Once a Tiger – an interview with Ron Branton

June 6, 2024 by 7 Comments

Vale Ron Branton.

We reprise Matt Zurbo’s interview with him from 2016. It captures the life of a 1950s footballer superbly. Sections of this interview appear in Matt’s book ‘Champions All’.

Filed Under: General Footy Writing, Matt Zurbo Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Almanac Footy (History) – Jack Mueller: The Power of One

December 4, 2023 by 4 Comments

In this comprehensive essay, historian Roger Spaull revisits the career of Jack Mueller, a Team of the Century player for the Melbourne Football Club. (A meticulously researched and compiled biography of a Demon icon – Ed.)

Filed Under: Champion footballers, Football History, General Footy Writing, Melbourne FC Tagged With: , ,

Grand Final Preview – Melbourne v Western Bulldogs: Random thoughts before the Grand Final

September 24, 2021 by Leave a Comment

John Harms is thinking out loud.

Filed Under: 2021, Grand Final (2021), Melb v WB (2021) Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Finally … Footy Feast’s Main Course

September 24, 2021 by 1 Comment

There’s only so much build-up you need for the Grannie, but born-again Dees fan Ron Reed is ready to roll. [Contains traces of touching matrimonial solidarity – Ed]

Filed Under: 2021, Grand Final (2021), Melb v WB (2021) Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Almanac Footy: Splendid isolation? How a Demon premiership will be different

September 22, 2021 by 5 Comments

Chris Weaver writes on Melbourne, his club, and the club of his father and grandfather. He describes the significance of Saturday, and the emotional challenge of potential isolation-bound Grand Final revelry.

Filed Under: 2021, General Footy Writing, Grand Final (2021), Melb v WB (2021) Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Almanac Footy: Why Grannies ain’t what they used to be

September 17, 2021 by 3 Comments

Prominent sports journalist Ron Reed, ponders the question of how much footy has changed since the last time the Demons and the Bulldogs played off for the flag. Beyond recognition he suggests, and so has the way it is written about – and by whom.

Filed Under: 2021, General Footy Writing, Grand Final (2021), Melb v WB (2021) Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Finals Week 3 – Melbourne v Geelong Preview: It’s not about you, son

September 8, 2021 by 2 Comments

Mark Freeman is toey about Friday night as Melbourne inch closer to snapping the Norm Smith Curse. He shares his experiences as an excited Demon who will be attending on Friday in his stead. (It’s got to be a good omen, Mark, surely? – Eds.)

Filed Under: 2021, Finals Week 3 (2021), General Footy Writing, Melb v Geel (2021) Tagged With: , , , ,

Book Extract: The Last Hurrah by Adam Woolcock

June 9, 2021 by 1 Comment

This is an extract from Adam Woolcock’s book ‘The Last Hurrah”. It relives the thrilling last minutes of the 1964 VFL Grand Final, including Neil Crompton’s famous goal.

Filed Under: Almanac Books, Football History, General Footy Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Almanac Books: The Last Hurrah by Adam Woolcock

June 4, 2021 by 1 Comment

Dees fans, a new book on Melbourne’s last premiership, and its tumultuous aftermath, is coming out. Author Adam Woolcock (of Demonwiki.org fame) looks at the period that gave birth to ‘the curse of Norm Smith’.

Filed Under: Almanac Books Tagged With: , , ,

The Artful Defender by KB Hill

July 25, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Defenders aren’t traditionally the most popular heroes on-field, but some are exceptional – like Jim Sandral who played in one of the greatest of all time sides, Melbourne 1956. KB Hill shares his story from Corowa to getting lifts with Norm Smith to training and back again.

Filed Under: Country footy, General Footy Writing, K B Hill, Local Footy, Ovens and Murray FL, People and Memories Tagged With: , , ,

Almanac Teams: A team of Quirky Names

May 16, 2018 by 7 Comments

Joe De Petro comes up with a quirky team where each player lives up to his name, literally!

Filed Under: Funny Teams Tagged With: , , , ,

Almanac Teams: The Smiths

May 16, 2018 by 22 Comments

Damian Balassone keeps the recent Almanac Teams bonanza going with a team made up of that most common of monikers, Smith

Filed Under: Funny Teams Tagged With: ,

Almanac Teams: A team of coaches

April 30, 2018 by 18 Comments

Phil Dimitriadis is at it again – this time with a mighty team of masterminds and motivators. Don’t THINK about checking out this team, DO check it out!

Filed Under: Funny Teams, General Footy Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Red Fox extract: Ron Barassi v Albie Rodda

April 18, 2018 by 1 Comment

Taken from the brilliant biography of master coach, Norm Smith, this extract looks at Smith’s appraisal of his protege Ron Barassi as a prodigiously talented 12-year-old.

Filed Under: Almanac Literary, General Footy Writing, Not Just Sport Tagged With: , , , ,

You can go your own way, but you better be home soon…

April 11, 2018 by 6 Comments

A bombshell in music as a famous band gets a little more famous/infamous. Are there similar stories in footy that got you fired up?

Filed Under: Football History, General Footy Writing, General Sports Writing, Not Just Sport Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Sydney Swans Season Preview: An Old Dog’s New Tricks

March 24, 2018 by 2 Comments

Joe is upbeat as he previews the prospects of the Sydney Swans for the coming AFL season.

Filed Under: 2018, AFL Season Predictions, General Footy Writing, Sydney Swans Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ross Dillon: Dees and Redleg royalty

March 18, 2018 by 49 Comments

Rulebook reviews the career of one of Norwood’s finest. And Kyabram’s. And Melbourne’s.

Filed Under: Almanac People, SANFL Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Ashes – Fourth Test, Day 4: Sod It 

December 29, 2017 by 3 Comments

In the bowels of the ‘G, people mill about, wearing confused expressions. What is a man or woman to do when his or her day at the cricket is ruined by the glory of Melbourne summer rain? Jack ponders this question as the rain begins to play a part in determining the outcome of the fourth Test.

Filed Under: 2017-18 Ashes, 4th Test Melbourne 2017-18, Almanac Cricket, General Cricket Writing, Test Cricket Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Great players…Great nicknames

December 7, 2016 by 40 Comments

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?

Filed Under: Champion footballers, Football History, General Footy Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

Filed Under: General Footy Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,