Almanac Footy: John Gallus – The journey through football

Matt Watson examines the football journey of former Melbourne footballer John Gallus.

Almanac Rugby League – Cameron Smith: A legend in his own time

Liam Hauser makes the case that, over the 30 years he’s followed rugby league, Cameron Smith is the greatest player he has seen.

Balcony Banter: Ready to return

It’s been a very different year for the MCG. MCC Library sleuth Lynda Carroll writes about previous occasions when the ‘G’ coped with unusual circumstances resulting from a variety of causes.

Almanac Rugby League – 2020 State of Origin, Game 1: Flickering start, high beam finish

The NRL’s 2020 State of Origin series got underway in Adelaide last night. The Almanac’s rugby league editor Ian Hauser tells us how he saw it unfold.

Almanac Footy: From AFL football to tattoo guns

Trying to follow his football dream, Hal Hunter found himself at Essendon’ during the peptide scandal. He has gone on to forge a career in a completely new field. Emile Pavlich spoke to him.

FEARLESS 2020 Finals Week 3: Review and post-season thoughts

Paul Thompson was writing his review of the AFL Preliminary Finals when rumours of events at North Melbourne gave him pause for reflection. He offers his thoughts on what has transpired.

Almanac Music: ‘The President Sang Amazing Grace’ – Kronos Quartet and Meklit

At this time of Presidential elections in the USA, a stirring memory; the Kronos Quartet and Meklit sing, ‘The President sang Amazing Grace’.

Almanac Footy History – The Crapp Chroicles Part 3: A Crapp First League Game

Henry ‘Ivo’ Crapp umpires his first game of VFL football in the very first round of the competition, in 1897. As Tim Ghys reports, some rule tweaks were soon required.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Chicken’ Smallhorn

A poem about the legendary Fitzroy champ, Wilfred ‘Chicken’ Smallhorn, by Stephen Whiteside.

Almanac Rugby League: 2020 State of Origin, Game 1 – It seems different to me

Rugby league’s centrepiece series, State of Origin, kicks off in Adelaide tonight (Nov 4). For our rugby league editor Ian Hauser, the 2020 edition of Origin seems like a lot of other things in 2020 – different.

The Footy Almanac Melbourne Cup Soiree Trifecta and Sweep (assigned horses and results)

Following an afternoon of discussion and debate, here’s the Almanac trifecta for the 2020 Melbourne Cup. And the draw for the four Cup sweeps. Results now notified.

Almanac Poetry: The Quest of the Holy Grail – in a Nutshell

Not quite Monty Python, but certainly not ‘straight’ either, this week’s poem from Kevin Densley concerns the most famous knightly quest of them all.

Almanac Rugby League: Queensland Origin and Community – Playing for the People

In his 2015 Tom Brock Lecture, Sasha Lennon explored the link between the Queensland rugby league State of Origin team and the broader Queensland community. In the lead-up to tomorrow night’s Game 1 of the 2020 Origin series, we revisit Sasha’s lecture.

Podcast: Don Watson on Keating’s Redfern Speech, 1992

It’s considered one of the finest ever examples of Australian oratory. Tony Wilson shares with us speechwriter Don Watson’s take on then Prime Minister Paul Keating’s incredible Redfern Speech

Almanac Poetry: 2020 AFL Grand Final Haiku Kukai – smoke and lasers

Haiku Bob’s annual AFL Grand Final Haiku Kukai has been another great success. Check out the results.

Grand Final – Richmond v Geelong: The Aftermath

There was a near inevitability to the Richmond win over Geelong for KN Dole, based on years of astute observation. It wasn’t all roses on or off the field though – for team and supporter alike.

An Ode to Harry: One of the Footy Gods’ own Prototypes

After his understated exit from the AFL, Denis Gedling pays tribute to wonderful defender and sometime strange cat, Harry Taylor.

Almanac Life: The First Beer After Lock-Down

The first beer after lockdown tasted sweet. But Smokie explains why the hesitation remains

Almanac Horseracing: Melbourne Cup – Sal’s Preview: Are we in for a big surprise? Yeah Baby yeah!

We’ve jumped from Grand Finals into the Melbourne Cup via Derby Day in record time. Sal Ciardulli’s been up for the challenge of 2020 since the get go, he gives his previews for the final time in an extraordinary year.

Almanac Horseracing: Melbourne Cup lead-up races in one place

Here’s the form you need to sort out the 2020 Melbourne Cup. The seven important races – gathered from YouTube