20 September 2005
Links between AFL clubs and their traditional communities have been weakened as football has grown into a national industry, Monash University Associate Professor Lionel Frost says.
In his latest book Immortals: Football people and the evolution of Australian Rules, Associate Professor Frost says football affects the well-being of Australian communities at several levels.
"Today's dominant, nationwide league means drafted players are increasingly unlikely to play for clubs close to the communities they grew up in.
"In the past, identities such as Collingwood's Collier brothers and Port Adelaide's Bob Quinn were able to live out their boyhood dreams by winning places on local teams, boosting community spirit."
Associate Professor Frost, who's from the Department of Economics and is a research associate at the Institute for Regional Studies, says football is often the strongest common interest in towns and districts.
"It is vital that the AFL remains committed to promoting football at grassroots level, not only to ensure interactive communities but also the game's long-term success," he says.
In Immortals, Associate Professor Frost has explored the evolution of the game through the biographies of 14 individuals ranging from Henry Harrison, one of the game's pioneers, to modern stars such as Jason Akermanis.
The book provides an insight into urban and regional history while revealing the context in which the 'immortals' have lived their lives.
Associate Professor Frost is the author of seven books, including The Old Dark Navy Blues: A History of the Carlton Football Club.
Immortals is published by John Wiley & Sons, RRP $34.95.
For further information contact Ms Natasha Whalley, Media Communications on +61 3 9905 9201 or 0437 458 457 or Ms Jacqui Golding, Faculty of Business and Economics on +61 3 9903 2265.
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