IT’S IN THE GENES – AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL FAMILIES
by DES TOBIN
Foreword by PAUL SHEAHAN AM
Hard cover, 500 pages, lavishly illustrated – RRP $55.95
IT’S IN THE GENES – AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL FAMILIES tells the stories of some of the many families who have produced multiple generations of VFA/VFL/AFL/AFLW footballers stretching back to the late 19th century. Included are the stories of the Rankin/O’Donnell dynasty that has produced five generations of players across three centuries; the Pannam/Richards and Cordner clans with similar numbers; the six McShane brothers who wore Geelong colours in the VFA and VFL; the great Laurie Nash and his father Bob – the first father and son to captain VFL clubs; champion fathers and sons Haydn Bunton Senior and Junior, the Whittens, Abletts, Kennedys, Tucks, Fletchers, Spargos, Daicoses, Silvangis, father and daughter Greg and Erin Phillips and many more. The magicians from the Tiwi Islands – the Riolis and Longs – are also included, as are many sibling groups including the Strangs, Twomeys, Danihers, Selwoods and the Murphy, Collier and Coventry brothers who were members of the famous Magpie ‘Machine’ of the late 1920s. And a chapter on Ron Barassi Senior and Junior considers the story of a ‘fallen father’ and an ‘immortal son’ from an unusual and slightly different perspective.
Order Online: destobin.com.au or enquire at your local bookshop
Phone: 0417 510 211 – Email: [email protected]
Invitation
Des will be speaking at a Geelong Cats Historic Society function at Kardinia Park on Wednesday, 6 November. This year is the Centenary of the inaugural Brownlow Medal that was, of course, won by Geelong’s ‘Carji’ Greeves and GCHS is holding a function to commemorate that event. Col Hutchinson has kindly offered me the opportunity to speak about my book and to highlight the several Geelong family groups (Rankin, McShane, Ablett et al) that form part of the overall story. All welcome. If you wish to attend the event, which is open to the public, and starts with morning tea around 10:00 AM, please book by emailing Col Hutchinson. [email protected]
Melbourne based author Des Tobin, has crammed more lives into his 86 years than your average cat. He has variously been a failed student, a discontented apprentice panelbeater, a youth worker, a springboard diver, a junior pole-vaulter, a VFL, QANFL and Olympic Australian Rules footballer, a 10-pin bowling instructor, a successful business executive, a golfing tragic, a university lecturer and a prolific writer. IT’S IN THE GENES is his seventh book. An entertaining public speaker and storyteller, Des Tobin is available for media interviews, speaking engagements and bookshop appearances by arrangement.
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