Australia's Game: The Complete History of the Australian Game of Football

by Matthew Nicholson, Bob Stewart, Greg de Moore, Rob Hess

Australia’s Game is the definitive history of Australian football, tracing the evolution of the game from its earliest, rudimentary forms – in the period preceding the first recorded game, in 1858 – to the totally professional game of the modern era. The authors, all passionate about the history of Australian football, have provided readers with the fine detail of every important evolutionary point in the game’s development, in every state and territory. Australia’s Game also explores historical AFL issues including a deeper discussion on Australian women in the AFL as both supporters and players, as well as new evidence on the theory that the game was developed as an offshoot of an Aboriginal game.

The book traces the pathway to the national game, including forensic detail on how the Victorian Football League, on its knees in the eighties, with several clubs on the verge of bankruptcy, made the bold step to creating the monolithic national League.

700 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2020

Reviews

[Alan Marr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any lover of Australian Football would find this book to be a treasure trove of facts and stories about our great game. A minor criticism is that there was not enough about my great club. The scandalous events of 1997 that saw Chris Grant robbed of a Brownlow Medal and Libba robbed of a winning goal in the Preliminary Final do not get a mention.

[Ari Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haiku review:

A biography
Or a love letter to the
National pastime?

[Jay Somethng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full, frank and enthralling chapters on the beginnings of Australian Football, including the women's game, indigenous connections and economics. A great read for any fan of the great game.