Richard Flanagan: Tasmania is burning (link to Guardian)

February 5, 2019 by 13 Comments

For those who have yet to discover Richard Flanagan’s powerful piece on power, climate change and leaders who lack depth and substance here is a link to it in the Guardian.

Australia v Sri Lanka, Second Test – Day 4: Going through the motions!

February 4, 2019 by 5 Comments

Manuka continues to surprise Citrus Bob, its food and eating places please, but will day 4 of the cricket offer any surprises? Unfortunately not as Citrus reports on the demise of the sub-standard Sri Lanka team.

Almanac Footy Teams – Where for art thou Ian?: A team of Ians

February 4, 2019 by 25 Comments

A team of Ians you say! Don’t be a blockhead, hit me with your rhythm stick and drum out your Ians says Almanacker Phil.

AFLW Round 1 – Geelong v Collingwood: Swings and Roundabouts – the return of AFL Women’s for 2019

February 4, 2019 by 9 Comments

Kate Williams was thrilled by the fantastic opening Round 1 game of the AFLW between the Cats and the Pies. Although her Pies went down she was excited by the performance of the players from both sides. Here is her report.

AFLW Round 1: A conference imbalance already?

February 4, 2019 by 18 Comments

Season 3 of AFLW began spectacularly, with four thrillers out of five games, all played in hot conditions. But as the players put on a great show, John Butler has concerns about the potential for the new conference system to unduly shape the finals.

Australia v Sri Lanka, Second Test – Day 3: Citrus turns sour?

February 3, 2019 by 6 Comments

Citrus Bob Utber is grumpy, but not really too grumpy. Khawaja and Starc make the slectors’ job even harder as Australia bat the Sri Lankans out of the Test match.

AFLW Round 1 – Geelong v Collingwood: AFLW in the summer – why not!

February 3, 2019 by 2 Comments

Sean Mortell is about to become a first year journalism student and is one of our Rookie Riters (more on that later, and yes our patron likes alliteration and Wookie Witers was a bridge too far). A Collingwood fan, Sean was hoping the Pies would break their first round duck. But, like all real sportslovers, he’s been able to see this game for the exciting contest it was.

Do You Remember Lying In Bed? A Radio Reminiscence

February 3, 2019 by 34 Comments

Swish charts the highs and lows of his radio listening lifetime, from Mel Cameron to The Coodabeens. Did you listen to the radio? That’s what he’d like to know.

Names but no faces!

February 2, 2019 by 3 Comments

Good looking, handsome? Or not as envisaged! After many literal interactions on the Footy Almanac site, Jan Courtin ponders the visual, what do her fellow Almanackers look like? She hopes to find out on her return to Melbourne.

Australia v Sri Lanka, Second Test – Day 2: A smorgasbord!

February 2, 2019 by 3 Comments

Citrus Bob is treated to a smorgasbord of brilliant food, and a smorgasbord of runs by the Aussies as he reports on all the action of day 2 at Manuka.

Australia v Sri Lanka, Second Test – Day 1: Aussie ton drought breaks

February 1, 2019 by 2 Comments

After early wobbles, Australia’s batsmen rediscovered the art of Test century-making. Citrus Bob Utber was on the spot to report.

AFLW starts tomorrow (Feb 2) – time to set your season up

February 1, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Footy’s back tomorrow (Saturday) with the opening round of the AFLW2019 season. Time to set up your season. Join our tipping comp. Take note of the Round 1 fixture. Read Yvette’s thoughts on the return of footy. Become an Almanac member. It’s all here in the one post.

Almanac Footy Teams – Max !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

February 1, 2019 by 28 Comments

How about a team of Maxes 99? Smart move 96! Here is Glen’s team.

Almanac Cricket: Australia v Sri Lanka – Second Test from Manuka Oval, Canberra

February 1, 2019 by 4 Comments

The second Australia v Sri Lanka Test gets underway this morning in Canberra. We give our take on the lead-up to the match and pose a series of questions. Is that a metaphor for this summer of Australian cricket – there are more questions than answers? At no extra cost, we throw in a bit of Latin.

AFLW 2019: It’s that time

February 1, 2019 by 7 Comments

Yvette Wroby prepares for the beginning of the AFLW 2019 season with an eye firmly on weather forecasts for Saturday Feb 2. She finds it weird to worry about the heat at a footy match. But she has much to look forward to.

Odd Friday Lunch (Feb 1): Denis Pagan

January 31, 2019 by 1 Comment

After a summer break, the Odd Friday Lunch is back, with Denis Pagan as the first guest of 2019. He’s always got something to say.

Henry Lawson Poetry: ‘The Song of the Darling River’

January 31, 2019 by 6 Comments

I found this Henry Lawson poem about the Darling River. Australia has always suffered droughts, and periods of poor rainfall. Much of the 1890s was dry, and the worst of it became known as the Federation Drought.

‘Bringing Home The Bacon In The Local Gift………’ – KB Hill

January 31, 2019 by 1 Comment

Almanac favourite KB Hill continues to create his collage of local sport from up Wangaratta way. Today it’s the Wangaratta Gift and the many characters, local and ‘imports’, who have featured in its rich history. (Methinks it’s about time someone wrote the record of KB Hill! – Ed.)

Almanac Teams: Royals

January 29, 2019 by 19 Comments

Now this is a creative team which Glen explains beautifully in his intro – a team with a ‘Royal’ theme.

Almanac Tributes: Hugh McIlvanney – one of sports writing’s finest

January 29, 2019 by 8 Comments

Peter Flynn has been a regular visit to the Antipodes over many years. As a result he has come to appreciate the fine sports writing on offer there – especially the descriptive and insightful prose of Hugh McIlvanney. Sadly McIlvanney died last week. P. Flynn went looking for the Scotsman’s powerful piece on Johnny Owen’s tragic final fight.