Almanac Footy: Another great Football Rivalry: Fitzroy v North Melbourne 1979-1986

Philip Mendes presents the next instalment featuring the Fitzroy Football Club participating in pivotal seasons, this time matches against North Melbourne 1979 -1986.

Almanac Footy History: 1899 Grand Final – Fitzroy v South Melbourne

This Saturday Fitzroy play South Melbourne for the 2024 AFL Premiership, albeit as Brisbane and Sydney. Here’s a story by John Harms about that 1899 Grand Final when Fitzroy really did play South Melbourne.

Our Huckleberry Harris

It’s been a while in the making, but Shane Reid has put pen to paper (or rather pixels to screen) on one of his most admired Lions, his Huckleberry Harris Andrews [Thanks for the unexpected Tombstone reference too – Ed.]

Almanac Footy: ‘Who am I?’

Citrus Bob Utber is trying to track down the lady who sat next to him at a recent Footy Almanac function to follow up the information she gave Bob about her dad and the Fitzroy Football Club. [If you can assist Bob please respond in the comments section. – Ed]

Almanac (Footy) History: Fitzroy’s Last Great Win

Paul Harman recalls a magnificent win by the mighty Roys on the first weekend in July of 1993. He dedicates the piece to all those wonderful footy commentators who’ve brought us these games. [Great stuff – Ed]

Almanac Book Review – ‘Merger’ (Part 1: Background)

In response to William Westerman’s ‘Merger’, Callum Quirk has taken a fine-toothed comb to the events of Fitzroy in 1996 and the environment in which they occurred. First up he sets the scene at a macro level, by looking at the emerging philosophical trends.

Almanac Footy: Finals Diary Chapter 8 – Pride

With the 2023 Grand Final rematch coming up at the Gabba tonight, we reprise Shane Reid’s coverage of that epic September clash.

It was not quite the outcome Shane Reid was expecting as Brisbane fell four points short of a premiership.

Almanac Footy: A great Football Rivalry – Fitzroy v Hawthorn 1978-1986 by Philip Mendes

Philip Mendes presents an in-depth analysis of the great footy rivalry between Fitzroy and Hawthorn between the years 1978 to 1986.

Almanac Footy: Fitzroy’s Jack Worrall – 19th century sporting superstar

Rod Gillett profiles the career of Jack Worrall, a superstar footballer and cricketer of the 19th Century,who later became a successful football coach and sporting journalist.

Almanac Sporting Science Fiction: Millimetre Bob and the Royboys

In this short story, Paul Harman combines sci-fi, footy history and inner-city Melbourne life.

Almanac (Local) Footy: Fitzroy Thirds Fan Day – POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Some of the boys from old (new?) Fitzroy will be putting on a show for the fans at Ramsden Street Oval in Clifton Hill and would love to see you there!

Almanac Life: A lesson from (Brother) Robo

John Nugent recently told the story of meeting (and selling newspapers to) John Coleman. He follows up with a piece about a childhood influence.

Almanac Book Review: ‘The Fitzroy Lions and the Tragedy of 1996’ by William Westerman

In this review of William Westerman’s ‘Merger’, Jonathan Pilbrow shares how affecting and emotional he found the book’s subjects and their portrayals while offering lessons for the future and hope through community. [Couldn’t agree more – Ed]

Almanac Family History: Tina Ongarello Reminisces

The Footy Almanac community passes on its deepest sympathies to Tina Ongarello and the extended Ongarello family on the passing of Tony. Tina wrote about her family and footy some years ago.

Tina Ongarello remembers wonderful days of family and footy. [First published in 2011]

Almanac Local Footy: Sir Doug Nicholls Round at the Fitzroy Football Club

Rod Oaten shares his account of being invited by none other than John Harms, to attend the special Sir Doug Nicholls Round at the famous Brunswick St. Oval as the Roy Boys took on De La Salle.

Almanac (Local) Footy: Thirds in their words

The pandemic may well have caused major disruptions to all of us but it can’t take away from us the things we value and the places where we find connection and purpose. Jarrod Landells and mates explain via the agency of the Fitzroy Thirds.

Almanac Footy: The calm before the storm – Fitzroy’s break even 1993

Philip Mendes reviews Fitzroy’s 1993 VFL season. A mid season slump saw the Lions finish the season in 11th position, a disappointing result after their promising start and end to the season.

Almanac Football History – Regaining respect: Fitzroy’s highly competitive 1992 season

Philip Mendes continues his wonderful and informative historical series and reviews AFL season 1992 of the Fitzroy Football Club.

Almanac Football History – One last tilt at finals football: Fitzroy’s inconsistent 1989

In a high low (or low high) on the rollercoaster that was Fitzroy’s final decade in the VFL/AFL, 1989 resulted in some big wins, a third placing in the Coleman Medal and a Reserves Premiership – but was also marred by injury, heartbreaking losses, merger talk and missing the finals by a slim margin. Philip Mendes has all the ins and outs of the season that was.

Almanac Football: This jumper puts the ‘red’ in the Roys!

It’s an old fashioned footy mystery! Ed Carmine wants to find out more about a curious piece of footy ‘art’ that has the Twitter world mostly stumped.