The Football War

The VFA and VFL's Battle for Supremacy 1930-1949

Xavier Fowler

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Paperback

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English

Melbourne University Press
22 October 2024

Australasian & Pacific history; Australian Rules football

The historical conquest that shaped the modern AFL

In the shadow of the impending Second World War, a battle for control kicked off between two rival factions in Australian Rules football-the powerful upstart Victorian Football League, comprising the strongest inner-city clubs, and the struggling Victorian Football Association, which sought new teams and spectators in Melbourne's growing outer suburbs. The conflict spilled out of Victoria, inciting division and discord in almost every corner of the country.

Woven through Xavier Fowler's lively history are the stories of iconic players whose lives and careers were fundamentally altered by the conflict as they crisscrossed the breach, including Australian Football Hall of Famers Ron Todd, Laurie Nash, Jack Dyer and Bob Pratt.

From bitter personal rivalries to the lasting impacts on the game itself, The Football War is the untold story of the battle for supremacy on- and off-field, and the fight for the soul of Australian Rules.

By: Xavier Fowler
Imprint: Melbourne University Press
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 1mm, Width: 1mm,
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780522880076
ISBN 10: 052288007X
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 22 October 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Xavier Fowler is a historian who writes on sport and society.