Almanac Rugby League: Brian Burke thinks outside the box

Almanacker Jason Buffier’s mate Brian Burke runs a coffee shop in Maitland and writes a weekly column in the local ‘Maitland Mercury’. Brian put on his thinking cap to go back to the future to propose a regional rugby league competition to replace the cancelled 2020 competitions in the bush.

Round 2 – Carlton v Melbourne: Honourable losses butter no parsnips

Peter Fuller laments the slow starts of the Carton FC – especially this one. But, while admiring the gritty comeback, he notes the butterless parsnips.

Round 2 – GWS v North Melbourne: Off-Broadway

Smokie’s bit-part players and character actors adorned in blue and white stripes put in a performance worthy of a Tony as they accounted for the Giants – will North Melbourne provide some new household names come the end of the season?

Round 2 – Collingwood v Richmond: Do androids dream of electric crowd noises?

Is this the brave new world of footy in 2020? From a pinch of the ridiculous to the barest amount of sublime, Jarrod Landells found the Tigers’ draw with Collingwood difficult to sink his teeth into for the most part.

Round 2 – St Kilda v Western Bulldogs: Hark that was no lark with Saints onto the mark as the Dogs lost their bark

Braham Dabscheck was very pleased with not only the Saints’ win over the Dogs, but also that their previously lacking accuracy in front of the big sticks was much improved.

Round 2 – St Kilda v Western Bulldogs: Saints leading through traffic accurately and demonstrate improvement

Yoshi had a full weekend of footy, watching (in part) all nine games! The pick of the bunch was of course his Saints big time win over the Bulldogs, to which he paid very careful attention.

Opinion: What it meant for AFL players to ‘take a knee’ this weekend

Michael Viljoen brings his perspective to the recent Black Lives Matter protests, politics and cultural divides and the actions of AFL players to take a knee in response.

Round 2 – Collingwood v Richmond: Drawing the masses back into footy

Sean Mortell was among the throng of fans who saw the AFL restart after months of interregnum at the whims of coronavirus. Did everything go as expected? Not in this new normal.

Round 2 – Collingwood v Richmond: The COVID-19 Breaker match (Floreat Pica Society)

The FPS is back to review Collingwood’s crazy draw with Richmond on Thursday night. Paul McKay is still dismayed by the result, yet still manages to comprehensively report on the round two proceedings.

Round 2 – Haiku Bob: the new normal

Haiku Bob rides again, his words this time reflect on the performance of the Pies out of the coronavirus wilderness.

Round 2 – Brisbane v Fremantle: A Brisbane perspective

Brisbane managed to scrape past Fremantle in their round two encounter up at the Gabba. Despite taking home the four points, Sam Evans wasn’t convinced by the Lions’ shaky effort.

Round 2 – Sydney v Essendon: That is how you break a drought… narrowly!

After a nervy first-up win ten weeks ago, Essendon made the trip up to Sydney to renew their rivalry with the Swans. Caspar McLeod was kept on the edge of his seat as the game tightened up in the final minutes.

Round 2 – Gold Coast v West Coast: “And it goes to a Gold Coast player…”

Matt Quartermaine, sans pub TV coverage, takes to the radio to follow the Suns-Eagles clash on Saturday evening. He was reminded of a sketch he did with Parko thirty years ago. Here’s his report – and you’re sure to love the YouTube clip. [Prescient – Ed]

Round 2 – Sydney v Essendon: Parish last quarter heroics

Darcy Parish’s cracking last quarter ended a nervous afternoon on the couch for Col Ritchie as his Bombers hold off the Swans to win their Round 2 match at the SCG.

Round 2 – Brisbane v Fremantle: And the future is now

English and Music teacher Shane Reid takes his inspiration from the pandemic and other dystopia for this report of the clash between the Lions and the Dockers.

Round 2 – Geelong v Hawthorn: Jeff Kennett seems to establish second curse

Yoshi reports from Japan of Geelong’s excellent Round 2 win over Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium. He gave his votes to an ex-Saint!

Round 2 – Collingwood v Richmond: Daicos Delights in Dour Draw

The couch will have to do instead of MCG seats for Luke Reynolds as he yells himself hoarse supporting his Magpies in their drawn game against the Tigers.

Round 2 – Collingwood v Richmond: Asterisk you take*

John Green considers the asterisk – its ancient history and its use in modern sport. And then reports on the re-boot of this 2020 season.

Almanac (Pub) History: Queen’s Head Hotel Geelong – Part 2

The old Queen’s Head Hotel in Geelong is generating a lot of interest. Roger Lowrey presents his memories of the pub.

Round 2: Is that it?

John Harms is interested to know how people have responded to the return of footy.