The Footy Almanac

Friday@footyalmanac

 

Order your copy of The Footy Almanac 2011 a book made up of match reports which have been specifically commissioned and (apart from a couple of exceptions) these reports have not appeared on our website before.

 

For ALMANAC RUGBY LEAGUE click here.

 

FOURTH TEST – DAY 4: Bob Utber reckons it’s all over Rover. He’s not alone.

LEARNER DRIVERS: The experience of helping three teenagers learn to drive has taught Noel McPhee just how long 360 hours can be.

PHOTO ESSAY: More stunning Peter Argent pictures from Adelaide.

CRICKET CONVERT: Katherine Giese was a sceptic, but the Adelaide test slowly drew her in…

FOURTH TEST – DAY 3: Bob Utber survived an encounter with the Indian coach (the bus, not Duncan) to file his Day 3 report.

FOURTH TEST – DAY 3: Young India was defiant, but didn’t manage to disrupt Australia’s Day in any meaningful way. John Butler reports.

PREMIER CRICKET: Mic Rees previews Round 13.

STANDIN’ ON THE OUTSIDE: Tony Robb visits Australia’s greatest inland city: Albury. And observes the nature of the work ethic in Wodonga.

OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY – PART 15: Matt Zurbo’s travels demand he thinks about the nature of the history record.

NEW CRICKET BOOKS: A couple of interesting books are out: on Wally Grout, and Barry Jarman. John Harms and Mike Sexton explain. (And who is the bloke in the bow-tie in the archival footage?)

CRICKET PHOTO ESSAY: Peter Argent captures the big partnership between Clarke and Ponting.

FOURTH TEST, DAY 2: There’s a new place to meet at the Adelaide Oval. Bob Utber will see you there.

RACING: There’s a meeting at Caulfield today but everybody’s looking forward to Black Caviar at the Valley tomorrow night, writes Chris Riordan.

CHARITY CRICKET GAME: Hawthorn Football club are taking on Papua New Guinea in a one-day cricket match on Sunday 29th of January. Details here.

ART EXHIBITION: Yvette Wroby implores us all to go and see Andrew Marlton’s exhibition, First Dog on the Moon – but not on Sunday.

THE ADELAIDE OVAL: John Harms contemplates struggle in South Australia, and describes the carnival which is an Adelaide Test match. An edited version of this essay is published in Australia: Story of a Cricket Country, a superb book put together by Christian Ryan. The book is a collection of essays and photographs, which is available in bookshops for $90, or via footyalmanac.com.au for $75. Order through JTH at j.t.h@bigpond.net.au

OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY – PART 14: In a nice coincidence Matt Zurbo’s trip takes him to the very part of Australia JTH describes in his Adelaide Oval piece. Matt spends a day ground-hopping from Mundulla to Naracoorte and back to Bordertown.

FOURTH TEST: Bob Utber was at the Adelaide Oval to witness another day of Australian dominance.

FOURTH TEST BLOG: Gigs calls on ‘Nackers everywhere to discuss the game in Adelaide and to come up with some CRICKET SONGS.

FOURTH TEST, ADELAIDE: No, Day One is not quite over yet, but this will the last Adelaide Oval report from Dave Bruce. He’s got a plane to catch!

PREMIER CRICKET: Mic Rees looks at a Round 12 that had its share of controversy.

The 1970s: Barry Nicholls, author of numerous books including Cricket Dreaming and more recently a biography of Barry Jarman (For Those Who Wait), has sent in a piece which will form the basis of the introduction to his new book Ashes Dreaming. here he remembers the 1970s. More on Barry and the Jarman bio later this week, along with some thoughts on a new book about Wally Grout.

CRIO’S QUESTION: Prompted by a Barry Nicholls quote, Chris Riordan wants to know how you measure moments in time.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL: Michael Parker is a New York Giants fan and his team is headed for the Superbowl!

MUSIC: Vin Maskell wrestles the temptations of the music store.

