Lace up your boots, pull on your guernsey and get ready to hit the field running with these Brownlow-worthy AFL short stories! A collection of AFL-themed short stories written by some of Australia’s sportiest children’s authors, including: Michael Wagner (Why I Love Footy and Maxx Rumble series) Tony Wilson (The Selwood Boys series) Nicole Hayes (Footy Girl's Guide to the Stars Of 2017 and The Whole of My World) Adrian Beck (Kick it to Nick series with Shane Crawford) Michael Panckridge (Big Bash League series) Sherryl Clark (Ellyse Perry series) Patrick Loughlin (Billy Slater, Glenn Maxwell and Football High series) Meredith Costain (Dance Academy series) Shivaun Plozza (Frankie and Tin Heart) David Lawrence (Fox Swift and Ball Stars series) George Ivanoff (You Choose series)

There are a bazillion reasons to love footy! These are just my biggest ones. There's the big tackles and amazing marks. There's wearing the scarf and singing the song. But whether your team wins or loses, from the opening bounce to the final siren, the very best thing about footy is that we do it together.

Shivaun Plozza’s debut novel, Frankie, is a genre-hopping, darkly funny novel about searching for the truth, finding yourself, and falling in love Frankie Vega is angry. Just ask the guy whose nose she broke. Or the cop investigating the burglary she witnessed, or her cheating ex-boyfriend, or her aunt who's tired of giving second chances. When a kid shows up claiming to be Frankie's half brother, it opens the door to a past she doesn't want to remember. And when that kid goes missing, the only person willing to help is a boy with stupidly blue eyes, a criminal record, and secrets of his own. Frankie's search for the truth could change her life, or cost her everything. “Frankie's a great, gutsy character, full of heart.” —Printz Award winner Melina Marchetta, author of The Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca

Abandoned as a baby in a forest to be eaten by Shadow Creatures, twelve-year-old Bo and his pet fox embark on a quest to return the wish-granting Stars to the Ulvian sky before the Shadow Witch can steal the star magic.

​The Little Legends are back in an extra-time, extra-fun adventure to celebrate Australia Reads! Little Legends follows Oz, Ellie and Sanjay Little, star players for the Fresca Bay Falcons, on a series of hilarious and action-packed adventures that celebrate the great game of Australian Rules. When the Falcons win a prestigious lightning footy tournament, they receive a cup to commemorate the occasion. The tournament is in its 100th year, and the special cup is set to be displayed at the MCG sports museum. The Falcons are invited to the grand unveiling, but as the curtain drops, the cup is missing! It's up to Ellie, Oz and Sanjay to figure out where it went ... and discover what other secrets the mighty MCG holds. Perfect for fans of Tiny Timmy, Real Pigeons and Weirdo, Little Legends is the only official AFL junior fiction series. It's packed with fun and will entertain footy-mad kids for hours!

Little Legends follows Oz, Ellie and Sanjay Little, star players for the Fresca Bay Falcons, on a series of hilarious and action-packed adventures that celebrate the great game of Australian Rules. Twins Oz and Ellie are footy fanatics. They can't wait to introduce Aussie Rules to their cousin Sanjay, who is moving back to Australia from overseas. 10-year-old Oz is the key playmaker for the Falcons (as he'll tell anyone who'll listen!). Ellie is a talented full-forward and the leading goal scorer for the whole league. But when their cousin Sanjay tries footy for the first time, he's a natural. Suddenly, Sanjay is the Falcons' hot new recruit and Oz and Ellie have some competition! Perfect for fans of Tiny Timmy, Real Pigeons and Weirdo, Little Legends is the only official AFL junior fiction series. It's packed with fun and will entertain footy-mad kids for hours!

Spark is all about encouragement, permission, it's about firing you up. Spark: How Fanfiction and Fandom Can Set Your Creativity on Fire hopes to help you believe that your fandom writing, drawing, podficcing - whatever you're creating right now - is, was, and ever shall be legitimate, important, and a fantastic way to expand your community, develop your skills, and above all help you find your voice in the world. Spark's more than forty essays and interviews from best-selling writers Anne Jamison, Claire O'Dell, Diane Duane, Henry Jenkins, KJ Charles, Lyndsay Faye, Sara Dobie Bauer, and many others discuss, encourage, and shout about how fic and fandom in all their glories can absolutely inspire you, set your creativity on fire - and change your world.

Charles was the best player in the boys’ football team. Charlotte was the best player in the girls’ side. But this season they’re both playing in the same mixed team. Is there room for two Champion Charlies on one side? And can they get past their rivalry to help form the greatest football team Jindaberg Primary has ever seen? With prankster teammates, a karaoke coach, dancing dads and an arch rival with an axe to grind, the Champion Charlies soon learn that achieving success is not going to be easy . . . but it sure will be fun!

Player Profile: Name: Simon 'SPECKY' Magee Age: 13 Code: Australian Rules Football Team: Booyong High Lions, Under 14's Position played: Star forward. Known for his SPEC-tacular marking ability and for kicking plenty of goals. What to expect this season: Specky comes face to face with a tough, talented player by the name of Derek 'Screamer' Johnson. He was responsible for having Specky sent off during a game last season. The two boys become bitter rivals and when a popular TV show runs a nationwide football contest, Specky is relieved when everyone except Screamer decides to enter. But why is Screamer such a bully on the field? And why is he sucking up to Specky's team-mates? Guaranteed highlights: Incredible footy action by Specky, a surprise trip and the introduction of some terrific new friends. Question on everyone's lips: A true champion in the making, but is Specky good enough to win the Great Footy Contest? By the bestselling authors of Specky Magee. Visit www.speckymagee.com.au for more

Little Legends follows Oz, Ellie and Sanjay Little, star players for the Fresca Bay Falcons, on a series of hilarious and action-packed adventures that celebrate the great game of Australian Rules. Ellie is in a goal-kicking slump. She has a feeling her brand-new footy boots are to blame - that, or her brother Oz and all the annoying pranks he keeps playing on her! Is it possible that without her lucky routine, Ellie just isn't that good at footy? Or is footy about more than just luck? Perfect for fans of Tiny Timmy, Real Pigeons and Weirdo, Little Legends is the only official AFL junior fiction series. It's packed with fun and will entertain footy-mad kids for hours!