Almanac Music (Review): Thank you Mr. Jackson

Peter Jackson’s documentary ‘Get Back’ is all the talk. We’ve been offered a number of reviews and this is the first of them – by Richard Griffiths. Do yourself a favour…excellent review of a brilliant doco.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Barakula State School’ – Gary Zadkovich

The Footy Almanac welcomes Gary Zadkovich, poet, writer, educationalist, and activist to the site. ‘Barakula State School’ is a poem from his recent poetry collection, ‘Barakula Spirit’.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Waking in the Blue’ – Maria Takolander

‘Waking in the Blue’by Maria Takolander is a powerful and personal account of a childhood experience. Maria is a fiction writer, poet, essayist, independent scholar, public artist, reviewer, and interviewer, and recently released a new poetry collection, ‘Trigger Warning’.

Almanac Music: Matt Zurbo’s Musical Adventures – Cuba

Matt Zurbo’s musical adventures continue in Cuba and the people met in the Casa de Planenque. [Language warning – Ed]

Almanac Poetry: ‘Pen Pals’ – Tommy Mallet

Correspondence between pen pals highlights the plight of a friend and the hardships she is dealing with in Tommy Mallet’s poem, ‘Pen Pals’.

Almanac Cricket: The Ashes, John Arlott, Fred Trueman, and innocent times

Col Ritchie reprises his piece from a few years ago reliving some fond cricket memories of ABC Radio, John Arlott, Fred Trueman, and his dad in more innocent times.

Event: NSW Australian Football Historical Society’s annual lunch with East Sydney’s Greg Harris and Ray Millington

If you’re in Sydney next month and a fan of footy history then you may be interested in this lunch.

Almanac Cricket (Memories) Perth Test – Day 2: The Ashes contest is back on

In a glance back to The Ashes clashes of old, here’s Raj fresh from a clutch of kids’ birthday parties giving us the run down of Perth’s 2013 Ashes Test.

Almanac Poetry: A Little Night Music

This Monday’s poem from Kevin Densley was inspired by a well-known Mozart composition and night-time in general.

Almanac Music: Not Quite Bob – Lucinda Williams

Trevor Blainey continues his series ‘Not Quite Bob’ and examines another great artist in Lucinda Williams, who like Bob, has a certain quality about her work.

Almanac Cricket: Painful end for captain who did a lot right

The punishment doesn’t fit the offence for the cricketer who fell on his sword, writes RON REED.

Almanac Footy: The 2021 AFL Draft, Night Two

The 2021 AFL Draft has been completed and we think that Les Everett will be happy to see two of his nominations from the WAFL selected.

Almanac Humour: A Visit by the England Football Team

In this Friday’s post, KD shares what he considers to be one of the funniest brief pieces of sports humour he’s ever read.

Almanac Footy History: New Ireland v Vunakanau Tigers (continued)

An unexpected connection between a photo, an Almanac story, a comment, an editor and his neighbour has expanded the search for the story behind the New Ireland v Vunakanau Tigers photo. Confused? Read on!

Almanac Books (Update):’Aboriginal People and Australian Football in the Nineteenth Century: They Did Not Come from Nowhere’ by Roy Hay

Roy Hay’s seminal history ‘Aboriginal People and Australian Football in the Nineteenth Century’ is now available in paperback. See details and read several reviews here. (An excellent Christmas gift for the discerning reader – Ed.)

Almanac Trivia: Two birthdays and an anniversary

Here are a couple of birthday reminders and a milestone moment in music to remember complete with sights and sounds.

Almanac Footy: The 2021 AFL Draft, Night One

The 2021 AFL Draft is underway. Here are the top 20 picks from Night One.

Almanac Cricket (Memories): Happy birthday, Peter Siddle!

On his 37th birthday, The Footy Almanac recalls Peter Siddle’s memorable birthday hat-trick in their First Test at the Gabba in 2010.

Almanac Footy History: New Ireland v Vunakanau Tigers, Rabaul, 1972.

David Bridie has sent us a terrific snap of a game of footy in Rabaul. Now the detective work begins. Can you help?

Almanac Music: Mark Gillespie and my part in his downfall

The music world lost a true talent with the sad passing last week of Mark Gillespie. Ian Lewis fondly recalls the early days of Gillespie’s career on the Melbourne scene in this fitting tribute to him. [Welcome to the Footy Almanac Ian. -ED]