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.

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!

​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!

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!