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Australia's Game: The History of Australian Football
Shortlisted for the Australian Society for Sports History (ASSH) Biennial Book Prize
Unlike every other sport that has captured the nation’s interest, Australian football is not a copy, a clone, or a hand-me-down of European culture. Rather, it is a game with special qualities, which arose from a distinctive series of events in the fledgling colony of Victoria, grew rapidly, and is now the most dominant sport in the a social, commercial, cultural and—for many—spiritual force.
Australia’s Game—the History of Australian Football describes, in forensic detail, the characters that led the way, how crises were faced and overcome, the great players and coaches who have influenced the ways the game has been played, the supporters who have stayed true to their club and have passed on their passion through generations, and most recently how the game has added another dimension with a flourishing national competition for women.
Unlike every other sport that has captured the nation’s interest, Australian football is not a copy, a clone, or a hand-me-down of European culture. Rather, it is a game with special qualities, which arose from a distinctive series of events in the fledgling colony of Victoria, grew rapidly, and is now the most dominant sport in the a social, commercial, cultural and—for many—spiritual force.
Australia’s Game—the History of Australian Football describes, in forensic detail, the characters that led the way, how crises were faced and overcome, the great players and coaches who have influenced the ways the game has been played, the supporters who have stayed true to their club and have passed on their passion through generations, and most recently how the game has added another dimension with a flourishing national competition for women.
768 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2022
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 23, 2025
A brilliant , detailed forensic account of the history of the game of Australian Rules Football.
It starts at the beginning of the game in the late 1850s when the games esteemed pioneer Tom Wills with a small group of others set down the first 10 rules of Australian football.
From here the game evolves from the game that gave birth to it ( Rugby Union) to become the game Victoria claimed as it's own.
The formation of Victoria's first league (the VFA) is then detailed , along with the spread of the game across the mainland states,Tasmania and New Zealand.
All historical developments are sifted through including Victoria becoming home of the country's elite league and the effect this had on the other football states as their players left to chase the money on offer in Victoria.
The authors do a great job also telling us the behind the scenes story of how the VFL became the AFL .
As someone who has followed Australian football for 50 years this book was both a history and a walk down memory lane of the game that I love
It starts at the beginning of the game in the late 1850s when the games esteemed pioneer Tom Wills with a small group of others set down the first 10 rules of Australian football.
From here the game evolves from the game that gave birth to it ( Rugby Union) to become the game Victoria claimed as it's own.
The formation of Victoria's first league (the VFA) is then detailed , along with the spread of the game across the mainland states,Tasmania and New Zealand.
All historical developments are sifted through including Victoria becoming home of the country's elite league and the effect this had on the other football states as their players left to chase the money on offer in Victoria.
The authors do a great job also telling us the behind the scenes story of how the VFL became the AFL .
As someone who has followed Australian football for 50 years this book was both a history and a walk down memory lane of the game that I love
Displaying 1 of 1 review