A Game of Our Own

Book excerpt: Today Australian Rules football is a billion-dollar business, with superstar players, high-profile presidents and enough scandals to fill a soap opera. The game has changed beyond recognition – or has it? In A Game of Our Own, esteemed historian Geoffrey Blainey documents the birth and evolution of our great national game. Who were the characters and champions of the early days of Australian football? How were the first leagues formed? Why was the umpire's job so difficult? Journey back to an era when the ground was not oval, when captains acted as umpires, when players wore caps and jerseys bearing forgotten colours and kicked a round ball that soon lost its shape. A Game of Our Own tells the fascinating story of one of the world's oldest and most dynamic football codes. "Australians are not only very good at playing sport – we invent it as well. Fans of the game will love this book; it is a great read about a great game and how it all began." –Ron Barassi