Almanac Footy: The Melbourne Football Club – Recollections and Reflections (Part 1)
Richard Griffiths was Development Officer, Recruiting Manager and Football Manager of the Melbourne FC from 1988 to 1996. In Part 1 of his Recollections and Reflections he looks at some of the players recruited to the club during his time there, in particular David Schwarz and David Neitz.
Almanac Footy: Footynomics Northern Territory launched
Tim Harcourt and Footynomics, The Business of Sport, returns to Ticker News with Northern Territory AFL team focus after the launch of Footynomics Northern Territory.
Almanac (Local Footy) Travel: Postcards from Hay
Three members of the NSW Australian Football Heritage Association visited the Riverina recently to honour the oldest football club in NSW, at Hay. Their travelogue describes the rewarding journey.
Swifty Taylor and the Missing Child – Episode 5
When you play with matches, you might end up getting burnt. Will Swifty suffer this fate?
Almanac Footy: Catholic College Footy
On a visit to his old school St Vincent's College (now known as Catherine McAuley College), Peter Sweeney enjoyed watching a Herald Sun Shield footy match played noting the magnificence of the main sporting oval and its huge improvement from his time there as a boarder (1967-1971).
Almanac Running: Etna parkrun – Laps on the Lava (No Fire in the Sky)
Mickey Randall is in Italy, and as he does most days, he is on a run, this time the Etna Park Run consisting of four laps of Mt Etna.
Almanac Footy: Carlton 2026 – From Voss To Where?
John Butler believes the departure of Michael Voss had become inevitable. But Carlton's path forward is much less obvious.
Round 9 – Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs: Dogs flick the switch as late Power surge falls short
Kristian Cavallo describes how the Western Bulldogs snapped their four game losing streak against Port Adelaide in Round 9.
Sal’s Preview: Round 10 Preview – The First Domino Falls
Sal Ciardulli presents his thoughts and tips for Round 10 of the AFL season 2026, also his racing tips for Flemington and Doomben.
2026 NRL – RITV: Round 10 – South Sydney v Cronulla-Sutherland: The New Latrell
Rabbit in the Vineyard declares who the new Latrell is on the Rabbitoh’s team, while enjoying a nice glass of Levrier by Jo Irvine 2018 Barossa Red Blend Merlot.
2026 NRL – You Gotta Love Footy!
Prop by the Sea assess the successes and the downfalls of the teams this week and gives his predictions for the upcoming Magic Round.
Round 9 – Haiku Bob: same but different
Haiku Bob presents in haiku his account of the Round 9 clash between Geelong and Collingwood which unfortunately saw his team suffer a major defeat.
Almanac Memoir: I Miss Marilyn
Pestwac's personal narrative about his droving mate 'Pistol' takes us to the mysteries surrounding his death and the loss of 'Marilyn', Pistol's dog. (Brilliant - Ed.)
Almanac Theatre Reviews: ‘Heathers’ the Musical – a hilarious dark comedy
Marina raves about the Australian production of the dark comedy musical 'Heathers', while highlighting how the show handles taboo topics in both an entertaining and unwavering manner.
Almanac History: How Tom Wills Shaped the Origins and Early Evolution of Australian Rules Football
Greg de Moore is a Sydney psychiatrist and historian. This paper, on the role of Tom Wills in the early days of Australian football. was first published in the 'International Journal of Sports History'.
Round 9 – Richmond v Adelaide: Adelaide perennial underachievers despite their resources
The Adelaide Crows are perennial underachievers writes Dan Lonergan.
Round 9 – Brisbane v Carlton: Say it with Carlton.
Jamie Simmons delights readers with his account of a night at the footy with all its incidental adjuncts as his Lions scrape home against a spirited Carlton in their Round 9 match at the Gabba.
Almanac Life: 3 for ’61 – West Indies in Sydney
Pestwac recalls some of the holidays his family took in his younger days including a stint at the cricket and riding the Sydney trams.
Round 10 – AFL Footy Fixture 2026: Who, where, and when
Find out who, where, and when your favourite team is playing in Round 10 of the AFL footy season 2026.
Round 9 – Geelong v Collingwood: Floreat Pica Society match report
Jim Kesselschmidt on behalf of The Floreat Pica Society presents the match report for Collingwood's Round 9 match against Geelong.
Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2026: Review Round 9 / Preview Round 10
Not the result Cam Hooke's Collingwood Life 2026 were hoping for in their Round 9 clash against Geelong. Cam also previews the upcoming Round 10 match against Sydney,
Round 9 – Geelong v Collingwood: Encore! Bravo!
It was a couple of big couple of nights for 'BobCat' aka Citrus Bob Utber over the weekend. First up, on Friday watching a performance of the opera, 'La Traviata', and on Saturday, a supreme performance from the Cats with their big Round 9 win over the Pies had Bob crying out for more.
Almanac Footy – Surf Coast Suns: The birth of a footy club
A new day dawns in the story of footy on the Surf Coast with the Suns playing in the BFL. Sean Hunt has more on a club bucking the trend of grassroots clubs folding.
Almanac Local Footy – Hay v Ultima: 150 years and one point
The oldest football club in NSW, the Hay Lions, celebrated 150 years of football on Saturday. Peter Clark describes their nail-biting one point win over fierce rivals Ultima.
