AFLW Round 5 – Carlton v Western Bulldogs: When the opening act are the headliners

Princes Park delivered the goods as fans witnessed the highest scoring AFLW game so far. Carlton and the Western Bulldogs went goal for goal in a close, free-flowing match.

AFLW Round 2 – Carlton v GWS: Giants fight until the end

Joseph Ryan has a personal connection to the Giants, and is now a Greater Western Sydney supporter. Despite their loss to the Blues, he sees some good signs

AFLW Round 1 – Carlton v Collingwood: Footy is about struggle

John Harms and family went to Princes Park last Friday night. He regards the Carlton v Collingwood match for premiership points as one of the most memorable sporting events he’s attended. Although he will never do it justice, here’s a glimpse into why.

Women’s Footy: Be Careful What You Wish For.

Wise ole Dips O’Donnell observes women’s footy in the light of economics. We loved Friday night he says, because it was real and we were close, but he wonders how that will survive once commerce and economics puts a distance between the fan and the player. [Thoughtful. Cautionary. – JTH]

AFLW Round 1 – Carlton v Collingwood: Witnessing History

Cat Jones observes history at Princes Park, as well as the start of something truly special.

AFLW Round 1 – Carlton v Collingwood: Football, its people, and its places

Rod Oaten, who lives not far from Princes Park, was reminded of the days of VFL footy as people walked through the streets of North Carlton. And the feeling in the crowd and the contest on the ground made for a great night.

Footy IQ: How well do you know Melbourne’s footy ovals?

Mike Hugo has put the challenge out to see if you can identify Melbourne’s Football Ovals.

Round 9 – Hawthorn v Sydney: Yes Bloods – what a win! And a trip down memory lane.

Jan Courtin returned to Melbourne to watch her Swans against Richmond and Hawthorn, a journey that included a win and a loss and a trip down memory lane.

Big deal: A female field umpire and a woman’s place

Somewhat surprisingly, Dave Brown was conflicted by the first appearance of a female field umpire at AFL level. How important was it really?

The Ozymandias Cup: Carlton v Essendon

John Butler finds visiting Princes Park rather like a trip to the Parthenon where a sense of the old gods remain, but alas, it was hard for him to ignore the rubble on what was an enjoyable afternoon for inspecting the ruins.

NAB Challenge | Carlton v Essendon: Like old times

For the first time in 20 years, Rod Oaten heard disgruntled Carlton supporters passing the front gate on Sunday. He liked it.

Era, era on the wall; 2000-2010

Ahh the noughties. The game as we knew changed significantly as footy got as roof over its’ head and the era where totally professional football created some unwanted distractions for those easily led astray. Dynasties were created while other clubs went far and wide looking for salvation. Clubs or Regimes? Corporates or Fans? Jeff Dowsing gives us his review of footy in a new millennium in what has been a fantastic series.

Round 17 – Carlton v Hawthorn: In a Hole still Digging

While watching his Blues get thrashed by the Hawks last Friday night, Blues supporter Peter Fuller describes it as the last chapter in the decline and fall of the once impregnable Princes Park Empire.

Where to from here because it’s time to cut the crap!

Don’t step back, step right into it with a clear idea of the most important trait in football: enthusiasm. That’s Jill Scanlon’s advice for New Carlton in the 14 weeks they have left of the 2015 season.

1983: Fitzroy a Threat for the Flag!

Harry ‘The Hammer’ Hatzis shows his Fitzroy badge of honour in a victory for the ages.

Carlton Dreaming

Almanac supporter Marcus Spiller recently discovered this gem of a photo dating back to 1965 at Princes Park, when as a young Italian-Australian growing up in North Carlton, he spent many a weekend playing footy and dreaming of bigger things.

Memoir: Melbourne’s good fortune

I live in Yarraville, work in Parkville, and study in Hawthorn. I ride my bike, drive a car and use public transport. On any given day, it is not unusual for me to travel past half a dozen footy grounds ‘home’ to current AFL clubs. On a welcome spring day, with only one lecture scheduled in the mid afternoon, I set off on my bike to stop and visit these places.

AFL Grand Final: Breakfast in the park

  The Carlton Four caught up with me the other morning on our regular walk/plod around Princes Park and invited me to their Annual Grand Final Bar B Q  Breakfast. Now this is not your ordinary run of the mill breakfast in the park.  A table was selected by Michael in the dark at quarter [Read more]

Theo takes a great leap forward at Princes Park

Saturday morning. Sunny and mild, but the breeze picking up, and bringing with it northern stickiness. Family Harms is pottering about: no plans. I am thinking about Collingwood. They have done it pretty easily the night before. Dawes and Daisy Thomas continue to mature. They are good, and there is much improvement in the squad [Read more]