We’re honoured to have recently worked with the AFL to produce the title, Harder Than Football. The book chronicles the almost 2500 men who have played VFL/AFL football and have also performed military service for Australian and Allied Forces. Publishing to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings, Harder Than Football offers stories of unfaltering courage, mateship and strength of character—the same values that are so apparent in our national game of football. We were lucky enough to work with Barbara Cullen, who has worked tirelessly over six years to create a database of every footy player to have ever served for our country. Barbara has a long history of commitment to AFL affiliated groups and clubs. She is currently curator at the Sydney Swans Football Club and North Melbourne Football Club, and was previously curator for the Essendon Football Club Hall of Fame. Harder Than Football is her first book, and has been a labour of love for close to a decade—we’re thrilled to have helped Barbara in bringing her vision for this project to life.

This book chronicles men who have served in the Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, as well as those who have performed National Service. Players are representative of our community; they have ranged from labourers and clerks to teachers to surgeons and barristers, they have been ranked from Privates to Major Generals and everything in between. Most importantly they were loved sons, husbands, fathers, brothers and even grandparents whose service had a lasting effect upon their families. With a foreword by the great Kevin Sheedy, Harder Than Football serves as a reminder of the history of our country at war, and the contribution made by those who played our game.

Order your copy now.