NRL Round 22 and NRLW Round 5 – If it’s August, then finals can’t be far away

We’re into August, so the battle for places in the NRL and NRLW finals next month is starting to heat up. Ian Hauser offers his thoughts on this weekend’s clashes in both competitions.

The Furphy Literary Award – 2025 Winner announced

The winners of the various categories of the 2025 Furphy Literary Award were announced at the Shepparton Art Museum on Saturday night. Read about the winners, their stories and comments from the judging panel here.

What Are You Looking At?

A photograph in the newspaper prompts Roy Hay to recall a family link to the Szenchenyi Bridge in Budapest.

Almanac Footy: A History of Australian Rules Football in Woomera 1948 to 1992 – Part 12: 1976 – 1977

David Turpin continues his ‘A History of Australian Rules Football in Woomera 1948 to 1992’ with Part 12 looking at the years 1976 – 1977.

Almanac Footy: Why you should never leave early

St Kilda’s record comeback win against Melbourne is a good reason why you should never leave the footy until the final siren sounds as Ian Wilson explains.

The Long and Winding Ride: Episode 13 – Chiltern to Goorambat: Like a bat out of hell

Episode 13 of Peter Clark’s ‘The Long and Winding Ride’ covers the longest ride on the so far from Chiltern to Goorambat. Besides enjoying lunch and nice wines Peter also examines the history of some of the local footy clubs such as Thoona FC and Goorambat FC.

Round 21 – AFL Season 2025 Footy Fixture: Who, where, and when

Find out who, where, and when your team is playing in Round 21 of AFL season 2025.

Round 20 – Richmond v Collingwood: Floreat Pica Society match report

Tony Scully presents the Floreat Pica Society match report for Collingwood’s Round 20 win against Richmond.

Almanac Music: The Last Record Store

Peter Crossing provides joyful ‘High Fidelity’ memories of the record stores that dotted cities in the days before music went digital. [With the increased popularity of vinyl in recent years the Footy Almanac reprises Peter’s passion for record stores from 10 years ago – Ed]

Almanac Footy: Western District Football Wrap

Dandy Andy updates the latest results and news from the major footy leagues in the Western District of Victoria.

Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2025: Round 20 Review / Round 21 Preview

Back on the winning list with their Round 20 win against Richmond Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2025 reviews the match and previews the upcoming Round 21 match against Brisbane.

Almanac Rugby Union – Second Test, Wallabies v British & Irish Lions: Gut punched!

Brian the Ruminator came away from the second Wallabies v British & Irish Lions Test at the MCG with mixed feelings – invigorated by an excellent spectacle but also gut punched by the controversial denouement.

Almanac Poetry: Not Quite Yorick

Alas poor allegoric, it seems that death becomes him. This Monday’s poem by Kevin Densley contemplates the subject of death masks.

Almanac Footy: Jewels in the Rough for the 2025 Finals

Ian Wilson ponders the lack of playing list imagination some teams have produced over the past few years while other clubs have hit the ‘jackpot’ with discarded players.

Almanac Footy: Mid-season footy club reviews (a bit late, but…) – Part 4

Micky McTigger completes his mid-season review of teams competing for the 2025 premiership.

Almanac Horseracing: #AusJumpsRacingPreviews – Casterton, Sunday 27 July 2025

The horses are jumping this Sunday at Casterton, Dandy Andy makes his tips for the event.

Almanac Obituaries: Vale Warren Ralph (Who Stood On My Head)

John Gordon pays tribute to former Carlton footballer Warren Ralph who passed away suddenly earlier this week. John fondly remembers Warren’s boots on top of his head after a Ralph screamer. RIP Warren Ralph.

The Furphy Literary Award: More on Finalists Dips O’Donnell and Emma Westwood

The winners – first, second and third prizes – of the 2025 Furphy Literary Award will be announced at the Shepparton Arts Museum this coming Saturday night, July 26. Here at The Footy Almanac, we congratulate two of our writers, Damian ‘Dips’ O’Donnell and Emma Westwood who are on the short list of sixteen. We wish them well on Saturday evening.

Here’s a little bit more about them, and links to some of their work.

Almanac Books: The Fifty Books of Bernard

Friends gathered with Bernard Whimpress to help him celebrate the fifty books he has published over many years, and to acknowledge his recently announced award of an Order Of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to literature as a sportswriter and author.

Almanac Music: ‘It’s always cold inside the icehouse’ – Songs Involving Ice

In this latest installment of his epic series on popular song themes, KD deals with songs involving ice (the frozen stuff, not the drug). As is always the case, readers’ song choices and comments are warmly welcomed.