Almanac Footy History: The Lexton Football League and Lexton Football Club – Part 1

Roger Spaull begins his history of the Lexton Football League and the Lexton Football Club with an overview of the role of country footy as seen through the eyes of Richmond great, Jack Dyer, in an interview conducted by the club in 1971.

Almanac Books: Finding Jack Broadstock

Researching information about the subject of his biography, ‘The Trials of Jack Broadstock’, proved to be challenging at times for Michael Sexton as he explains.

Finals Week 1 – Brisbane v Richmond: Captain’s call

John Green went into Richmond’s first final confident. After avidly following the glittering career of skipper Trent Cotchin, John was let down by Richmond’s loss to the Lions.

Almanac Footy History – Wilfred Smallhorn: The Remarkable Chicken

Adam Muyt recounts the wonderful story of Fitzroy FC legend, Wilfred ‘Chicken’ Smallhorn.

Almanac (Footy) Memoir: The day I met Captain Blood

Murray Walding comes from a Richmond family. This is his story of meeting Jack Dyer. [Brilliant atmospheric description – Ed]

Workplace Football: An introduction and overview

What modern Australian workplace would be without footy chat? But the Australian workplace has a connection to Aussie Rules that goes way back. Anna Pavlou introduces a fascinating look at the history of workplace football. Contains traces of Captain Blood. (A project generously supported by Peter Stirk – Ed)

Almanac Art – The Art of Football: a visualisation

A look at a selection of the brilliant works featured in the ongoing exhibition “The Art of Football.”

Premiership Tiger Dreams of a 1967 Repeat

KB Hill looks back at the life and career of John Perry who played in Richmond’s 1967 Grand Final win. A fascinating overview of the player’s career, family connections to footy and some of the legends he played with and against.

Musings on History Part 2

Stainless Steele has lived a Tiger life, as has his family. He has written about with insight and perspective over the years here at the Almanac. It’s appropriate that his is our first Grand Final report from a Tiger.

37 Years Have Come to This.

Vaughan Menlove looks back on his lifetime as a Richmond supporter, but looks forward too, as he prepares for his first ever Grand Final.

Soft free

Punxsutawney Pete waxes eloquently about the “soft free”.

Lou Richards’ Master Class At Melbourne High

Braham Dabscheck recalls the time Lou Richards and Jack Dyer were invited to give a talk at Melbourne High School. Easily the most engaging talk he ever heard as a student.

The Back To The Future Footy Panel

Lou Richards’ funeral yesterday was a beautiful tribute to a footy and media legend. We look back at a classic piece of humour from Phil Dimitriadis. Originally published five years ago.

In the tree tops with the ruckmen

Carolyn Spooner finds a perfect relationship between the very best of football’s big men and, thanks to a trusty copy of Shrubs and trees for Australian gardens, many particularly characterised Australian trees.

Great players…Great nicknames

Peter Clark remembers some of the great nicknames of footballers past but wonders why nicknames for current footballers are not as forthcoming. Who can you add to the list?

In the testing ground with the centre half backs

Carolyn Spooner’s review of the champions of the footy spine has reached the heroic position of centre half back.

Round 19 – GWS v Richmond: The final insult

Paddy Grindlay begins reading “Finding Jack Dyer” but he’s nowhere to be found in Canberra

Almanac History: George Goninon and the “punt drop” kick

Jim Johnson creator of the Stab Punt presents research evidence of George Goninon’s use of a Drop Punt in his success at goal kicking.

Era, era on the wall: 1939 – 1948

Jeff Dowsing’s look back at VFL Grand Final eras continues. Today: The World War Two years. Bluey Truscott, The Bloodbath of ’45, ‘King’ Dick and Captain Blood.

Era, era on the wall, which was the greatest of them all?

Wondering how to get your footy fix until next April? In the first of a nine-part series, Jeff Dowsing has scoured the history books looking at Footy ‘then’ to understand footy ‘now’. While this series has a distinctly VFL focus, the question remains: has much really changed in footy?