YVETTE’S QUESTION: Yvette Wroby wades into the T20 debate. Having attended her first cricket match since 1981, she also wonders if you need to barrack for a  team?

STANDIN’ ON THE OUTSIDE: Tony Robb takes aim at fishing shows, while observing the tennis and other summer treats.

OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY – Part 13: Matt Zurbo heads to the south-east of South Australia and catches up with a bush champion.

GRAHAM YALLOP: Glen Davis looks back to memories of Yallop at Adelaide as he looks forward to the Fourth Test.

CRIO’S RACING: Chris Riordan is still scratching his head over the finish to last weekend’s Magic Millions.

TENNIS: Rod Oaten took in the Australian Open action on a long, hot Day 2.

HARRY KERNAHAN: Michael Sexton pays tribute to the Glenelg great, who passed away last week.

GEELONG: Simon Dalton recounts (family) life as a Geelong fan and the journey from purgatory to redemption.

LINK: An American describes the noble game of cricket to the uninitiated.

FOOTBALL 2022: Domenic Favata gives a taste of what might be the future of the AFL.

THE UWS GIANTS: Rod Gillett explores the genesis of the name of the North Eastern Australian Football League’s newest team.

OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY – Part 12: Matt Zurbo gets lost on the way to the footy ground and finds himself on stage with Warrnambool band, his old mates, The Monaros.

CRIO’S QUESTION: How important is it to have a team or an individual to barrack or when watching sport? Chris Riordan ponders.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA: Darren Dawson, like many cricket followers, is lamenting the anti-climax this series has become.

TENNIS: The Australian Open is here. Gigs crunches the numbers (using his patented “G-SPOT” technology) and calls for your  “tennis movie” nominations.

OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY – Part 11: Matt Zurbo finds his way to the old community of Princetown way down near the Six-and-a-half Apostles where he has a late-year dob.

MUSIC: Vin Maskell‘s beach-house record collection offers a wonderful window into his family’s musical tastes.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA THIRD TEST – DAY 3: With the Third Test coming to a predictable end, perhaps the one thing Pat O’Keeffe learned from yesterday’s coverage was that Tubby Taylor should have bowled himself more when he was captain.

THIRD TEST – DAY 2: J.J. Leahy reports on a Test match which was almost over in two days.

STANDIN’ ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Tony Robb casts his eye over the week in sport.

THIRD TEST – DAY 1: Craig Little has his say on D. Warner.

EVEL KNIEVEL/MUHAMMAD ALI: Craig Little takes us back to the Summer of the 70′s Dolls.

GOLF: The Harms brothers contest their annual tournament: The Brown Slipper.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – THIRD TEST: The respective captains’ fortunes have told the story so far. John Butler looks at what has happened, and what may occur in Perth.

BARRACKING: Peter Edwards weighs up the costs of football free speech.

HARMS with a few thoughts on making a quid from the Perth Test.

CRIO’S RACING: Chris Riordan looks at a weekend highlighted by the ‘Magic Millions’ in Queensland.

PREMIER CRICKET: Mic Rees looks at Round 12 in the District (nee Premier) ranks.

OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY – Part 10: Matt Zurbo continues his drive through the bush and gets himself involved in some serious pre-season training.

FOOTY: Yvette Wroby asks the delicate but essential question for the modern footballing couple: if you split up, who gets the team?

GEELONG: Continuing his memoirs of a Geelong life, Simon Dalton relives the purgatory that was the ’95 Grand Final.

A-LEAGUE: As Tom Riordan explains, the festive season was anything but quiet in the A League.

SPORTING ROAD-TRIP: For the sake of supporting the team, Glenn Brownstein spent his New Year’s Eve a thousand miles from home.

OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY – Part 9: Matt Zurbo catches up with an old mate and is reminded of a band of footballing brothers.

PREMIER LEAGUE CRICKET: Last weekend saw Carlton lose their first game of the season and Hawthorn MU score their first win. Over to Mic Rees for the lowdown on Round 11.

OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY – Part 8: Matt Zurbo finds himself with an old mate under a brewing sky in Geelong.

MEMOIR: David Goldstein recalls sharing a urinal with Lee Walker, amongst other precious memories of a Magpie life.

FOOTY FANS: Simon Dalton sends a letter to his extended family who all see blue and white, explaining that he has acted on a feeling that it is his life’s purpose to chronicle their love of the Geelong Football Club. Here is the brief letter, which is followed by the first instalment, Why The Hoops? (This sort of personal yarn demonstrates why footy is so important in the culture. Terrific stuff – ed.)

CRIO’S QUESTION: Chris Riordan wants to hear about those sporting sounds that are unmistakable.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – SECOND TEST: Darren ‘Smokie’ Dawson saw Michael Clarke deliver the crucial blow to cap off a dream test.

CRICKET: Glen Davis wonders who has made the highest triple century and taken a wicket in the same test.

STANDING ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: A return to work complicated Tony Robb’s attempts to keep up with sporting developments.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – SECOND TEST: Australia took India to the cleaners on Day 3, whilst Bob Utber dealt with some domestic cleaning matters of his own.

SWIMMING POOLS: Are The Bomb, reckons Andrew Fithall, as he remembers the pools of his youth.

PREMIER CRICKET: As action resumes after Christmas, Mic Rees previews round 11 of Premier Cricket

CRIO’S RACING: Chris Riordan suggests that some of the most appealing options may be out of town this time of year. So pack your picnic hampers punters!

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – SECOND TEST: Harms experiences the Australians run-feast on Day 2 of the Test from his old stomping ground in Queensland.

HARMS re-visits the story of Uncles Stan’s farm in Grantham.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – SECOND TEST – DAY 2: This day of Test cricket – a day of captains and prime ministers – will remain in J.J. Leahy’s memory forever.

SOMALI FOOTBALL: The 2nd Annual Australian Somali Football Championships were run last week.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – SECOND TEST: The summer of wickets rolls on. Thirteen fell in Sydney yesterday and Matt O’Connor was there.

SYDNEY TEST BLOG: Gigs puts out the call for your thoughts on the 100th SCG Test and wants to hear some suggestions for potential cricket movie titles.

LINK: Troy Thompson came across an article with a tone that might sound familiar.

SOCCER: Hamish Cameron pays tribute to the other Gary Ablett.

STANDING ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Tony Robb anticipates some 2012 numbers.

CRICKET: Dips O’Donnell speculates on the cause of Australia’s form reversal.

HARMS on the Sydney Test which starts tomorrow.

CRIO’S QUESTION: Chris Riordan thinks the Big Bash League needs some help with their musical choices. Any suggestions?

MUSIC: Vin Maskell relives some musical moments from 2011.

2011: Peter Baulderstone looks back, then forward, in verse.

FIRST TEST: Cricket is a game of waiting. Andrew Starkie watched Dravid and Gambhir wait for the resumption of play after lunch on Day 4.

DARTS: Tony Robb Stands Outside, Looking In at Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock.

FEMALE COACH: Danni Eid states her coaching credentials.

FIRST TEST – DAY 4: Tony Roberts reports on Australia’s win.

MUSIC: It’s been 12 months in the making but it’s finally here - Andrew Fithall‘s Top Australian Albums of 2011.

PREMIER CRICKET: Mic Rees spent a tranquil pre-Christmas afternoon taking in the action at the Albert Ground.

FIRST TEST BLOG: Australia has romped to a convincing win in the Boxing Day test.  What do you think folks?

FOOTBALL: The final of the Australian Somali Football Championships is on today. Details here.

CRIO’S RACING: Chris Riordan looks at the racing options over the New Year period.

FIRST TEST – DAY 3: Darren Dawson kept himself tidy during a fluctuating day, something neither batting line-up could lay claim to.

