THE EXAMINER, Friday, October 19, 2012 — 45

Shock and awe . . . Collingwood and St Kilda players stand shellshocked after the drawn of 2010. Game hinged on a single bounce The footy season may be over but there are plenty of books about for fans suffering withdrawal symptoms. Sports editor ROB SHAW reviews the latest offerings from the Slattery Media Group.

S the 31 minutes and 51 seconds of the 2010 AFL grand final’s final quarter reached its climax, the entire Aseason rested on a single bounce of the ball. kicked towards his St Kilda teammate who seemed favourite to claim it from backtracking Collingwood defender Ben Johnson. ‘‘If it bounced right for Milne, No clearer evidence can be presented he could run in to kick the winning goal,’’ recalls the latest of the positive outlook of a man soon account of that premiership- to turn 90 than Lou’s conclusion: ‘I’m defining moment in THE OFFICIAL COLLINGWOOD looking forward to the next volume’ ILLUSTRATED ‘ High flyer... at the height of his powers. ENCYCLOPEDIA ($59.95, by the honour roll, editor and is the story of that double dozen Michael Roberts and Glenn LIKE the official club conclusion: ‘‘I’m looking forward publisher Geoff Slattery makes featuring characters like Barassi, McFarlane). encyclopedia, LOU — My to the next volume.’’ the assurance: ‘‘Joy, for Swans Cazaly, Dyer, Matthews and Wonderful Life ($32.95, by Lou ’ ‘‘But ...itbounced almost at fans, will come again in Volume Whitten now so much a part of right angles to trickle through for Richards with Stephen Phillips) VOLUME I left us on the brink of III.’’ the game’s fabric that their first a behind in a spot eerily similar to is another updated version of a both six years of world war and names are virtually superfluous. where ’s famous previous Slattery-Magpies three years of HOW’S this for a testimonial: release with an Eddie Maguire domination. point went through in St Kilda’s ‘‘His ball skills were at least the DEEP down, the ancient Greeks foreword. one-point win over Collingwood in Much like World War II, equal of Gary Ablett jnr’s. He must have known they had the 1966 grand final.’’ In this case, it follows the 1989 GRAND FINALS VOLUME II, pack marked as well as Jonathan forgotten something when they 1939-1978 ($39.95) of this series That behind levelled the scores best-seller The Kiss of Death — Brown. He was as evasive as built the Parthenon. at 10.8 (68) for the Saints to the telling the stories behind the Memoirs of a Sporting Legend Robert Harvey and as strong and Now we know what — two sets Magpies’ more wasteful 9.14 (68) premier team of the Victorian balanced as . He and the explanation given is to of footy goalposts, a floodlight but it was to be black and white League witnesses a was as courageous as Glenn add the subject’s successful media tower and 10 Sherrins. In rather than red, black and white change in the old guard. Archer or and was career to his renowned playing hindsight, it’s amazing nobody that dominated the celebratory The 40-year time span produces an inspirational captain.’’ achievements. pointed it out at the time. images a week later when the just two flags for the The speaker is triple Brownlow minor premiers made the most of From his birth in 1923 when, in competition’s early pacesetter FIND THE FOOTY ($14.95) is his words, he made his ‘‘debut as medallist Ian Stewart and the their reprieve to win a one-sided Collingwood, memorable solitary subject his St Kilda teammate, an amusing kids’ book, featuring a squawking ankle-biter’’, to his replay by 56 points. wins for Footscray and St Kilda and ’s only premiership- 24 of the world’s best-known 250 games, 452 goals, 15 seasons First published in 2004, this and the emergence of Hawthorn winning captain, . landmarks adorned with and 1953 premiership with his official club history has been as the league benchmark. Doubtless — the photoshopped footy symbols, is as updated to include this beloved Collingwood and It also saw the heyday of greats third Tasmanian among the 24 educational as it is entertaining. premiership plus ’s subsequent stardom on World of like , , legends inducted into the Along with the simultaneous 2011 victory and Sport and The Footy Show, this John Coleman, Darrel Baldock Australian Football Hall of Fame release of the BUMPER FOOTY the latest hall of fame inductees. presents an endearing portrait of and Peter Hudson plus a since its introduction in 1996 — COLOURING BOOK ($9.95), it As flags had only come along a character in black and white in bloodbath, two ties, a crowd of would agree. brings the nation’s game to the once in the half century before every respect. 121,696 and, of course, LEGENDS OF THE nation’s youth in a truly 2010 for the league’s best- No clearer evidence can be ‘‘Jesaulenko, you beauty!’’ AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Australian way. And at least we supported club, it was probably presented of the positive outlook And while South Melbourne HALL OF FAME ($40, by Bruce now know why the tower of Pisa necessary. of a man soon to turn 90 than his may be noticeably absent from Eva, Peter Ryan and Nick Bowen) leans. It’s all those footballs.