“Best Kick I Ever Saw…….” by KB Hill

September 5, 2019 by 1 Comment

What would the week be without a KB Hill tale of a local sporting identity from up Wangaratta way? Today his focus is on Ray Thompson, the man with ‘hands the size of meat plates’ who knocked back offers from no less than five Melbourne clubs. Classic KB!

‘The Object Of My Desire………’ by KB Hill

August 16, 2019 by 2 Comments

‘I’m propped under the giant gum-tree which has probably hovered here longer than the 160-year existence of this sporting Oval.’ KB Hill always tells a wonderful story. Today, he’s in peak form with this beautiful account of the development of his ‘object of desire’, the Wangaratta Rovers, and their home ground (which has a worthy history of its own!). (Feel the love and the passion in this moving piece – Ed.)

Almanac Footy Teams – Ken-oath they were good!: A Team of Kens

March 17, 2019 by 31 Comments

No Barbies here, just Kens! Phil Dimitriadis excells himself once again with a fabulous team of footy Kens.

Once a Tiger

December 26, 2016 by 6 Comments

Matt Zurbo wishes the Almanac community a happy Christmas. His gift is a transcript of his interview with Ron Branton, which captures the life of a 1950s footballer superbly. Sections of this interview appear in Matt’s book Champions All.

Era, era on the wall; 1960-1966

October 26, 2015 by 7 Comments

The VFL in the 1960’s saw football still as a tough yet sometimes brutal sport, as players were happy to play the game for the joy of it. This period also saw the introduction of television, football replays and shows such as Football Inquest, World of Sport and League Teams. It was also the period that saw Ron Barassi leave the Dees for the Blues and the sacking of Norm Smith.