ROEBUCK TRIBUTE: A tribute to Peter Roebuck will be held on the evening of Wednesday 28th December. Details here.

OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY PART 7: Alcohol und Footyball. Matt Zurbo ponders the connection between having a beer, teammates, and the great game.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – FIRST TEST: So caught up was Ben Jensen in the Day 2 drama at the MCG, he doesn’t even mention the Cats in his match report.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – FIRST TEST: Day 2 was an absorbing one at the MCG and Bob Utber took it all in from the MCC members.

STANDING ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Tony Robb gives us a preview of his planned 2012 weekly column.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – FIRST TEST: Craig Little fears for Ed Cowan’s future.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA – FIRST TEST – DAY ONE: It was a long journey to the ‘G for Bob Utber, but an evenly poised first day made it worth the effort.

And for a Perth perspective on Boxing Day, we cross to DAVE BRUCE (aka westcoastdave).

CRICKET COMEBACK: Michael Parker has a few beers one night in Moe and finds himself obliged to return to cricket.

CRIO’S QUESTION: Chris Riordan’s topic for the week is sports objectivity. Who really calls it as they see it, and who’s got an angle?

CRICKET AND CHRISTMAS: HARMS wishes you a happy Christmas and offers some thoughts on the post-Christmas lunch, backyard form of the game.

HARMS on the Boxing Day Test.

MATT ZURBO: Excaliball

ALTER EGOS: Catherine Durkin had her Tiger cover blown in the midst of Christmas frenzy.

QUEENSLAND FOOTY: Mick Jeffrey paints a picture of pre-season in regional Queensland.

BOXING DAY: Having made himself unavailable, then available for Test selection, Sean Curtain now has a bone to pick with the selectors.

MCG SCOREBOARD: With Boxing Day drawing near, Vin Maskell has a quiz about MCG scoreboards old and new.

THAI FOOTY: Ramon Dobb discovered during an off-season family trip that you can find yourself talking footy to anyone anywhere.

BOXING DAY: Pamela Sherpa is so looking forward to the big day that she’s broken into verse.

CRIO’S RACING: Chris Riordan remembers ‘Mum’s Edict’ and dreams of a few Christmas stocking fillers.

BYE PIECE: Barry Levinson describes his journey from Lion to Demon.

SOCCER: What has happened to the Brisbane Roar? Tom Riordan gives us the A-League lowdown.

CHRISTMAS: Peter Baulderstone is getting in the seasonal mood, Knacker-style.

ROUND 14 BYE: Andrew Fithall was there when the Espy Rock Dogs took on the Megahertz in the annual  Community Cup match.

ORDER OF THE ALMANAC: Jamie Simmons got pretty excited about the Brisbane launch. Really really excited, actually.

ORDER OF THE ALMANAC II: Pam Sherpa got just as excited in Canberra, but more about her proximity to Sachin in the Manuka nets.

2011 ROUND 15 BYE: Check out Phil Dimitiradis‘ outsider’s view of Bomber Thompson’s first encounter with the Cats after leaving the club.

PICNIC RACES: Shane Goss took his trusty camera to Yea last Saturday.

PREMIER CRICKET: Mic Rees looks at Round 10 results and the state of the ladder entering the Christmas break.

MATT ZURBO: Off -Season Odyssey Pt. 5 – Dreams, and One in 5,000,000

CRIO’S QUESTION: Chris Riordan is a proponent of less is more, a sentiment rarely shared by those who organise pre-match entertainment. He invites you to share those opening ceremonies and rituals that stayed in the memory, for good or ill.

CHRISTMAS WRAPPING: What’s Christmas without a Collingwood joke? (Richmond die-hard) John Mosig has a seasonal offering for the Knacker community.

PERTH KNACKERS: Peter Baulderstone reports in on the Perth ‘drinks’ session.

CRICKET: Sean Curtain selects his (Almost) Best XI of recent Australian one-Test wonders.

