Hello Demonlanders!

It’s a project which has been brewing for a very, very long time, but now is at a point where it must come out of the shadows in order to grow any further.

The Sword and the Sherrin.

Inspirations from the great strategists, for Australian football.

Apparently I hate myself enough to write a book.

Over many years I’ve trawled in detail through the writings of dozens of history’s most notable strategists from all over the world. Inspired by the deep agreement shared by many of these strategists on many topics, I’ve assembled a collection of insights and quotes on themes ranging from practical organisation to tactical maxims to deeper thoughts on human character. The sometimes profound similarities of observations and advice come from sources as varied as Vegetius, Machiavelli, Ibn Khaldun, Clausewitz, Sun Tzu (of course) and even the Vedic Arthahathstra.

Such a deep consistency of agreement between strategists, across thousands of years, across continents, cultures, and contexts as opposite as a Soviet mass operations analyst or a legendary Samurai, suggests there are some universal lessons to be extracted.

But it is also clear is that on its own this is very dry content, and I am neither a brilliant nor famous author capable of overcoming that.

So, the plan is to involve proper football people and create a kind of ‘round table’ discussion where football experts interpret and apply the ideas shared by the historical strategists.

My part, more or less complete, has been to gather the key themes into appropriate chapters, such as tactical topics or more institutional ideas about authority and decision-making, then to add context and to clarify anything a bit obscure in the language or historical reference points. From that point, the conversation can really begin.

For example, a major theme is the importance of defence being founded on counter-attack, the vital action of constant harassment and anticipation of the reversal. This has been written upon by everyone from Julius Caesar to Che Geuvara and naval historian Julian Corbett, with endless variation on details according to the context. There is also, in football, never a shortage of opinion on rolling zones, forward press, interceptor roles, slingshot football and so on – all of which apply the strategic principal in different modes.

One former coach might closely identify with the constant harassment and sudden concentrations of force of Corbett’s ocean-spanning naval doctrine, while a current assistant would endorse Jomini’s love of sending aggressive detachments to create an implied menace, and a media pundit might be amused by Sun Tzu’s art of leading the opponent into dead ends by ‘offering’ them easy but actually worthless gains.

The intended result would be a book with actually relatively little text of my own, but producing a kind of moderated conversation between the great strategists of history and the best minds of modern football.

So, the big question is, how much interest do people have in this book?

I’m also keen to hear suggestions in the search for who these ‘best minds of modern football’ might be. At a personal level, despite my dashing good looks and charming small talk, I’m entirely unmarketable, so who out there has the brains and the brand to make this the kind of book people impulse buy for their sport-and-history ranting uncle? Whose opinions would you want to hear?

Cheers,

Little Goffy

Just to get the examples started on a light note rather than dumping 1000 words of 'the art of counterattack from samurai duel to massed artillery'.

Ibn Khladun, the great 14th century North Africa philosopher, jurist and sociologist, weighed in early on the 'team of champions' versus 'champion team' debate.

“Al Turtushi mentions that one of the reasons for victory in war is that one side may have a larger number of brave and famous knights, than the other. For instance, one side may have ten or twenty famous heroes, the other only eight or sixteen. The side that has more, even if only one more, will be victorious.

He states this very emphatically… but he is not right.

What is the fact proven to make for superiority is the situation with regard to group feeling… the side with a united group feeling is stronger than and superior to the side that is made up of several different groups.”

And Sun Tzu always knows the essential truths. Yes, this is a real quote;

"...the side with more points will win."

That's awesome, and for peace of mind you should follow this through with some sort of deadline in mind. (Otherwise you will never do it).

If it was me, l would choose key games through VFL/AFL history, and how those games turned on strategic decisions made by the coaches in the lead up to the game, or half-time/three quarter time player addresses. Or changes in fortune brought about by pre-season campaigns, or plotting undertaken by key figures to restore a club to greatness ie George Harris/Carlton in the 1960s. / Percy Cerutty, John Kennedy and Hawthorn in early 60s. North in 70s. Checker-Hughes in the 30s.

To save time l would use TROVE for deeper in-the-moment background info regarding those games, or campaigns.

Best of luck!.

PS If you could persuade some retired football "thinker" of the merits of your project that may further inspire you.

A bit more seriously, just to illustrate the diversity of sources and consistency of ideas, a couple of comments about how a commander (or coach, or anyone, really) should seek counsel. Each has their own context and style.

The most consistent theme through all the authors on this topic is that the leader must be energetic in seeking counsel to ensure that they are always the one taking initiative, rather than other people feeling they can be the ones to drive these conversations.

Machiavelli's The Prince (15th century, Italy)

The only way to safeguard yourself against flatterers is by letting people understand that you are not offended by the truth; but if everyone can speak the truth to you then you lose respect.

A shrewd prince should adopt a middle way, choosing wise men for his government and allowing those the freedom to speak the truth to him… he should question them thoroughly and listen to what they say. Then he should make up his own mind, by himself.

A prince must, therefore, always seek advice. But he must do so when he wants to, not when others want him to.

Kautilya's Arthahastra (~3rd century BC, India)

No deliberation made by a single person will be successful.

He shall consult three or four ministers. Consultation with a single minister may not lead to any definite conclusion in cases of complicated issues. A single minister proceeds wilfully and without restraint. In deliberating with two ministers, the king may be overpowered by their combined action or imperilled by their mutual dissuasion. But with three or four ministers he will not come to any serious grief, but will arrive at satisfactory results. With ministers more than four in number he will have to come to a decision after a good deal of trouble; nor will secrecy of council be maintained without much trouble.

Maurice's Strategikon (6th Century, Byzantium)

For what should be done seek the advice of many; for what you will actually do take council with only a few trustworthy people; then off by yourself alone decide on the best and most helpful plan to follow, and stick to it.

Mark Neeld's Guide to Crisis Management should be a well informed read!

You write the book for you. I’m curious about those that can watch without emotion and see patterns in the play that the emotional supporter miss.

I also am curious about the training piece, some coaches have great visions, getting the players to execute said vision is nothing short of a miracle in my mind.

With a degree of self interest can I forward you to the clippings of Ivor Warne-Smith in the Argus, he has occasional gems that bring a smile, fun for comparison across the eras.

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Edited September 20, 2025Sep 20 by The Stigga