Almanac Rugby League – 2022 NRL Finals Week 2 and NRLW Round 5: High drama in Week 1, high hopes for more in Week 2

We asked for it; we got it – an action-packed Week 1 of NRL Finals with a mouth-watering Week 2 coming up. Ian Hauser offers his thoughts on the week in rugby league.

‘A one-eyed view of the Semi-Final…’ by KB Hill

KB Hill recounts last weekend’s pulsating semi-final in the OMFNL between the Wangaratta Rovers and the Albury Tigers.

Semi-Final – Collingwood v Fremantle: Haiku Bob – the new king

Haiku Bob gives us his unique observations on Collingwood’s semi-final win

Stalking David Parkin Part 1

AFL Hall of Fame member David Parkin celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this week. In this classic semi-insiders yarn, Ian Wilson recalls his handful of interactions with ‘Parko’ over the years.

A Season in the Country – 1975 in the Wimmera and Farrer Leagues: Episode 22

It’s Preliminary Finals time in Peter Clark’s coverage of the 1975 season in both the Farrer and Wimmera Leagues.

Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life: Semi-final review and Preliminary Final preview

The excitement of Collingwood supporters cannot be disguised as they celebrate a powerful semi-final win and prepare for the Preliminary Final against Sydney. Guru analyst and hot Pie, Cam Hooke, is on fire.

Almanac WAFL Finals: Sharks attack, Thunder coming

It’s finals time in the west, and Les Everett has you covered for the two big finals: East Freo v Claremont and Peel v South Freo

Almanac Teams: Double Dales and Binary Barhams; Obscure 43s (1980- )

Rodney Boyd shares his obscure side for Number 43s, with some names you may have forgotten or not realised were associated with 43.

Almanac Poetry: Rossini’s Truffled Turkey

Today’s poem from Kevin Densley concerns Gioachino Rossini, the Italian composer. Rossini certainly wouldn’t cry over spilt milk (he only wept on three occasions) but a spilt truffled turkey? That’s an entirely different matter.

Finals Week 2 – Collingwood v Fremantle: Ode to joy and common unicorns (Floreat Pica Society)

Finals footy. David Wilson reports for the Floreat Pica Society on this game – this rambling collective of Common People – who in 2022 have brought unexpected joy (the best kind).

The Insidious Nature of Sports Betting

Ian Wilson discusses the prevalence and influence of gambling advertising.

Flagmantle: Do We Dare Dream?

Froe supporter Josh Coales wrote for the Almanac as a young schoolboy. Since then he has started a sports journalism course. He’s back into writing again with this piece explainning how he’s feeling about the Dockers today, as they prepare for the match against Collingwood.

The Queen

It’s the first day of the rest of a different life for Ian Hauser after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life: Qualifying Final review and Semi-final preview

Cam Hooke analyses the noble performance of the Pies against Geelong and looks at the game against Freo on Saturday.

Finals Week 2: Sal’s preview

Sal looks at this weekend’s AFL semi-finals and is warming up with a few Spring selections.

Almanac Travel: Col’s USA Music Trip – Monterey, Big Sur, Carmel, and Pebble Beach

Day 3 of Col’s USA travels sees him along the coast between Big Sur and Monterey, and a quick round of golf at Pebble Beach.

Almanac Music: Not Quite Bob – Some You Know … and One You Probably Don’t – Kurt Vile, John Prine, Iris DeMent, Malcolm Holcombe

Trevor Blainey continues his trawl through a swathe of musos who have that something extra but are ‘not quite Bob’.

Almanac Music: Songs and Days of the Week – ‘Friday I’m in Love’ by The Cure

So many songs have a day of the week in their title. KD looks into this phenomenon, provides an example, and asks Almanackers to put forward choices of their own.

Almanac Travel: Col’s USA Music Trip – Day 1

Col’s arrived in the USA and he reports on his first day down in Monterey, California.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL 2022 Finals Week 1 and NRLW Round 4: Great expectations as we head into the finals

The NRL finals are here at last with four fascinating match-ups to anticipate. The NRLW also offers a top of the table clash as well as a last chance saloon match-up. All in all, a great weekend of rugby league awaits us!