In the second of four parts, Rodney Boyd looks back at the players who made their debut in Round 1 of the VFL/AFL season from 1980 up to 2022. This section features 1990-2000.
Almanac Poetry: A Boy and His Football
Michael Pardy makes his Almanac debut with a poem about kids who have a footy in their hands all the time and how it becomes their friend. (Welcome aboard, Michael – Ed.)
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 22 – West Coast v Essendon: A final memory
It was a watershed day out west in 2007 when Nathan Hollier watched the Eagles finish their home and away campaign. The story wasn’t on them, as the great Kevin Sheedy and James Hird both farewelled adoring fans.
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 12 – Port Adelaide v Essendon: Aggression beats Hird’s final Football Park hurrah
Port Adelaide rectified their form in season 2007 with a nervy win over Essendon. John Kingsmill watched the game from the stands, and objected to the way the Power faithful treated James Hird.
The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 11 – Essendon v West Coast: Hird wills the Bombers over the line
Off the back of James Hird, Essendon launched a Friday night attack on the reigning Premiers. Watching on from a pub, John Harms describes the thrilling finish.
Round 21 – Essendon v Footscray: Toast or not, that was a disaster!
What a shocker for the Bombers and Caspar McLeod! He reports after painfully sitting through Essendon’s flogging by the Bulldogs in their Round 21 match.
Almanac Football: 1993 Revisited
Stainless takes a fascinating trip down memory lane as he recalls the 1993 AFL season. [With a nod to the Brettig-Collins-Gill podcast – Ed]
Almanac Cricket and Footy: So, your team are cheats – Advice from a Bombers Fan
Bomber fan, Andrew offers some friendly advice to consider if your team has been caught cheating.
Round 18 Preview – Keeping it all in the family
Footy is getting tense as teams battle out for a finals spot. It doesn’t get any better than tonight’s blockbuster (possible Grand Final preview) clash between Adelaide and Geelong.
Round 17 – St Kilda v Essendon: Standing by
Yoshi needs answers from his Saints and worries they may still have a premiership hangover from 1966!
Journalists have the right to resist compulsion to intrude
Ironmike provides plenty of food for thought about the dilemma facing journalists when preparing an item for publication, particularly the ethical considerations and the implications that may result from that story.
In the fast lane with the centre half forwards
Following the post on her preferred full-forwards, Carolyn Spooner provides a list of the standout centre half forwards. Can you add to it?
Round 19 – Adelaide v Essendon: Dons’ Party or Don’s Party?
Mickey struggles with a lack of narrative and settles on a collection of metaphors as the Crows wallop the Dons. And wrong, Mickey, the couple were from Wembley.
Round 18 – Essendon v Brisbane: Lions Treat Bombers as Mealworms as the Bride Twirls to Victory
Andrew Else relates the trials and tribulations of spouses supporting opposing teams.
Junior Almanac Round 16 – Western Bulldogs v Richmond: In the thick of the trip
Aidan Hammond continues his big Round 16 with a Billy Brownless sighting in Geelong and a plausible theory about why Carlton have the club song on their changeroom wall.
The Essendon in all of us
Alex Darling with his take on the Essendon supplements saga. If you were told to jump, would you ask ‘how high’?
Sliding doors and Groundhog Day and Standing at the Crossroads
Rick Kane has no time for James Hird’s metaphors and suggests a few of his own.
The 2019 Josephine Baker Cup
Two Rounds into the season and already Earl has sage advice for fans about their club’s prospects for the year. Alert: you may need to have a fortified snifter close to hand!