Almanac Music: Australia’s Best Song Revisited

When it comes to listening to music, many people are “mood listeners”. In this vein, KD revisits his “Best Australian Song” Footy Almanac piece, to ask Almanackers what songs may have slipped through the cracks in the extensive discussion that followed it. He also provides a new song nomination of his own.

Don’t Quit the Under 16s: An open letter to Webby

Michael Nichols makes an impassioned plea to a talented youngster to keep playing the game. There’s too much at stake to walk away early.

Almanac Fans: The Important Things in Life

There are times when a seemingly simple and innocent photograph tells a beautiful story. This is one of them. (The Almanac highlight of the day! – Ed.)

Almanac Rugby League – The Footy Almanac 2021 Rugby League Tipping Competition

The Footy Almanac invites all members of its community to join in the 2021 Rugby League Tipping competition. With just one week to go to kick-off, sign up now to have a chance to share in cash prizes at season’s end.

Almanac Rugby League – The Charity Shield and NRL Trials

After last weekend’s Charity Shield match and several NRL trials, our rugby league editor Ian Hauser thinks he can see what we’re in for in the NRL’s Season 2021.

Almanac Rugby League: The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup 2021

Rugby League enthusiast Glen Dwyer provides us with news from the NSWRL about The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup 2021. After the disruption of Season 2020 by the Covid pandemic, it looks like a return to something approaching ‘normal’ in this new year.

Almanac Football: The Lienert legend continues

A father-daughter football lineage was continued when Sadie Lienert made her SANFL women’s debut for West Adelaide, following in the footsteps of father Kym. Peter Argent provides the story and pictures.

Book Preview: A Season Like No Other by Ashley Browne

Long-time football scribe Ashley Browne has written an account of the 2020 AFL season, which was dramatically impacted by the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. The book will be published by Hardie Grant on the 17th of March. As a teaser, you can read a preview extract here.

Almanac Music: A musical journey (in praise of Fred Eaglesmith)

Warren Tapner has had plenty of years filled with enjoying great music. But his wonderful journey reached its peak when he came across the crooning of Fred Eaglesmith.

Almanac Cricket: Getting out of jail – Lower Eltham’s relegation fight

Sean Mortell is a member of Lower Eltham’s first XI team in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association. He has the crazy tale of a rollercoaster season that ended in Lower Eltham fighting to avoid relegation in order to keep a proud tradition alive on the final weekend of matches.

Almanac Footy: AFL Practice Match – Cats v Pies

Dips O’Donnell took his time to watch the Geelong v Collingwood practice match last week. With his eye on the next new thing out of the Cattery, he was impressed by an array of players and tactics.

Almanac Soccer: Barnsley Football Club

A great joy of English soccer is keeping an eye on scores from afar. Rod Oaten has picked Barnsley as his team, and has had an intriguing few seasons following them from across the globe.

Almanac Poetry: Bob Craig’s Funeral

In this Tuesday’s poem, Kevin Densley recalls a small, particularly sad funeral he attended (the real name of the deceased has been changed), many years ago, where a notable local sportsman gave a memorable eulogy.

Almanac Rugby – Super Rugby AU Rd 2/Aotearoa Rd 1: Reigns of the champs continue

The competition over the ditch has started up a week after the local iteration of Super Rugby kicked off. The stories so far are familiar to those who followed last year according to Brian the Ruminator, with the Brumbies and Crusaders seemingly on a level above the rest.

Almanac Footy – SAPSASA Football Team 1973: Robert Simpson

Robert Simpson was selected for the SA Primary Schools footy side in 1973. He wants to find out who else was in this team photo. Can you help?

Almanac Boxing – Alvarez: The red-headed Mexican pound-for-pound king

Greg Andrew reveals just what makes the Mexican boxing phenomenon Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez so special, as arguably the world’s best boxer.

Retrieving the Footy from the Tree

Another extract from Damian Balassone’s collection of footy-theme poems, ‘Strange Game in a Strange Land’.

Almanac Footy – Corowa ‘Last to First’, a Glory Days Podcast review

Rod Gillett has listened to and reviewed a recent podcast looking back at the Corowa Spiders’ amazing O&M flag in 1968.

Almanac Beer Review: Prancing Pony and Smiling Samoyed at the Normanville pub

A kaleidoscopic spread of brews crossed the paths of Mickey Randall and Co. at Normanville’s historic pub; some were more palatable than others.

Almanac Teams: Seventh Heaven (1980- )

We forge ahead with Rodney Boyd’s series of teams; this week’s side has the best Number 7s to don the jumper since 1980(ish) and a first time selection of two players from the same team.