Round 18 – St. Kilda v GWS: Saints take a Giant step into the finals

It was a nervy night, but Braham joined the St. Kilda supporters elated by the Saints’ return to finals action after a crushing win over the Giants.

Almanac Life: Racing the train

The feeling of running can help ease the pain of the action. Kate Birrell discovered this as she flew along the Djerring Trail in Melbourne’s south-east.

1981 Revisited – Preliminary Final 1981: ‘Another One Rides the Bus’

In his 1981 retrospective, Stainless looks back at the Preliminary Final, in which favourites Geelong take on Collingwood at VFL Park.

FEARLESS 2020 Round 16: Hi marathoners, I can see the entrance to the main stadium…

Fearless reminds us of what went on in the hubs during the spread of Round 16.

A rags to riches story: Dromana re-writes NPNFL football history in 2018/19

Dromana are a current fairytale story in the NPNFL, having won a Division 2 and then a Division 1 flag in consecutive years. But the club wasn’t always so successful, as Roger Spaull recounts in a look back to the dreaded 1997 season where football records were smashed in all of the worst ways.

Almanac (Footy) Books: ‘Born to Play – The Barry Davis Story’ (excerpts)

With the biography of former VFL great Barry Davis due for release in October here are some excerpts from Chapter 6 to whet your appetite.

Almanac Cinema: Australia’s Best Film? (Discuss)

Kevin Densley nominates his favourite Australian film, and invites all Almanac readers to share their favourites.

Almanac Childhood Heroes: Brian Gleeson – Brownlow medallist, member of the Saints Hall of Fame

Allan Grant pays homage to his childhood hero, St Kilda’s Brian Gleeson, whose career was cut short by injury at a very young age.

Almanac (Footy) History: Before Tomahawk there was Jumping Jack

Jack Hawkins has been nominated to the inaugural AFL NSW Hall of Fame. Rod ‘Rocket’ Gillett caught up with him recently.

Round 18 – Sal’s Preview: It’s all about timing

Sal sorts out the various teams’ prospects for Round 18 leading into the Finals. Then he casts his eye over the fields at Caulfield to give you a few winners.

Round 17 Review, Round 18 Preview: Plenty of teams, one finals spot on the line

The Almanac’s Sean Mortell explains what Round 17 results mean for the competition before sorting through what’s at stake in the AFL’s Round 18. There’s a lot to play for!

Balcony Banter – Michael Allen: After the Siren

Michael Allen looks for a way to bring some positive energy to a dark year by recounting several winning after-the-siren goals. He recounted them for ‘Balcony Banter’.

Almanac Rugby League: Farewell Gavin Cooper

Gavin Cooper, the resilient North Queensland Cowboys left edge forward, will retire after next week’s final round in the NRL. Ian Hauser pays tribute to the type of player every side would love to have.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 19 Preview: Tidying up loose ends

The NRL finalists are decided but a few loose ends need to be tidied up in this weekend’s Round 19. Ian Hauser takes a look at the prospects for each team.

Almanac Rugby League: It’s all there in black and white

Looking back over his collection of ‘Big League’ programmes, John Campbell finds one dated September 30th 1986 (Vol 67, No. 31) – Grand Final day. Another recounts South Sydney’s worst defeat ever – Round 16, 2006. He loves them all!

“‘Punderdelime’ the footy pioneer…………” by KB Hill

KB Hill recalls the life and significance of Brother John Pye, the father of Australian football in the Tiwi Islands and beyond.

The Footy Almanac 2007 Week 3 Finals – Port Adelaide v North Melbourne: Pain, pain and more pain

Politics and footy are eternally linked for Tony Roberts. In 2007 he was left bemoaning the latter when the Roos came crashing down to Earth in their Preliminary Final against the Power.

The Footy Almanac 2007 Week 3 Finals – Port Adelaide v North Melbourne: Might and power

Local Adelaide guru John Kingsmill watched Port Adelaide trounce the Kangaroos en route to the 2007 Grand Final. A powerful display brought down the curtains on the career of Glenn Archer.

1971 SANFL Mobil Cards – Part 5: Port Adelaide

If your subject is the SANFL, then you will inevitably find yourself discussing Port Adelaide. Swish Schwerdt’s 1971 Mobil footy card series stops off at Alberton Oval.

She Did It

Tony Wilson was in the Sydney Olympic stands back in 2000, when Cathy Freeman ran the race of her life. Twenty years on, you can enjoy the experience once again.