Round 1 – Brisbane v Sydney: ‘Oh Errol!’

Young Sydney debutante Errol Gulden had a dream debut kicking three goals in the Swans surprise win against Brisbane as Keiran Croker reports.

Round 1 – Richmond v Carlton: Farewell to the Hillary Step

John Green took tremendous joy in sitting down inside the MCG to witness the unfurling of not one, but two flags as his Tigers outlasted Carlton. He even has some tips for the coach’s next speech.

Almanac Rugby League: Vale Fred Jones

Fred Jones, who passed away late last week, captained the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles to their first premiership in 1972. Ian Hauser presents this tribute to one of the code’s great characters of yesteryear.

Round 1 – GWS v St. Kilda: Saints prevail over Giants in a tight game in tough conditions.

Braham Dabscheck goes over the tight final moments of one of St Kilda’s greatest wins over the Giants in Western Sydney during torential rain.

Round 1 – Brisbane v Sydney: How to get the excitement juices flowing

Jan Courtin’s Swans pulled off a massive upset in Brisbane, she celebrated the new name Bloods from the heartland of old South Melbourne on Raglan Street.

Separating identity from performance

Greg Andrew examines the question of identity and how much of being a professional athlete contributes to a sense of self and self worth through two very different individuals.

Round 1 – Richmond v Carlton: A night at the footy

The simple pleasures of passing suburban Melbourne on the train to the MCG are all Vaughan Menlove needed to rekindle his connection with the triumphant Tigers at their home ground after a year of distance.

Almanac Teams: The Debatable Eights (1980- )

It’s Monday and that means Rodney Boyd is back to share his weekly side, this one made up of the more ‘interesting’ players who wore Number 8 in the past 40 years or so.

Round 1 – Essendon v Hawthorn: The most Essendon loss ever…but what a game!

Caspar McLeod admits to feeling weird at returning to footy in person. Round 1’s Essendon v Hawthorn game didn’t provide the result he was hoping for, but it was one of the more exciting games between the two rivals in recent years and importantly the night was filled with the soothing sights and sounds of footy.

Round 1 – North Melbourne v Port Adelaide: From a central Queensland lounge-room

Happy Port fan Nick Kossatch lives in a neck of the woods which hardly recognises Australian football. So if he’s cheering from his loungeroom and nobody hears, has there really been a game of footy at Marvel Stadium? [Good to have you back on our site Nick – JTH]

Football is Back: Golden Plains SC v Melbourne Uni SC

Roy Hay says he’s retired (and gives some words to a description of life in Bannockburn outside of Geelong) but we all know he is not. Here’s his report on the opener of the local football season.

Round 1 – Richmond v Carlton: Playing possum

It’s the season for new beginnings: for the league, the reigning premiers and for Paddy Grindlay. Freshly ensconced in his Melbourne digs, it’s clear that home is where you make it, but can always be familiar and welcoming.

Almanac Footy: #CollingwoodFC Life

It has been quite an off-season for Collingwood. Nicole Kelly charts the ups and downs, social media-style.

Almanac Music (Jazz): ‘St James Infirmary’ by Louis Armstrong and His Savoy Ballroom Five (1928)

In this Friday’s column, KD looks at a jazz standard recorded by Louis Armstrong and His Savoy Ballroom Five in 1928, ‘St James Infirmary’. Since then, there have been hundreds of recordings of this song.

Almanac (Swimming) Poetry: The Slow Lane

Campbell Bairstow has moved to the slow lane of the pool it seems. Willingly? Happily?

Almanac Life: The end of civilisation as we have known it?

Roy Hay laments ‘The Conversation’ having to remove all debates on Indigenous affairs, and instead turns his eyes to the Almanac’s community feel.

Almanac (Footy) Book: A copy of Peter Lalor’s ‘Ron Barassi’

Dan Hoban stumbled upon Peter Lalor’s book on Ron Barassi. From there, Dan’s affection for the VFL/ AFL legend only grew.

Round 1 – Results

Richmond 15.15.105  d  Carlton 11.14.80 Collingwood 7.11.53 d by Western Bulldogs 10.9.69 Melbourne 11.14.80 d Fremantle 8.10.58 Adelaide 15.13.103 d Geelong 13.13.91 Essendon 13.13.91 d by Hawthorn 14.8.92 Brisbane 14.10.94 d by Sydney 19.11.125 North Melbourne 9.11.65 d by Port Adelaide 17.15.117 GWS 11.12.78 d by St Kilda 13.8.86 West Coast 12.11.83 d Gold Coast [Read more]

Round 1 – …and Horse Racing: Sal’s Preview – A busy return to action

Sal Ciardulli is back for 2021 with a massive preview of the AFL’s opening round and the weekend racing action.

Player Interview: One on one with Taylor Walker

In his role as Barrier Daily Truth correspondent, Peter Argent spoke with Adelaide Crow veteran (and Broken Hill export) Taylor Walker about the season ahead.