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From the Introduction: As these thirty seven contributions about the most heartfelt moments in VFL/AFL demonstrate, Aussie Rules football cuts across all divides. Hence this book of original essays includes contributions by and about football players, supporters and administrators who are vastly different in religion, class, income, ethnicity, gender, race and sexual preference. The contributors within range from com-mitted Christians such as Cardinal George Pell, Geraldine Doogue, and John Birt to devout atheists and like myself, Dick Whitaker and Barry Dickins. Indeed unbeliev-ers and clerics of all persuasions often highlight Aussie Rules. Hence the retired Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth, Barry Hickey, regularly told this story: An AFL umpire died and found himself at the Pearly Gates. When he related what he had done on Earth, the Saint replied: ‘Well we can skip Purgatory, you’ve done enough as a football umpire, but is there anything weighing on your conscience that you need to admit before we consider letting you in?’ And the umpire said: ‘There was this match, Collingwood versus St Kilda, Magpies ahead by three points, and the St Kilda full-forward went for a mark right in front of goal. The sun was in my eyes and I couldn’t be sure whether he made it or not, but I gave him the mark and he scored and St Kilda won.’ ‘Think nothing of it, my son, come right in’. ‘Oh thank you, thank you Saint Peter’ said the umpire. ‘I’m not Saint Peter’ replied the saint, ‘I’m Saint Kilda’. With Contributions from: ROSS FITZGERALD PHILLIPA POWER, barrister who once was Sydney Swans number 1 ticket holder BRIAN DIXON, former Melbourne footballer 1954-1968 KEN SPILLMAN, WA ambassador for The Footpath Library DICK WHITAKER, meteorologist, author, television and radio presenter BARRY DICKINS, award wining writer PETER LYONS, former sports Editor for the Canberra Times JAMES GILCHRIST, author of Tortured Tales of a Collingwood Tragic FRANK DIMATTINA, former Richmond Champion PHIL TAGELL, author of the book Footy Tragic MATT ZURBO, writer on Australian Rules JEFF KENNETT, former Victorian Premier and former Hawthorn President BILL HAY, artist and former under 19s Sandringham player SUSAN ALBERTI, Vice-President Footscray Football Club CHRIS BOWEN, Shadow Treasurer of Australia CARDINAL GEORGE PELL, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church LES EVERETT, Author of Fremantle Dockers: An Illustrated History PAUL SANTAMARIA, Melbourne barrister and son of BA Santamaria JOHN BIRT, played for Essendon 1957 to 1967 PEGGY O'NEAL, president of the Richmond Football Club. ROBERT PASCOE, Professor of History at Victoria University, Melbourne RICHARD ALLSOP, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs AMANDA VANSTONE, Former Senator for South Australia 1984-2007 CHRIS KENNY, Associate Editor of The Australian GABRIELLE TRAINOR, inaugural director of the GWS Giants. SALLY MURPHY, children’s book author MICHAEL GORDON, political editor of The Age JULIE BISHOP, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs CHRIS GRIFFITH, is The Australian newspaper’s Senior Technology Journalist. GERALDINE DOOGUE, ABC TV Presenter GERARD HENDERSON, Writer and Author JOHN ELLIOTT, former Carlton President JOSH FRYDENBERG, Member for Kooyong ANTHONY CAPPELLO, Founder of Connor Court Publishing ANDREW IRELAND, CEO/Managing Director of the Sydney Swans MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN, played 303 matches with the Sydney Swans WEATHERMAN DICK, nom de plume of a well-known Australian meteorologist
