The Common Denominator

A quatrain by Damian Balassone, an ode to Wayne Johnston.

Caught Lillee Bowled Marsh

Rod Marsh bowling at the WACA with Dennis Lillee keeping? Damian Balassone faces up to this reverse combination in his latest short poetry piece.

Dear Richmond: I hate the way you…

With a little help from the film ’10 Things I Hate About You’, Sarah Black summarises how she feels about the Tigers as the Army deal with yet another Elimination final exit.

Eve, destruction….

Cranky Pete delivers some quality cricket poetry on the opening day of The Ashes.
*Warning- not suitable for devotees of “Nearly Brearley”.

Trick Knee

Peter Goldsworthy’s fine poem about an end-of-career sportsman. [oustanding – Ed]

Australian Dreaming

Stephen Whiteside shares his winning poem from the Sydney Bush Music Club “Song, Tune and Poetry Competition.”

Variations on a Theme

Steve Duffy fills us in on the finer points of poetry – footy style. Has Haiku Bob found a match?

Stop all the clocks, where is Mr Wrap?

Peter Baulderstone is waiting to do his footy tips, but there is still no sign of Mr Wrap’s preview. Can this apology to Auden lure him out of the Wrap Cave (or the Waterside Hotel) in time for bounce down?

What do you want on your Toast?

A summer-time treat from the Almanac’s artist-in-residence Kate Birrell. A tasty treat. Pretty as a picture.

Resurrection

Peter Baulderstone mixes his biblical metaphors to praise our saviour St Mitchell. A poetic tribute to a prodigal son returned. The crooked made straight? The scales lifted from our eyes? Praise be to him.

Poetry: The first ball of the first Test

Vin Maskell offers some blank verse that touches on something elemental in first encounters of all kinds.

How to play Cricket

Young Fraser Sutherland shares a poem that beautifully captures the temperament of the bowler.

When the School Bell Chimed

Damian Balassone offers a poem to enchant and beguile. Filly, figment or female? You be the judge.

I Talked To Captain Blood Last Night

Paul Molloy has won the Brownlow; lost the girl; met “Captain Blood” Jack Dyer; and won a premiership for his Tigers. All in one day and two poems. That is why they call sport the field of dreams.

Father’s Day

Another kind of season passed; a moving meditation from Peter Baulderstone.

Ode to a Losing Season

For Peter Baulderstone, the footy is always a celebration of family; shared occasions like early games with his grandparents; enduring hope and eventual passing.

The Match Committee

Having trouble getting your head around last night’s bomb(er)shell? Peter Baulderstone breaks it down.

The day that they shot Bambi

Peter Baulderstone recalls the day they shot Bambi.

Ode to the Hartford Whalers

Ode to the Hartford Whalers celebrates the life and demise of an ice hockey team. Peter Baulderstone believes it will resonate most strongly with Doggies and Saints fan everywhere, or Roy Boys who couldn’t follow their heart to the sunny north.

The All-rounder, Davo’s Drop and Another Ball of the Century

Very easy to relate to these cricket characters.