As I ponder the Australian cricket team’s 2011/12 dog’s-breakfast of a schedule, I see a sport undergoing a form of mid-life crisis, a game grappling with its very identity. In the fast-paced, highly competitive world of elite sport, international cricket’s administrators are directionless. Good, decisive governance of the international game is seriously lacking. The [Read more]
It’s Your Wally Grout by Wally Wright
February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
It’s Your Wally Grout by Wally Wright $25 (+ $5 postage) Wally Wright gives a personal account of the career of his grandfather, the great Australian wicket-keeper. John Harms looks at It’s Your Wally Grout
Optimism and hope are wonderful things
February 5, 2012 by 5 Comments
Optimism and hope are wonderful things As the new football season approaches and practice matches (that’s really what the NAB comp is) are about to begin every football supporter is optimistic about how their team is going to go in the coming year. Hopes of their team making the finals or even taking out the [Read more]
1964 A Game, A Season, A State by Michael Sexton
February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
1964 A Game, A Season, A State by Michael Sexton $30 (+ $5 postage) Michael Sexton looks at the characters and the times which made for a golden period in South Australian football. Review by Chris Riordan
Australia: Story of a Cricket Country (edited by Christian Ryan)
February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Australia: Story of a Cricket Country (edited by Christian Ryan) $75 (special Almanac price) (+ $10 postage) (normal retail price $90) The game, its characters and its place in Australia’s culture: superbly told in words and pictures. An extended version of John Harms’ essay for the book. John Butler reviews Australia Story of a [Read more]
The Australian Game of Football since 1858
February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Australian Game of Football: Various $90 (hardcover) (+ $10 postage) The official AFL publication celebrating football’s 150th anniversary. From the hotly debated origins of the game to modern times, this book encompasses a broad sweep across football’s history.
The Story of the Melbourne Cup
February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Story of the Melbourne Cup: Various $90 (hardcover) (+ $10 postage) The history, the horses and the personalities that have made the Cup the nation’s race. Superb photos and writing covering 1861 until the present day.
Australian Football Clubs in New South Wales by Miles Wilks
February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Australian Football Clubs in New South Wales by Miles Wilks $35 (A4 size) ($10 postage) A comprehensive look at the contribution of NSW Aussie Rules clubs to the VFL/AFL. Filled with stories and photographs of those who have crossed the border to make their mark in the big leagues. Miles Wilks discusses Australian Football Clubs in NSW
The Stats Revolution by Ted Hopkins
February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Stats Revolution by Ted Hopkins: $30 (+ $5 postage) Ted Hopkins helped win one of the greatest ever grand finals, then became a poet and writer, and then invented a system of measures that transformed the way the game of football was understood. ‘Football’s Futurist’ tells his story his way.
Manangatang by Adam McNicol
February 5, 2012 by 1 Comment
Manangatang by Adam McNicol: $45 (+ $5 postage) Adam McNicol’s tribute to his family’s Mallee hometown. Full of wonderful anecdotes and characters. A little gem of Australian social history.
AFL Legends by Sean Gorman
February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Legends The AFL Indigenous Team of the Century by Sean Gorman $40 (+$5 postage) Sean Gorman’s celebration of the indigenous footballer in the VFL/AFL. John Harms reviews Legends
Tortured Tales of a Collingwood Tragic by James Gilchrist
February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Tortured Tales of a Collingwood Tragic by James Gilchrist: $30 (+ $5 postage) “A little Nick Hornby, a little Frank McCourt…” – Greg Baum James Gilchrist’s long and complicated relationship with the Collingwood football club. John Butler reviews Tortured Tales…
Link: Soul Train Tribute
February 5, 2012 by 2 Comments
Courtesy of Rick Kane. Don Cornelius, creator and host of Soul Train, has passed away aged 75. For a stroll through black American music and styles of the last 40 years just click below: http://idolator.com/6161621/don-cornelius-soul-train-line-dances
Footy Tipping, Supercoach and its impact on traditional support.
February 3, 2012 by 10 Comments
As the cricket season dies a slow death in another meaningless One Day competition, like all Almanackers, I await the football with great anticipation. The discussion on this site in recent days about the winter game, coupled with membership drives, calls for Foxtel subscriptions, players talking up pre seasons (where everyone is ‘flying’ on the [Read more]
RIVERLAND SUPERDOGS SEASON 2012 COMMENCES
February 3, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Riverland Superdogs AFL Masters Football Club encourage any male over 35 years of age to play the sport under modified rules. As part of the 13-team South Australian AFL Masters competition, the Riverland Superdogs base its training and Sunday fortnightly games at Lyrup Oval and plays an away game once a month. The [Read more]
Who Should Be North Melbourne Captain?
February 3, 2012 by 2 Comments
This is almost like unchartered waters for myself. The last time we had a change in the captaincy was at the end of 2008, when Adam Simpson handed the reins down (literally) to Brent Harvey, who has given North Melbourne three fantastic years of leadership, exuberant play and a familiar face in the media. Back [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Valley Nights
February 3, 2012 by 4 Comments
I’m working at the Valley Nights meeting this Friday, hopeful that the Club (and our bookies business) can cash in on the hype generated by last week’s extraordinary roll-up for Black Caviar’s Australia Stakes romp. Sadly, yet unsurprisingly, the MVRC massively under catered with too few staff on gates/ bars/ food outlets and also with [Read more]
The Goldfield Ashes – A Mexican view.
February 2, 2012 by 5 Comments
By Michael Howard Coming from down south has meant I have struggled to take Queensland cricket seriously. It always seemed to me that of the good players produced, too many seemed more interested in catching barramundi, cooking paella or dressing up for TV than in forging truly great careers. The fact that it took a [Read more]
In A-League of its Own 10 (2011/12)
February 1, 2012 by 3 Comments
Tom’s weekly outlook on the A-league As the season reaches the business end, the top 6 is beginning to take shape, and not without the odd surprise either. Following a comfortable 3-1 win on the weekend over the Melbourne Heart, Wellington have climbed to 2nd on the table behind central Coast, and look to [Read more]
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