Balcony Banter – Round 18 Richmond v Port: A tale of (footy in) two cities

Greg Sheehan and his friends had big plans for the Tassie Guys Footy Trip. But the best laid plans don’t always work out.

Round 18 – Melbourne v West Coast: AFL footy in the Red Centre (Part 3)

Post-scripts don’t need to be anti-climaxes. After the football match, Cathij66 completed her Central Australian odyssey with a bus trip to Uluru.

Almanac (Gaelic) Football and Golf – The Lowry’s Eyes are Smiling

Peter Baulderstone knew about the British Open golf win of Irishman Shane Lowry at spectacular rainswept Royal Portrush on the weekend. This is the less known story of Shane’s father Brendan and Uncle’s Sean and Michael winning the All Ireland Gaelic football title in 1982 for minnow Offaly against the might of county Kerry going for a historic fifth successive win. Great video highlights of the best football you will see all week.

Round 18 – St. Kilda v Western Bulldogs: Saints end a Dog of a year with a win over the Dogs

After their coach resigned, the Saints rediscovered their ability to score. Braham Dabscheck is delighted to report the results.

Almanac Teams: An innings cut short

In a thoughtful response to an earlier Phil Dimitriadis piece, Glen! compiles a team of cricketers who had their careers cut short by tragedy or misfortune.

Almanac Book Review: Aboriginal People and Australian Football in the Nineteenth Century: They Did Not Come from Nowhere  by Roy Hay

Roy Hay has written a wonderful new book examining the history of indigenous involvement in the development of the game as we know it today. Here is Col Ritchie’s review of the book. [The book is available at a reduced price for the month of July – Ed]

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 19: ‘How can I be sure?’

Just when he thought that the NRL’s finalists for 2019 had been sorted out, Ian Hauser found that it wasn’t quite so cut and dried after all. He’s been thinking that a song from 1967 when he was a Year 10 schoolboy sums it all up – ‘How can I be sure?’

Almanac Life – #hourlydaily scenes of life: 17-23 July 2019

The sounds of the street, the heartbeat of a community. David Wilson continues his weekly report of overheard conversations on the street.

Round 18 – GWS v Collingwood: Dipping into despair

Despairing game of football for Sean Mortell and fellow Collingwood supporters after their Round 18 loss to GWS as his report shows.

Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life – Round 18 report & Round 19 preview

Not a good weekend for Collingwood supporters as Cam Hooke presents his Round 18 report against GWS, and previews Round 19 against Richmond.

A tale of two towns – Winchelsea v Inverleigh

From memories of 1968 to footy of 2019… it’s Winchelsea Blues v Inverleigh Hawks in this Geelong and District Football League match-of-the-day account from Roger Lowrey. Settle in with the memories; stay for the ride [Grab a cuppa – Ed].

Round 18 – GWS v Collingwood: Floreat Pica Society match report from Paul Harkin

Not a happy day for Collingwood supporters in their Round 18 match against GWS as the Floreat Pica Society report from Paul Harkin emphasises.

Round 18 – Richmond v Port Adelaide: Feeling Good

Kate Birrell was looking forward to a footy fix after a holiday in Bali, and her Tigers didn’t let her down. Kate was happy woman indeed!

Round 18 – Fremantle v Sydney: A tradition lives on

Keiran Croker on the birth of new family members and teething problems for the young goslings in red and white as they fell agonisingly short to Fremantle.

Round 18 – Melbourne v West Coast: AFL footy in the Red Centre (Part 2)

We pick up Cathi Johnston’s trek through the middle of the country for the Heart of the Nation game with the ball set to be bounced in front of a packed house, mostly perched on the quaint yet idyllic grassy hills surrounding Traeger Park.

I’ve lost faith in Australia: A reaction to ‘The Final Quarter’

First year university student Sean Mortell writes that ‘The Final Quarter’ has had a big impact on him. He has been saddened by some of the reaction, especially on social media, and what that reaction suggests about Australian culture. He looks to Young Australia to lead the way in changing deep-seated racism.

Round 18 – Fremantle v Sydney: Slipping Swans See September Slip Away

Casper McLeod reports on the one-point thriller won by Freo in Perth

Round 18 – Geelong v Hawthorn: It’s High Time for a Change

Anna Pavlou had an uncomfortable day at the footy as her Cats were disappointing. She thinks it might be time for a change; time to do the very thing that started the run of early season success.

Almanac Lunch Report – Matt Zurbo’s ‘Heart & Soul’

E Regnans had never met Matt Zurbo until he went to the Almanac Lunch at the North Fitzroy Arms Hotel to hear him talk about ‘Heart & Soul’ and introduce some of the well-known footballers he interviewed for the book. [Sounds like a cracking lunch – Ed]

Henry and the Jets: That freak hailstorm

Introducing Henry Ballard, our recently arrived Deakin University writer, whose column ‘Henry and the Jets’ will appear each week for the remainder of the footy season. Great material – readers will be reminded of the weekend’s event – and beautifully put together.