In December 2021, Lindsay Zoch selected and posted what he called his AFLW “dream team” – a team he regarded as the best possible team from the first five seasons of the competition. When Season 10 concluded a couple of weeks ago, it seemed like a good idea to repeat the exercise, but this time with no set criteria. Here’s the result.
Almanac Footy: The Dashing Demon From South Bendigo
December 13, 2025 by 2 Comments
Ian McLean of the Melbourne FC was a champion wingman, courageous, a quick and reflexive player, and with his fluent ball handling skills, became a multiple premiership player for the club during the 1950s. Roger Spaull presents a wonderful account of the life and times of the footy career of Ian McLean.
‘Jolly Nuisance’: This O’Donnell Life – with an introduction by John Harms
December 13, 2025 by 1 Comment
Dips O’Donnell’s ‘Jolly Nuisance’ is a delightful collection of observational writing about everyday life. Read more about it in this post, which includes John Harms’s introduction to the book. A delightful Christmas gift for those who’ve followed Dips over the years on this site, and for those who appreciate insightful observational writing]
Almanac Numbers: The magic of fifteen thousand
December 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment
15.000 is a number that has relevance within some of Roy Hay’s published works as he explains in his piece.
Almanac Cricket: Australian Cricket Society – Dinner with ‘Dizzy’
December 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment
The Australian Cricket Society invites Almanackers and friends to attend their Boxing Day Test Dinner featuring Jason ‘Dizzy’ Gillespie in conversation with Ken Piesse on Saturday, 27 December.
‘Made in Sri Lanka…’ by KB Hill
December 11, 2025 by 1 Comment
KB Hill charts the rich contribution of Sri Lankan cricketers to the Wangaratta District Cricket Association.
Almanac Book Reviews: Kelvin Templeton on Carolyn Spooner’s ‘Frog Cakes at Half Forward’
December 10, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Kelvin Templeton is taken by the originality of Carolyn Spooner’s ‘Frog Cakes at Half Forward’ and concludes that it’s a book ‘every lover of Australian Football should have on their bookshelf.’ Nice review.
Almanac Cricket: A History of Cricket in Woomera 1948 – 2014, Part 5: 1979/71 – 1979/80
December 10, 2025 by Leave a Comment
David Turpin presents Part 5 of ‘A History of Cricket in Woomera 1948 – 2014’ with this part looking at seasons 1970/71 – 1979/80.
The Ashes – Second Test, Brisbane Day 1: Alex Carey as Sam Gamgee
December 10, 2025 by 9 Comments
e.regnans relives Alex Carey’s mesmerising wicketkeeping performance in Brisbane.
Almanac Cricket (Obsession): When the bug was caught…
December 10, 2025 by 2 Comments
Chris O’Callaghan remembers the time when he fell in love with cricket, and his Dad’s part in it, and how he soon became obsessed. [Welcome Chris – Eds]
Almanac Cricket: Thirsty English Test Cricketers, a story told in ‘Touchstone’, a biography of Samuel Griffiths.
December 9, 2025 by 4 Comments
The story of the marvellous Samuel Griffiths – adventurer, entrepreneur, racetrack philosopher, raconteur and truth-seeker is told in ‘Touchstone’. The biography, by Richard Griffiths (his great grandson) and Murray Bird, has had such a terrific response it’s been reprinted and is available now. In this piece, we include an extract which involves a cricket match, a bet, a champagne dinner and some unlikely ring-ins. What were two English Test cricketers doing on the eve of the MCG Test in the 1894-95 series? [Classic – JTH]
Almanac Music and Memoir: Remembering December 8, 1980.
December 9, 2025 by 3 Comments
Paul Noonan recalls the time of John Lennon’s assassination. He was a member of the Dugites who were supporting Elton John on his Australian tour.
The Ashes – Second Test, Brisbane Day 4: Too little too late from England
December 8, 2025 by 3 Comments
Australia count the victories. England count the lost opportunities. John Butler counts the score.
Frog Cakes At Half Forward at ASSH
December 8, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Carolyn Spooner spoke about ‘Frog Cakes At Half Forward’ at the recent ASSH meeting.
Roy Hay’s induction into the Football Australia Hall of Fame
December 8, 2025 by 10 Comments
Roy Hay, highly respected historian, especially when it comes to Australian soccer, has been inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame.
Almanac Memoir: Queer, Sultry Summer
December 8, 2025 by 32 Comments
John Lennon was shot dead forty-five years ago today, December 8. In this previously unpublished short memoir by Kevin Densley (possibly the first chapter of a book-length work, he says), he paints a vivid picture of the impact upon him of Lennon’s murder on the day – combined with a portrayal of central Melbourne in 1980, and other issues in his own life around that time. [A few names of actual people involved have been changed – Ed.]
The Ashes – Second Test, Brisbane: Day 4 – Aussies go two up!
December 7, 2025 by 5 Comments
With Australia running out convincing winners on Day 4 of the Second Ashes Test in Brisbane, Citrus Bob Utber presents his thoughts on the day’s play.
Recent Comments