Almanac (Footy) History – Trade Week 1973: How Richard Michalcyzk got to the Kangaroos

In 1973, every club in Melbourne wanted to recruit Richard Michalcyzk. Michael Sexton tells the curious tale of how North Melbourne managed to secure his services.

The Jehabake Legacy – 53 consecutive years

Ironmike has words of advice for AFL clubs looking for a new coach – ‘research the Jehabake legacy’ – as he traces the origins of premiership success over the past five decades.

Almanac Lunch (with Matt Zurbo’s book launch): Ken Fraser, Lazar, Chicken and Me

Matt Zurbo’s new book, ‘Heart and Soul’, will be launched tomorrow at a lunch at the North Fitzroy Arms Hotel. All welcome. Here’s a tasty morsel, written by Matt himself, of what’s in store. Do yourself a favour…

‘Chewing The Fat With Chizza’ – by KB Hill

KB Hill recently spent time with former North Melbourne Kangaroos premiership player, Peter Chisnall, a true legend in the Ovens and Murray League zone. ‘Chizza’s’ story makes for great reading.

Almanac Footy History: Keogh and Lenaghan – two Bendigo FNL champions

Trevor Keogh and Frank Lenaghan were two champion players of their eras, both having important connections to Sandhurst and were inducted into the BFL Hall of Fame in 1996. Richard Jones tells their stories.

2018, Bondi to Blacktown, tickets for the zone please

Piloting his Triumph Sprint from the SCG to the city’s West, Earl O’Neill ponders a Swans team in decline as the Giants, being coached from the bench, add some spark to their season.

Almanac Teams: North and South

North and South.  Polar opposites.  Literally.  But not necessarily figuratively. Over time, South went north and North went south but along the way, there seems to be an inordinate amount of players who represented both clubs.  Hence, here is a team of players who played at least one VFL/AFL game at both North Melbourne and South Melbourne/Sydney. 

Almanac Lunches and other frivolities: Last week and now this week

Lunch last Friday was a ripper. Still time to sign up for a couple of events this week.

Almanac Teams: A team of coaches

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!

Red Fox extract: Ron Barassi v Albie Rodda

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.

Brent Crosswell, Martin Flanagan and 1970

Marty Gleason on the significance of Brent Crosswell as a figure of both humanity and dissent.

Almanac Footy History: World of Sport Handball Championship

Classic. Name the year.

AFLW Round 1 – Melbourne v Brisbane: Singing in the Rain

Soaked to the bones, and although her team was defeated, Ebony had an emotional and wonderful time in trying conditions supporting AFL Women’s football at Cranbourne.

In the firing line with the ruck rovers

The role of the ruck-rover is defined by the many wonderful exemplars Carolyn Spooner refers to from teams of the’60’s through to the current day.

Almanac Obituary: Vale Twinkle Toes

Rob Heath notes the passing of a great footballer, club man and quite the dancer in Laurie Dwyer

Living as a Demon in a Swans Family

“Everyday I wish they would do it for Robbie”. Piffy brings a whole heap of personal meaning to this Sunday’s game between the Swans and Demons

Dick Clay: For the diehards

So many moments make up a passage of footy, a quarter of footy, a game of footy, a season of footy, the history of footy. Matt Zurbo has found a Dick Clay moment in the ’74 Grand Final which continues to inspire him.

The Snake at full-forward

As a six year old, whenever Matt Watson played ‘sock footy’ in his bedroom, he was Snake Baker. Here’s Matt’s story of his old hero, a player who, on his day (often in finals), showed how much talent he had.

Era, era on the wall; 1967-1976

The late 60s and early 70s are the Golden Years of footy for many VFL fans. In Jeff Dowsing’s latest look at Grand Final eras, the years 1967 to 1976 would see a revolution in how the game was played after Barassi’s Blues and their use handball engineered possibly the greatest comeback in VFL Grand Final history. Carlton, Richmond, Hawthorn and North fans; this is your era.

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.