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.

Almanac Books: On the Launch of Matt Zurbo’s Book ‘If I could…’

E.regnans attended the launch of Matt Zurbo’s children’s book ‘If I Could…’, where he found himself surrounded by merriment, music and inspiration – and a dress-up crocodile!

Almanac Travel: Colac to Yamba – a winter sojourn

Col and Meryl Ritchie have headed north for their winter sojourn away from wintry Colac. After four days on the road they reach sunny Yamba.

Round 20 – Sal’s Preview: The Other Derby Day

Sal likes the notion of all the derbies in one round but questions the scheduling.

The Newport Stars

Smokie recalls his mum’s brief netball career with the mighty Newport Stars

Round 19 – Haiku Bob: brief notes

It could have…it should have…it didn’t. Haiku Bob on Collingwood’s narrow loss to the Dockers.

NRL Round 20 – RITV: Winning is a habit, losing is a habit

Habits are hard to break. Just ask RITV after South Sydney lost their seventh game in a row.

NRL Round 21 – Prop by the Sea: You gotta love footy!

Prop by the Sea maintained his position on the footy tipping ladder but was rather less successful on the nags. You gotta love the punt!

Almanac Footy: Western District Football Wrap

Dandy Andy continues his coverage of western Victoria local footy as we get towards the finals.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 21 and NRLW Round 4: Nothing much seems to have changed

Rugby league editor Ian Hauser returns from his travels in Europe and tries to work out what’s going on in the NRL these days. Round 20 results suggest that there are still no certainties in this year’s competition.

Everyday Obituaries: Remembering Josh Langley

Josh Langley was a revered author, radio copywriter, and podcaster. Barry Nicholls remembers his good friend.

Almanac life: Almost, Us

Mickey Randall shares with us a recent visit that he and Claire made to the Stirling Community Theatre, to see the play “Almost, Maine”

Almanac Footy: A History of Australian Rules Football in Woomera 1948 to 1992 – Part 11: 1974 – 1975

David Turpin continues his fascinatinating look at the history of football in Woomera from 1948 to 1992. This week David looks at the years 1974 and 1975.

Almanac Travel: Not so much ‘la dolce vita’ as ‘la vita educativa’ (Part 5)

In the final part of his travels in Europe tales, Ian Hauser offers what he thinks makes for good accommodation as well as where he found good food and good coffee. He finishes with a collection of observations derived from his recent experiences.