CRICKET: The University of Queensland Cricket Club Centenary Dinner is being held on Feb 4, 2012. Details here. If you played at UQCC, drop us a line here at footyalmanac.com.au with a memory or two.

A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES (Pt. 2): Cricket Australia’s big gamble kicks off tonight. John Butler wonders if this poor man’s IPL will really find a way to blend rock ‘n’ roll and cricket?

THE BEST: Andrew Starkie offers an appreciation of some sublime performers.

POETRY: John Kingsmill has been working on his bucket list.

PREMIER CRICKET: Mic Rees previews Round 10.

RUGBY LEAGUE: The 2012 Indigenous All-Stars team has been announced.

CRICKET: Nick Sculley proposes an Australian XI for Boxing Day. He’s after some big changes.

CRIO’S RACING: Chris Riordan weighs up punting versus Christmas shopping as a weekend activity.

MATT ZURBO‘s OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY – PART 4: Our traveller finds a way to have a kick on the MCG, and feels compelled to re-create some of the grounds great moments. Finding it difficult to leave the whole precinct, he is snapped taking speccies over the statues.

VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET: Mic Rees reviews Round 9 and wonders who at Cricket Australia forgot about the recommendations in the Argus Report.

CRICKET: Being the big man that he is, Sean Curtain has rescinded an earlier decision in the interests of the Australian Test team.

SECOND TEST – DAY FOUR: It was a Test match special. John Butler recounts the twists and turns, and wonders what it all means for Boxing Day.

PHOTO ESSAY: Evading a Bouncer by Peter Argent.

CRIO’S QUESTION: Chris Riordan has a confession. He suspects he wanted Phil Hughes to fail. When have you found yourself barracking against your own?

SECOND TEST – DAY THREE: Darren Dawson saw fortunes turn dramatically before the rain.

ATHLETICS: Steve Fahey watched the Zatopek meet début at the new Victorian home of Track and Field.

ARTHUR BEETSON TRIBUTE: Koori Radio has a tribute to Big Artie on tonight. Details here.

VICTORIA PARK ART: Some further words from Duke Albada, the artist who put together the intriguing sound installation at the home of old Collingwood.

SECOND TEST – DAY TWO: The limits of Australia’s batting approach were again exposed by less than ideal conditions. John Butler reports.

SECOND TEST – DAY ONE: It wasn’t only the Aussie quicks drawing blood on a green wicket, as Patrick O’Keefe reports.

BACKYARD DREAMS: Dips O’Donnell remembers backyard battles and considers theories of summer relativities.

SECOND TEST BLOG: Will the pitch be a rare Hobart green-top? Did the curator think it was a Shield game by mistake? Can Ricky score another home town ton? Your thoughts folks?

MATT ZURBO: Hangies and Rugby.

PREMIER CRICKET: Mic Rees takes a look at Round Nine action, weather permitting.

CRIO’S RACING: Chris Riordan looks at a very crowded weekend of racing.

HARMS previews the Second Test against New Zealand in Hobart.

GIGS wants to know where Bill Lawry was hiding during the Brisbane Test.

NORTH MELBOURNE 2012 SEASON PREVIEW: With only 114 days left before their season kicks off, Josh Barnstable previews the Kangaroos’ 2012 campaign.

VICTORIA PARK: Vin Maskell plays spot the Knacker.

CRICKET: Mic Rees reviews last weekend’s Premier Cricket, a round in which the batsmen dominated.

SEAN CURTAIN: Has declared himself unavailable for test consideration.

FIRST TEST: There was joy to be had in the Kiwi clobbering, but a few Aussie qualifications should remain. John Butler considers Clarke, Hughes, Ponting and others.

JOE BURNS: Young Queenslander Joe Burns scored a ton against the Vics yesterday in the dramatic drawn Shield match. Back in March, Wally Wright (grandson of the legendary Wally Grout) foresaw a bright future for this young tyro.

