Footy Books

[george_on_the_outer 7,554]

For a true history of the MFC there are 2 to recommend:

100 years of Football.  Naturally only covers up to 1958

 

And Lynda Carroll's  "The Grand Old Flag"

[george_on_the_outer 7,554]

Also " The MFC, an illustrated History" published after 150 years

 

[pitmaster 3,512]

15 hours ago, Demonland said:

Is this the Robbie book you’re referring to?

Robbie Flower Book on EBay

I think he means this one...

[pitmaster 3,512]

And two more. I am surprised no-one has mentioned Garry Lyon's book ghost written by Andy Maher which as footy books go is pretty good.

Another interesting one is Footy in 1960s. What sets it apart is that there is a chapter on each of the 12 clubs written by a fan rather than a footy identity necessarily. Russell Holmesby (AFL Encyclopedia) does the St Kilda chapter, Stephen Cummings of the band The Sports does the Fitzroy chapter, Tim Costello does Essendon, comedian Brian Nankervis does Collingwood and journos do the Dees, Cats and Dogs etc.

[pitmaster 3,512]

And Garry's book...

[Demonland 71,129]

29 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

"The Paddock that Grew" by Keith Dunstan is a fascinating book about the history of the MCG. It's a long time since I read it and it probably has more about cricket than football given Keith established the other AFL, the Anti-Football League.

I suspect he actually was a fan of AFL (the football) but established the alternative AFL to enable him to satirise the game in his role as a writer for the old Sun News-Pictorial. (For the young amongst you, the Sun News-Pictorial was the predecessor of the Herald-Sun. For the really, really young ones, newspapers were where people used to get their news printed on paper...and paid for.)

In year 12 I wrote an article for my English CAT (I don't think they do these in VCE any more) on the Paddock that Grew.

[layzie 33,728]

1 hour ago, Skuit said:

Just the cheapest one. There were e-readers twice the price but the salesperson failed to convince me of the justification - and didn't really even bother trying. I think they've evolved to the point where the bottom end model serves the purpose for most consumers. 

That's what I was thinking. High storage is not really necessary either the bottom level would be plenty for e-books.

[Demonland 71,129]

22 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

I think he means this one...

Ah yes. That's the one I remember. I knew it was a book with a blue cover. I have that one too.

[Demonland 71,129]

14 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

And Garry's book...

I have a signed copy of this one.

[Demonland 71,129]

Bought this for @Whispering_Jack's birthday. Not sure if it's any good or not.

[Demonised 1,323]

11 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

The funniest book about Ausy Rules has to be “The coach from the city” by Alan O’Toole. Fictional story of a guy who gets an up country gig as a coach with the worst bunch ever to pull on a jumper and .... well no spoilers. Got it for Christmas one year in my teens. A real hoot. Illustrations by Paul Rigby hilarious as well.

I laughed and laughed over that book. I still have a copy somewhere. Classic bush footy tale.

[Demonised 1,323]

I had a copy of the original edition of 'The Wild Men of Football' by Jack Dyer, early 1970s. No idea who the ghost writer was, but I read it until it fell apart. Great chapters on the likes of Mopsy Fraser, John Peck, Teddy Whitten but the best chapter of them all was on John Coleman. Extraordinary.

[deegirl 1,573]

Night Games by Anna Krien is not a 'fun' footy book but it's an important read.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,672]

1 hour ago, Demonised said:

I had a copy of the original edition of 'The Wild Men of Football' by Jack Dyer, early 1970s. No idea who the ghost writer was, but I read it until it fell apart. Great chapters on the likes of Mopsy Fraser, John Peck, Teddy Whitten but the best chapter of them all was on John Coleman. Extraordinary.

I had completely forgotten about this one. Like you, I read it over and over in my early teens until it fell apart. Loved it. I know it says it was written by Jack Dyer, but I suspect there was a ghostwriter involved.

[Supermercado 2,797]

18 hours ago, Skuit said:

I contributed to this one in a very minor way. @Supermercado - my mother still has a hefty copy sitting there unloved and unread in her tiny apartment in Cairns, which the poor lady has given up asking me about. Any suggestions where I can tell her to pass it on? Happy to return to sender if you send me a PM. Or if someone on here wants to wallow in misery - probably a silly question - I will forward. 

If somebody on here wants it they're welcome, otherwise give it to an op-shop and confuse the locals.

P.S - If anyone is interested, it's available on the cheap for Kindle. Paperback version is there but is $$$ due to rarity.

Edited July 16, 2020 by Supermercado

[Demonised 1,323]

14 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

The funniest book about Ausy Rules has to be “The coach from the city” by Alan O’Toole. Fictional story of a guy who gets an up country gig as a coach with the worst bunch ever to pull on a jumper and .... well no spoilers. Got it for Christmas one year in my teens. A real hoot. Illustrations by Paul Rigby hilarious as well.

I found the copy I bought for 40c at a second hand bookshop. Previous owner, young David Roberts of MItcham. 

It was first published in 1967, and I've scanned some of the classic Rigby illustrations.

Different times ...