Author Talk: The Football War with Dr Xavier Fowler

Gear up for footy finals with a bit of local sporting history!

Come along to hear from historian, Dr Xavier Fowler, as he explores the bitter rivalry that shaped (and almost tore apart) Victoria's favourite game.

In the shadow of the impending Second World War, a battle for control kicked off between two rival factions in Australian Rules football - the powerful upstart Victorian Football League, made up of the strongest inner-city clubs, and the struggling Victorian Football Association, which sought new teams and spectators in Melbourne's growing outer suburbs. The conflict spilled out of Victoria, inciting division and discord across the country.

Dr Fowler's book 'The Football War: The VFA and VFL's Battle for Supremacy 1930–1949' includes the stories of iconic AFL players, including Hall of Famers Ron Todd, Laurie Nash, Jack Dyer and Bob Pratt.

From bitter personal rivalries to the lasting impacts on the game itself, 'The Football War' is the untold story of the battle for supremacy on- and off-field, and the fight for the soul of Australian Rules.