Australian Rules Football During the First World War

The book explores the intersection between the Great War and patriotism through an examination of the effects of both on Australia's most popular football code. The work is chronological, and therefore provides an easy path by which events may be followed. Ultimately it seeks to shine a light on and provide considerable detail to a much-ignored period in Australian Rules football history, including women's football history, that was subject to much upheaval and which reflected considerable social and class divisions in society at the time. One hundred years on, the Australian Football League presents past soldier footballers as unequivocal representatives of a unifying national 'Anzac' spirit. That is far from the reality of football's First World War experience.

Offers the first analysis of the effects of the First World War on Australian Rules football Examines the relationship between the Great War, patriotism and this national sport Explores the emergence of competitive women's football and its relationship to patriotism

Autorentext
Dale Blair is Historian at Deakin University, Australia.
Rob Hess is Associate Professor in Sport History at Victoria University, Australia.

Inhalt

1. War.- 2. 'King' Football.- 3. Football under Siege.- 4. Women, War and Football.- 5. Football and the Military.- 6. Conscription.- 7. 'Like Old Times'.- 8. Conclusion.- Bibliography.- Index.