footy Club.
Citrus Bob shares his love for The Basin and details the action on Day 4 and final day of the Cricket Test in NZ.
Almanac Monster Trucks: A Love Story
Big wheels Monster Trucks and high octane brought to life by Adelaide’s resident thrill seeker Mickey Randall.
Ch Ch Changes: Sydney Swans 2016 Season Preview
Joe Moore previews a season of scintillating sumptuous Swan success.
Alex Darling continues a poetic look at the AFL sides with some Saints observations
Glen paints a picture of junior cricket in Laidley, Andy Bichel country, only thing missing is the zinc.
Matthew Hooper on Almanac debut with a cracking tale of watching, feeling, experiencing Giddyup; Subashi’s first foal, born at Blue Gum Farm. [Jelly beans! – Ed]
Grade 9 Monivae student Matilda Dohle is a wake-boarder. She has spent months trying to master a new move.
Glen! moves beyond the AFL/VFL to select his best team from the mighty Port Melbourne Burra’s (Boroughs? – Ed) that dominated the VFA in the 70’s and 80’s.
Weekend review of sports results you may have missed
Citrus Bob on another enjoyable day at the cricket, highlighted by time spent with the families of many Kiwi players.
“Why do not they ban such bogan members?” may end up being the question of the A-League season. Our Japanese A-League correspondent, Yoshi, provides ample justification for why he is supporting the Phoenix this weekend
Day 2 is a little more casual at the historic Basin and the Australians pour on the runs with Khawaja and Voges making tons. Bob Utber was there.
About John Harms
JTH is a writer, publisher, speaker, historian. He is publisher and contributing editor of The Footy Almanac and footyalmanac.com.au. He has written columns and features for numerous publications. His books include Confessions of a Thirteenth Man, Memoirs of a Mug Punter, Loose Men Everywhere, Play On, The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story and Life As I Know It (with Michelle Payne). He appears on ABCTV's Offsiders. He can be contacted [email protected] He is married to The Handicapper and has three kids - Theo13, Anna11, Evie10. He might not be the worst putter in the world but he's in the worst three. His ambition is to lunch for Australia.
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