Almanac Community Sporting Clubs: Darebin Falcons ready to take on 2022

The Footy Almanac is happy to support a great community club, the Darebin Falcons. Read about their plans for 2022. [Thanks for this update Jill Scanlon – Ed]

Almanac Cricket: Darren Lehmann

Malcolm ‘Rulebook’ Ashwood remembers the long and successful career of Darren ‘Boof’ Lehmann.

The Ashes 2021/22 – First Test Brisbane Day 1: Cometh the Game, Cometh the Man

A magnificent bowling performance by new skipper Patrick Cummins has given Australia the edge after day one in Brisbane. Cummins finished with 5/38 in  score of 147 by England reports Citrus Bob Utber.

Almanac Footy History: The Nullawil Maroons Part 1 – Mallee dominance

As the Hayden Kelly Scholar, Paddy Grindlay has been researching Nullawil and its footy club. This is the first in a series of articles which profile Nullawil and its success.

Almanac Cricket: Back to the ‘Bishens’

From the Footy Almanac archives we reprise this cracking cricket story by Dips O’Donnell first published on this day in 2010.

Almanac Music: You Arrive in the Strangest Ways.

Out in the bush, radio reception can be dismal until the gamma rays bring in Captain Beefheart explains Matt Zurbo in his latest music story.

Almanac Music: ‘Tin Soldier’ – Small Faces

‘Tin Soldier’ by Small Faces, recorded in 1968 is one the classic pop songs of all time and remains a firm favourite among music buffs.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Fly’ – Tommy Mallet

A fly is a troublesome pest for a bushman as he works suggests Tommy Mallet’s poem, ‘Fly’.

Ashes 2021-22 – Short Third Man: Pre-series thoughts from Citrus Bob

Ahead of his usual considered takes on the Australian cricket season, Citrus Bob previews the Ashes squads under Root and new skipper Cummins, alongside a view of some other cricket stories that caught his eye.

Almanac Cricket: Pat Cummins – Australia’s Test Captain

Daniel Brettig presents a terrific profile of Australia’s newest Test captain Pat Cummins in an article appearing in today’s ‘Age’.

Almanac Sport: Footy Clubs and Community – The International Day of People with Disabilities 

Peter Baulderstone went to a breakfast for the International Day of People with Disabilities at his WAFL club Swan Districts. The powerful story of the speakers and the club’s wheelchair footy team convinced him that football clubs play a vital community role well beyond September.

Almanac Sport: Big milestone for sport’s old survivors

There is not much about Melbourne sport than this group of mates don’t know about or haven’t lived through,  writes Ron Reed.

Almanac Music: Not Quite Bob – Danny and Dusty and a long bow

Trevor Blainey comes up with another ‘Not Quite Bob’ cracker! This time, the music of Danny and Dusty. Do yourself a favour, it’s fab!

Almanac Book Launch: ‘Victor Richardson: A Great Australian All Round Sportsman’ – John Lysikatos

A fantastic new book ‘Victor Richardson: A great Australian All Round Sportsman’ by John Lysikatos is being launched on 15 December 2021, and you are invited to attend. Details enclosed.

Almanac Soccer: Oh Woe is Barnsley!

Rod Oaten is looking for miracles to overcome Barnsley FC’s dismal start to their season. Currently, they sit second last on the league ladder, which makes it even more disappointing for Rod considering Barnsley’s promising season last year when they pushed for promotion to the Premier League.

Almanac Footy: AFLW 2022 fixtures for Rounds 1-9

The AFL has released details of the first nine rounds of the AFLW competition.

Almanac Arts: Our shared humanity

Are ‘The Arts’ the forgotten factor in ‘Covidworld’? Brian the Ruminator, well known for his sporting proclivities, urges us to expand our horizons to appreciate the wider aspects of our culture.

Vale John Devaney: A hidden legend of footy

For almost 50 years, John Devaney chronicled the major and not so major Australian football leagues and the players involved in them. In a moving tribute, Gigs pays his respects to an unsung and largely unknown historian of the game.

‘The coach who lived close to the edge…’ by KB Hill

KB Hill caught up with his old coach, the larger than life Ken Boyd, to remember an incident-packed life both on and off the field.

The Ashes 2019 – First Test, Day 1: Celebrating Smith and a history-defining knock

With the First Test now a week away, we reprise Sean Mortell’s review of Steve Smith’s stunning, match-changing innings on Day 1 of the Edgbaston Test of the 2019 Ashes series.