Best VFL/AFL Footballer autobiography you have read

[1980GFVideo]

With the lockdown, books have become an option.

Just read David Schwartz autobiography and was suprised at how honest he was about what type of bloke he was during his football career due to his gambling. He was prepared to take you through his selfish thinking throughout it all.

The other wasn't really an autobiography, but Brian Taylors' book 'The Brian Taylor Diaries' was a good read in regards to his brutal honesty about Collingwood during the 1990 season. Must have burnt a few bridges back then with his honesty although interestingly he worked alongside Leigh Matthews in some media gigs. Wasnt considered a big enough name to put out an autobiography but Jon Andersons idea for a diary where he had no problem giving his thoughts on teammates and coach entertained me.

Anyone have any good suggestions?

 

[footyfan1978]

I got the Dominator's book. Some pretty crazy stuff in it... ha ha.. even more crazy s**t has happened in his life after he retired.

I got some thick book on Ron Barassi I meant to read but not got around to it yet.

 

[footyfan1978]

With the lockdown, books have become an option.

Just read David Schwartz autobiography and was suprised at how honest he was about what type of bloke he was during his football career due to his gambling. He was prepared to take you through his selfish thinking throughout it all.

Have not read it but can well remember playing Blackjack at the casino and him talking a lot of s**t at the table. Seemed like a good bloke but when it come to the card game itself , he spoke a lot of s**t. Not surprised to find out years later he had a big gambling problem.

 

[HaroLad]

Paul Chapman’s was quite good I thought. Probably the best I have read.

 

[Belnakor]

Wayne Carey's was a good read. Really good to understand his character and where he came from.

Ben Cousins is a good read purely for how illuminating it is. When I read that book it was obvious he was never going to get clean.

 

[The Warlord]

Wayne Carey's was a good read. Really good to understand his character and where he came from.

Ben Cousins is a good read purely for how illuminating it is. When I read that book it was obvious he was never going to get clean.

Came to post basically this.

Some of the abuse in the Carey book is just off the charts. Also he basically says he's indigenous but doesn't identify due to his Dad.

And agreed on Cuz, that bit where he talks about the moment when he got addicted to getting high, driving down the highway after a big training block KNOWING the gear and the party is waiting, unless he ever wants to work that out, he's never getting clean.

 

[La Dispute]

I find most footy autobiographies quite sanitised and boring, especially if the players are already extremely talented, knew it and capitalised. I found Chris Judd's book pretty average for this reason. He also wanted to steer clear of really illuminating the Weagles drug culture of the early 2000's and didn't go into depth.

Kouta's book was pretty stock standard for similar reasons. Was a freak athlete with a reasonable footy brain and versatility almost none had shown to that point, and was always going to become a star at some point in his career.

I really liked Sam Mitchell's book, moreso for the snapshot he gives of Hawthorn post 2001. Gives you a nice insight into his relationship with Clarko, the leadership stakes with he and Hodge, and the way they brought in talent and killed it. I also liked his detail on the Eagles. Foreshadowed their Grand Final IMO, and actually pointed out their system was as advanced as the Hawthorn system he played in over his career.

 

[Belnakor]

I find most footy autobiographies quite sanitised and boring, especially if the players are already extremely talented, knew it and capitalised. I found Chris Judd's book pretty average for this reason. He also wanted to steer clear of really illuminating the Weagles drug culture of the early 2000's and didn't go into depth.

i'm amazed you thought Judd's book would be anything but a by the numbers "he was a good bloke" approach. Judd has never had a personality, i'd expect his book to be as dry as dry. Pavlich's book was boring, but so was he, though he did have a pot at Harvey which was a laugh.

 

[Belnakor]

And agreed on Cuz, that bit where he talks about the moment when he got addicted to getting high, driving down the highway after a big training block KNOWING the gear and the party is waiting, unless he ever wants to work that out, he's never getting clean.

There was actually ZERO remorse in the way he told the stories. You could almost tell he was waiting to get back on the gear and how great it was being on it.

 

[The Warlord]

There was actually ZERO remorse in the way he told the stories. You could almost tell he was waiting to get back on the gear and how great it was being on it.

And it would have been. King of Perth, off chops all the time, women on tap, would have been grouse fun.

He's now worked out meth makes him feel like that, albeit for a bit, and he's obviously happier being king of Perth for a few hours each day in his head than he is unhappy at the cost to life otherwise.

 

[La Dispute]

i'm amazed you thought Judd's book would be anything but a by the numbers "he was a good bloke" approach. Judd has never had a personality, i'd expect his book to be as dry as dry. Pavlich's book was boring, but so was he, though he did have a pot at Harvey which was a laugh.

Sure, but there were a number of interesting events including the West Coast supplements saga which should have made it far more compelling than it was.

The Brendan Fevola dismissal was fairly interesting though, and it sounded like Judd played a pretty major role in having him ousted without explicitly stating it. Judd recognised pretty early on the club would do anything for him, and his influence in club politics was obvious.

There's always moments within even average autobiographies that are interesting. Koutoufides on the Angwin/Norman situation was cool to read about.