Fox Swift is a brilliant and engaging new football book for children. Combining a gripping, laugh-out-loud story with expert football tips and training drills from Hawthorn superstar Cyril Rioli, as well as witty cartoons, Fox Swift is the perfect read for any child whos passionate about Aussie Rules. Fox Swift is an 11-year-old football star. When his family moves from the city to the small country town of Davinal, Fox has to choose which of the towns two teams to join: the rich Dragons, which attracts all the best young footballers, or the Diggers, a struggling club that battles to field a side each week. Following a run-in with the captain of the Dragons, Fox decides to join the Diggers, and even manages to recruit a few new players -- two Sudanese refugees, the mumbling but super-tough son of a farmer, and a girl who plays in a helmet to disguise her identity -- and even a new coach. When the coach contacts AFL magician Cyril Rioli, the Aussie Rules superstar agrees to lend his football expertise to the struggling team. With Cyrils help, can the Diggers change their fortunes and win the premiership? And can Fox and his new friends prevail over the school bullies? Combining the sporting prowess of Cyril Rioli, the wickedly funny words of comedic writer David Lawrence, and the delightful drawings of Jo Gill, Fox Swift is page-turner that will have children anxiously anticipating the next instalment.
David Lawrence, is a comedy writer whose TV credits include , Hamish & Andy, TV Burp and Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation. He runs the successful comedy business Laughing Matters and has performed in five Melbourne International Comedy shows. He has won three Brownlow medals in a parallel universe.
""First I must confess, I am a massive Aussie Rules football fan. So when this book hit my desk it was one I leapt into as soon as two of my kids were done with it. Fortunately that didn't take long as Fox Swift combines a fast and funny story with all things footy. An added bonus for us, as Hawthorn Football Club fans, is that the Hawks genius Cyril Rioli features in the story (and on the cover). In the tradition of Specky Magee, footy fans will love how the story revolves around all things footy. Eleven-year old footy fanatic and star player Fox Swift moves to the small country town of Davinal with his parents and brother Chase. Fox quickly discovers there is a great divide in Davinal. Two football clubs exist but with vastly different fortunes. The Dragons are well funded and successful while the Diggers have rundown facilities, a useless coach and little chance of fielding a team, let alone win a match. Fox soon makes friends and enemies and this leads him to the hapless Diggers. Through enthusiasm and persistence, he and his new friends stand up to the local bullies and in the process rejuvenates the Diggers. They also have the helping hand of Cyril Rioli (and a visit from Buddy Franklin too!). Fox Swift is full of footy but there is more than that. Other issues in society are woven throughout. Fox's parents are lawyers advocating for refugees. Themes of inclusiveness, not giving up, persistence and friendship run through the book. For the Aussie Rules uninitiated there is a glossary of terms and Cyril's tips on handballing, kicking and marking are at the end of the book for everyone to follow. Jo Gill's black-and-white illustrations throughout add to the humour of the story."" - Vicki Stanton"