Round 9 – Geelong v Collingwood: Shoe polish
Old Dog watched the Cats beat the Pies with an Otway teammate, ostensibly to witness a record being matched by Scott Pendlebury, however one player stood out as doing the hard yards for four quarters (hint: he wasn't sporting a headband over blond locks).
Almanac Poetry: A Certain Kind of Envy
KD encapsulates this week's previously unpublished poem, one he wrote decades ago, as involving 'young love, romance, despair'. 'All much of a muchness', he adds, in relation to this description.
Almanac Poetry: The Coach
Reject Phil takes inspiration from a popular song from the 1960s in this story of a coach in the literal summer, autumn and winter of their career.
Almanac (Footy) Memoir: Hudson and McKenna, Round 21 1973 at VFL Park – a day I will never forget
Richard Griffiths recalls the remarkable events at VFL Park in Round 21, 1973.
Almanac Footy: What is it about ‘The Bont’?
While describing his favourite players of all time, Ian Wilson waxes lyrical about his contemporary beloved footballer.
Almanac Footy: AFL Season 2026 – Match Results and Reports Rounds 1-9
Match results and reports for AFL Season 2026, Rounds 1 - 9. Each week we'll add the latest round's yarns to this inventory.
Round 9 – GWS v Essendon: Giants fight back against wasteful Dons
With plenty of opportunities and leading for most of the game Essendon could not maintain the pressure as the Giants eventually ran out 14 point winners in their Round 9 clash.
Round 9 – GWS v Essendon: GIANTS Snatch Victory from Jaws of Defeat
Like many Giants' supporters, Richard Griffiths was relieved his team eventually overcame a spirited Bombers to win by 14 points in their Round 9 clash in Sydney.
Round 9 – Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda: Suns shine in the heat
Ian Wilson presents his match report of the Gold Coast v St Kilda Round 9 match that saw his Saints going down by 29 points.
Round 9 – Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs: Bulldogs through and through in a thriller
Nick Kossatch recounts the fantastic game the Western Bulldogs had on Friday against Port Adelaide.
Almanac Cricket: Pakistan visits Australia 1972
Pakistan played a three test series against Australia in 1972/73, Barry Nicholls, who is writing a book about this mainly forgotten tour, introduces the arrival of the team in to Australia.
Round 9 – Fremantle v Hawthorn: Wharfie Time Reigns Supreme out West
After leading for most of the match Hawthorn succumbed to fast finishing Fremantle to lose by 15 points in their Round 9 match reports Louie Cina.
Almanac Life: 100 Up/I’m So Vein
Swish's recent hundred wasn't made in the backyard at Mum's and he did it mostly lying down, due to his Hereditary Haemochromatosis. He thanks some excellent medical specialists and Lifeblood Australia.
Swifty Taylor and the Missing Child – Episode 4
Swifty reacquaints with his old friend Laura.
Almanac Footy: A Letter to the AFL Commission
Richard Griffiths applies his expertise and experience from within the AFL system to presents some thoughts with regards to the direction of football in Western Sydney, and in particular the GWS Giants.
Almanac Film Reviews: ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ (2026) – an iconic sequel to an iconic film
Marina gives her take on the newly released film, 'The Devil Wears Prada 2', and discusses how the film tackles the changed world of journalism since the original film's 2006 release.
Almanac Memoir: Welcome to Geraldton – Birthplace of Dennis Cometti
Peter Sweeney tells the story of Dennis Cometti's request, from the days when the pair would lunch together.
Sal’s Preview – Round 9: I know it’s only Ruck and Roll, but I like it!
Sal presents his thoughts and tips for all the Round 9 matches plus his tips for the weekend's racing.
2026 NRL – RITV: Round 9 – Newcastle v South Sydney: Not So Entertaining
Over a glass of Barossa Boy Happy as Lenny Syrah, RITV reflects on the latest game, and while also celebrating the brilliance of the teams who competed in the World Relay Championships
2026 NRL – Prop By The Sea: You gotta love footy!
Prop By The Sea reflects on the Round 9 games and the state of all the teams in the lead-up to Round 10, which Prop has some predictions for.
Almanac Footy: The golden years of the West Coburg Football Club
Richard Davis reflects on his time with the West Coburg Football Club during the 1960s, and how it became such an important part of his life.
Almanac (Footy) Memoir: Skin in the game
In this engaging memoir, Tony Newport remembers Jack Pollard's 'High Mark' a book of his Tasmanian childhood. [Terrific - Ed]
Almanac Horse Racing: Fun with Numbers 3
Having spent time working at the track, Pestwac has more than an interest in numbers and working out the odds to back a winning horse as he explains some of his selection methods.
Almanac Soccer – A Night at Meadow Lane: Notts County v Bristol Rovers
It’s the business end of the English football season and Dave Goodwin, in Nottingham for a long weekend, stepped out to Notts County’s Meadow Lane ground last Saturday to see the Pies take on Bristol Rovers. Here’s his match report.
Round 8 – Carlton v St Kilda: Same old Blues with quick fixes constantly broken
Dan Lonergan introduces his match report by examining the recruiting styles and success of Carlton and St Kilda, clubs that also have a long history of exchanging players.
Round 9 – AFL Footy Fixture 2026: Who, where, and when
Find out who, where, and when your team is playing in Round 9 of the AFL Season 2026.











Recent Comments