Almanac Footy History: Italo Cesari – Dromana’s Illustrious Footballer & Soldier

August 23, 2023 by 1 Comment

Historian Roger Spaull uncovers the fascinating life of Italo Cesari. The former Dromana FC footballer took part in the famous Pioneer Exhibition Match – the first game of Australia Rules to be played on foreign soil – in 1916, which provided the blueprint for modern Anzac Day football.

Almanac Footy: A Flag by the Narrowest Possible Margin

June 29, 2023 by 1 Comment

Ever pondered on some of the wildest finishes at a footy grand final where the team is showered in glory after narrowly getting over the line by a solitary point? Brian Dawson takes us through the history of Australian Rules Football spanning across the days of state competitions across WAFL, SAFL, VFL and what recent memory we have during the AFL period. Desperate defending, controversies, heartbreaks, Brian covers it all.

Almanac Footy History: Some background to ‘Football’s Forgotten Years’

February 13, 2023 by 2 Comments

Colin Carter’s new book ‘Football’s Forgotten Years considers the starting date of the VFL/AFL and argues that there’s a quarter of a century that’s been ignored. He has put that straight. Read about the book.

Almanac Footy History: Arthur Olliver – ‘The Champion’s Hero’

June 8, 2022 by 2 Comments

Historian Roger Spaull dedicates this article to the Gordon family and in memory of Nick. It documents one of Footscray’s most legendary and revered player and coach throughout the club’s history and the accomplishments Arthur Olliver achieved after his Footscray tenure. Find out more inside with rare photos shared from the vault!

Almanac Footy: Round 1 1972

March 16, 2022 by 2 Comments

One might ask where were you when JFK was shot? Some may have not existed back then or were still in diapers, but if asked where were you when the legend Peter Hudson did his knee? Glen! would tell you, as he recounts the first round of the 1972 VFL season.

Almanac Footy: Bill Mohr – The Wizard from Wagga Wagga

November 10, 2021 by Leave a Comment

St Kilda champion Bill Mohr’s status as one of footy’s all time greats is beyond doubt. In an in-depth analysis of Mohr’s career, Roger Spaull presents a wonderful account of this great footy legend.

Almanac Footy History – The Crapp Chronicles Part 10: A Crapp Forgery?

June 2, 2021 by 2 Comments

Some people will resort to all sorts of tricks for their team to win a match. This episode of the Crapp Chronicles relates the combination of a forgery, an umpire, and a WAFL final in 1906.

Comparing the VFL and the AFL: 1978 v 2021

January 18, 2021 by 21 Comments

There haven’t been many footballs kicked with passion in 2021, but Philip Mendes has jumped the gun to ponder what the season ahead will look like compared to the nature of the game in 1978 when he was just 13 years old.

Almanac Footy History: 1900 VFL Grand Final – Melbourne v Fitzroy

October 21, 2019 by 2 Comments

DJ Williams delves back in time to re-tell the story of the 1900 VFL season, and specifically the upset triumph of Melbourne against a red-hot Fitzroy. [Includes one of DJ’s historical images of the famous Alex Sloane of the Roys and Melbourne’s Richard Wardill. Ed]

Almanac Footy History: No Umpires in this Game. The Victorian Football League during two World Wars

January 30, 2017 by 1 Comment

They might be retirees but Brice Coe and Bruce Kennedy have become keen historians over the last decade and have written and published a number of books on the Geelong Football Club and now this one on the VFL during World War I and World War II. [I have a review copy for any one who is interested – [email protected]

Era, era on the wall: the 9-part series

December 8, 2015 by 6 Comments

Here we’ve linked all nine of Jeff Dowsing’s terrific “Era, era” pieces in one post. This is a great spot to dip into VFL/AFL history.

VFL/AFL all time highest aggregates

November 10, 2015 by 13 Comments

Tony Corke provides us with a list of the highest-aggregate scores in VFL/AFL history. It includes the incredible 1972 VFL Grand Final. [Does this list trigger any memories? Were you there?]