QUEENSTOWN: Andrew Starkie’s recollections of Queenstown, the wild west coast and Lovelace Watkins.

MATT ZURBO’S OFF-SEASON ODYSSEY: Matt goes even further south.

FIRST TEST – AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND: Andrew Gigacz sees the Australians home to victory.

CRIO’S QUESTION: Chris Riordan wants to know who’s modelled themselves on who, and who rekindles memories of past greats.

FIRST TEST – AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND, Day 3: J.J. Leahy reports on a good day for the Australians.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY: Dave Nadel looks at the GWS list and has major concerns for next season.

FOOTY WRITING: Californian John Mirisch has just celebrated Thanksgiving. He is thankful for the many blessings in his life. Here he writes about an unlikely one.

LANGUAGE: Sean Curtain débuts with a piece on the significance of a misheard word.

SOCCER: Historian, writer, publisher and soccer-lover, Roy Hay, has a good look at the Smith Report.

FIRST TEST – AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND Day 2: It was Umpires’ Day at the Gabba yesterday writes John Harms.

FIRST TEST – AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND Day 1: Matt O’Connor reports on a day when adolescence was a predominant theme.

CATS v BLUES: Who was the better team – the modern Cats or the Blues of 1979-82? James Grapsas has made a comprehensive attempt to measure two great teams from different eras. Let the discussion begin.

BIG ARTIE: Ian Hauser remembers the incomparable Arthur Beetson

MATT ZURBO begins his Off-Season Odyssey with a search for the southern-most footy ground on the planet.

A-LEAGUE LOYALTIES: Tom Dixon has grappled with changes of Heart over Melbourne’s two teams.

PREMIER CRICKET: Mic Rees previews Round 8 of the rain-sodden Premier cricket season.

CRIO’S RACING: Chris Riordan watches the racing game adjust for the summer season.

The Melbourne chapter of The Almanackery  caught in scrum formation at last Thursday’s launch at the Clyde Hotel in Carlton: Group shot here.

FIRST TEST – AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND: It would take a brave person to predict what could happen here. So how brave are you folks? 

HARMS previews the First Test v the Kiwis.

ALMANAC ODE: Pamela Sherpa has been moved to verse to sing the praises of the Almanac. The cheque is in the mail Pam.

VICTORIA PARK CELEBRATIONS: Several Almanackers will be immortalised when the new Victoria Park is opened this Sunday. Oh come all ye Collingwood faithful, and lovers of footy and social history. Vin Maskell explains. (The new Vic Park looks great from the train – ed.)

FIRST TEST – AUSTRALIA V NZ: Check out Gigs‘ typically bizarre preview of Australia’s game against New Zealand.

CRICKET: Nick Withers reflects on Watto, the upcoming summer and the current state of Test cricket.

HAIKU FOR MAGGIE: Inspired by Rob Scott (aka haiku bob), Damien Little has turned his hand to the haiku craft in paying tribute to the challenge of learning to ride a bike.

DISHLICKERS: A man with many strings to his bow, Craig Little has fond recollections of his time as the owner of a greyhound.

A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES  (Pt 1): John Butler looks at cricket governance in The Age of Argus. It isn’t pretty.

BYE ARTICLES – ROUND 1: Owing to space restrictions, articles intended to cover byes couldn’t be included in the final print of the The Footy Almanac 2011. We propose to publish them on the site through summer, beginning with David Downer’s Round 1 piece.

ALMANAC LAUNCH: Yvette Wroby’s snaps of the Melbourne launch.

ALMANAC LAUNCH: Julia Harrison made it there, and her friend was pleasantly surprised.

MEMOIR: Craig Little lists his Top 5 Unorthodox Sporting Moments (chronological order).

If you would like to write an NRL report you can contact Nick at nicktedeschi@hotmail.com and copy j.t.h@bigpond.net.au in as well.

PASSING THE MAN U BATON: Check out this novel idea here. This new column could take us anywhere.