Sporting history and the history of conflict have interesting, sometimes intertwined narratives. This obituary on Hedley Verity in Wisden is an example that is well worth a read anytime, but particularly today.
Almanac Life: Private Clement Reginald May
November 11, 2021 by 7 Comments
A beautiful and solemn reflection by Greg A on his grandmother’s brother Clem, who did not make it home from World War 2.
Almanac History and Poetry: Two Remembrance Day Offerings
November 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment
To commemorate a Remembrance Day theme, we revisit a couple of earlier contributions from Kevin Densley about Capt. Bert James and Capt. Albert Jacka VC.
Almanac Baseball: MLB (Make the League Better)
November 10, 2021 by 3 Comments
Brian The Ruminator discusses a suggestion he made for Major League Baseball improvements which is now to be taken up by the league.
Almanac Footy: Bill Mohr – The Wizard from Wagga Wagga
November 10, 2021 by Leave a Comment
St Kilda champion Bill Mohr’s status as one of footy’s all time greats is beyond doubt. In an in-depth analysis of Mohr’s career, Roger Spaull presents a wonderful account of this great footy legend.
Almanac Memoir: Unstylish cars – a certain satisfaction
November 9, 2021 by 6 Comments
Bernard Whimpress presents a whimsical reflection upon some of the unstylish cars he owned that got him from A to B over many years.
Almanac Teams: Winning Melbourne Cup jockeys and their footy counterparts
November 9, 2021 by 3 Comments
Glen!’s fertile mind has him picking a footy team of players who share their surname with a winning Melbourne Cup hoop. [Novel – Ed]
Almanac Footy Tipping Competition 2021: And the winners are…
November 9, 2021 by 2 Comments
Here are the results from the Almanac’s various tipping comps…
Aboriginal People and Australian Football in the Nineteenth Century: They Did Not Come from Nowhere by Roy Hay
November 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Roy Hay’s history of the involvement of aboriginal players in Australian Football is now available in a paperback edition. Read more about this book here. [Includes links to reviews – Ed]
Almanac Poetry: ‘Peanuts and Bread’ – Tommy Mallet
November 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment
The power of the wind in the bush can be awesome as Tommy Mallet’s poem ‘Peanuts and Bread’ shows.
Almanac Teams: Plenty more of 24 (1980- )
November 8, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Some father-sons, favourite sons and a plucky redhead synonymous with Summer head Rodney Boyd’s side this week.
Almanac Poetry: Kitchen
November 8, 2021 by Leave a Comment
The kitchen is far from a bastion of domestic bliss, moreso a den of violence in this week’s poem from Kevin Densley.
Almanac Cricket: Cure for concussion? Get rid of the lid…
November 8, 2021 by 2 Comments
Are cricket helmets working as intended? Has their cultural and behavioural impact been flawed? Wayne Ball thinks cricket needs to shake up how it views the relationship between the game and concussion; or worse.
Almanac Books: ‘The One That Got Away: Travelling in the Time of Covid’
November 8, 2021 by Leave a Comment
In this extract from his new book, ‘The One That Got Away: Travelling In The Time Of Covid’, Ken Haley has a matter of hours to get out of Cuba, is at the mercy of an American immigration official, has to find a place to stay, and is worried for his hat – all while wondering what Covid is all about.
Almanac Football Obituary: Vale Russell Ebert
November 6, 2021 by 9 Comments
Russell Ebert made an immediate impact on Andy Thurlow one Saturday afternoon in July 1970. Fifty-one years later, on the death of Ebert, Andy reflects on how his admiration for Ebert grew and grew over the years.
Almanac Opinion: Jordan De Goey
Old Dog might not agree with all that Jordan De Goey stands for (he doesn’t know him to be fair…) but he’ll defend to the death his right to a fair trial.