Almanac Book Review – ‘The Boy from Birdum’: Bill Dempsey’s magnificent story of humility

He may not be well known outside Western Australia or the Northern Territory but Bill Dempsey was a prominent Indigenous footballer in the 1960s and a strong contributor to Indigenous affairs after he retired from the game. Dennis Gedling reviews Dempsey’s story, ‘The Boy from Birdum’.

Almanac (Footy) History: Polly’s Folly

Graham “Polly” Farmer was many things; a revolutionary innovator of handball skills, brilliant ruck and legend of the game…he also once made a claim that with hindsight can only be described as a howler. Warwick Nolan on when WA met Tasmania in 1970.

Almanac (Footy) History: 1963 Grand Final – Geelong v Hawthorn, final quarter

Peter Flynn has found the YouTube of the final quarter of the 1963 Grand Final. The link is here. This is an excellent way of paying tribute to Polly Farmer at the time of his passing, Aug 14, 2019. [Includes some observations from JTH. Add yours – Ed]

Almanac Footy Memoir: Patience wins

Forty-four years of patient waiting it took Anna Pavlou’s dad to witness a Geelong premiership. The heartbreak and pain were finally over as Anna Pavlou reports.

Thinking of you West Coast Eagles (with apologies to Martin Flanagan)

Matt Quartermaine was among the very fine speakers at The Footy Almanac Grand Final Eve 2018 Lunch. Magnificently delivered, this brought the house down. [Very WA and from an Eagles fan too. JTH]

Almanac Teams: Greatest Number 5s

Phil Dimitriadis brings up his fifth numeric side, another ripper. He welcomes any further suggestions.

Almanac Footy History: World of Sport Handball Championship

Classic. Name the year.

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.

Era, era on the wall; 1960-1966

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.

Fred Wooller – Part 2: Premierships and Teammates

In this second part of Old Dog’s interview with Fred Wooller he hears of Polly, Bobby and the 1963 Grand Final victory.