Thursday @ The Almanac

Entries for the Furphy Literary Award 2026 are now open.
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‘Swansong for WDCA at Melbourne Cricket Week…?’ by KB Hill

February 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment

KB Hill traces Wangaratta’s proud history in Melbourne Country Week cricket. But is it now all over?

Almanac Writing: The Furphy Literary Award 2026 (Entries now open, and close April 30)

February 4, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Entries in The Furphy Literary Award 2026 opened on Feb 1 and close on April 30. It’s time to prepare your story for submission. [Almanac writers are very well suited to this competition – Ed]

Almanac Footy: GWS 2026 season preview

February 4, 2026 by Leave a Comment

GWS are next up as Micky McTigger continues his evaluation of each club’s roster for the 2026 AFL season.

Almanac Reprise: Not Quite Bob – They Also Serve: Joe Ely, Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt

February 3, 2026 by 6 Comments

Another worthy set of musicians from Trevor Blainey’s ‘Not Quite Bob’ series: Joe Ely, Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, and John Hiatt. Fantastic music! [RIP Joe Ely who passed away late last year. -ED]

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 8: ‘A Setback’ and Episode 9: ‘Re-consolidation’

February 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Dave Goodwin continues his coverage of their career of Herb Barkle. To paraphrase Shakespeare, ‘the course of a boxing career never runs smoothly’. Herb’s progress had its fair share of bumps and bruises.

Tulloch Done This: SP bookmaking in a country town

February 2, 2026 by 1 Comment

Pestwac (Tony Moffat) gets into a reminiscing mood and meanders along with some colourful memories from an old bush-town Australia.

Almanac Footy: How will the Richmond Tigers go in the year of the horse (2026)?

February 2, 2026 by 1 Comment

No horsing around for Richard Marlow in 2026 as looks at the prospects for his Tigers in the upcoming AFL season. Despite a lowly finish in 2025, there are no long faces here.

Almanac Cricket: And who will line up for Australia in the Sesquicentennial Test?

February 2, 2026 by 9 Comments

Lorenzo Di-Mauro Hayes completes his year as the Australian Cricket Society scholar with a look at the likely composition of the Australian cricket side for the anniversary Test in March 2027. He has just one newbie. Your thoughts?

Almanac Poetry: Half-full, Half-empty

February 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Kevin Densley describes this week’s poem, centred upon a comment by Swedish writer and painter August Strindberg, as ‘a very short one featuring God and the Devil’.

Almanac Footy: Join Gary Ablett Jnr for lunch presented by Macleod Football Netball Club

February 1, 2026 by 1 Comment

Gary Ablett Jnr will be the special guest speaker at the up coming lunch presented by the Macleod Football Netball Club.

Almanac Current Affairs: Combating non-sensical with the ridiculous

January 31, 2026 by Leave a Comment

When the evidence suggests otherwise it is hard to believe why particular politicians and their associates are espousing mis/dis information to justify their claims surrounding current events when their statements are clearly wrong. Ian Wilson offers some humour from Steve Martin to ‘offset all this madness’.

Almanac Footy: Finally the prize – North Melbourne’s perfect 1999 premiership season

January 30, 2026 by 4 Comments

After the demise of the Fitzroy FC Philip Mendes turned his allegiance to North Melbourne and celebrated his first VFL/AFL premiership in 1999 as he recounts.

Almanac music: Dylan Cover Songs: International Style #9 – UK Part 1: Manchester Does Dylan

January 30, 2026 by 15 Comments

Karl Dubravs continues his ‘Dylan Cover Songs: International Style’. Part 9 is a first look at British artists, in particular those from Manchester, and their versions of Dylan songs.

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 6: ‘On the Up’ and Episode 7: ‘The War with Hill’

January 30, 2026 by 2 Comments

Herb Barkle’s star is ‘on the up’ as his professional career evolves. But will he meet his match when he comes up against the more experienced “Snowy” Hill? It turned into an epic bout!

Almanac Footy: Gold Coast 2026 season preview

January 29, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Mickey McTigger runs his discerning eye over the Gold Coast Suns. What does 2026 hold for Damian Hardwick’s men?

Almanac Music: Farewell to ‘Australia’s conscience’ Rob Hirst.

January 29, 2026 by 7 Comments

Dennis Gedling pays tribute to Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst who passed away last week.

Almanac Horseracing (Tales): The Gambler’s Ghost

January 29, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Wayne Peake shares his story ‘The Gambler’s Ghost’, the account of a tragic punter’s redemption, from his eBook ‘The Gambler’s Ghost and Other Racing Oddities’.

Almanac Books: ‘Here, Bear and Everywhere’

January 29, 2026 by 8 Comments

Damian Balassone has a new book out titled ‘Here, Bear and Everywhere’ featuring a ‘beary fun-filled romp through rhyme’ that early readers will love.

Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2026: AFL 2026 Side by Side

January 29, 2026 by 4 Comments

Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life is back for AFL season 2026 and presents some thoughts about Collingwood’s upcoming season.

Mystery Pub: How Happily Wrong We Were

January 27, 2026 by 5 Comments

As the saying goes, ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’ and as Mickey Randall and Claire found out the same can be said for pubs.