Des Tobin Launches A Book for Footballing Families
MEDIA RELEASE – CALL FOR REVIEWERS
Des Tobin of the Tobin Brothers Family Fame Releases A Book For AFL Lovers and Families
IT’S IN THE GENES – AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL FAMILIES DES TOBIN – Foreword by PAUL SHEAHAN AM
Released 1 October 2024
Hard cover, 487 pages, lavishly illustrated – RRP $55.95
After a 43-year professional career in funeral service and prolific writer, Des’ Tobin (pictured below) is set to release his seventh book “It’s In The Genes – Australian Football Families”. This is an ode to the footballing community and a historical look back at the great families of the game.
“It’s In The Genes – Australian Football Families” tells the stories of some of the many families who have produced multiple generations of VFA/VFL/AFL/AFLW footballers stretching back to the late 19th century. Included are the stories of the Rankin/O’Donnell dynasty that has produced five generations of players across three centuries; the Pannam/Richards and Cordner clans with similar numbers; the six McShane brothers who wore Geelong colours in the VFA and VFL and the great Laurie Nash and his father Bob – the first father and son to captain VFL clubs.
Champion father and sons are also featured in the book including Haydn Bunton Senior and Junior, the Whittens, Abletts, Kennedys, Tucks, Fletchers, Spargos, Daicoses and Silvangis. In a sign of the times with the advent of the AFLW are also featured with father and daughter Greg and Erin Phillips and many more. Indigenous families are also included with the magicians from the Tiwi Islands – the Riolis and Longs, as well as many sibling groups including the Strangs, Twomeys, Danihers, Selwoods and the Murphy, Collier and Coventry brothers who were members of the famous Magpie ‘Machine’ of the late 1920s. The chapter on Ron Barassi Senior and Junior considers the story of a ‘fallen father’ and an ‘immortal son’ from an unusual and slightly different perspective.
Des and his visionary football administrator father Phonse Tobin, carry their own legacy at North Melbourne. Des was a talented 3rd XV111 player (with a couple of 2nd XV111 and senior games to his credit in 1956) and Phonse a former club president, was responsible for having the club nickname changed from ’Shinboners’ to ‘Kangaroos’ in the 1950s. As a long-serving VFL ‘delegate’, Phonse always supported decisions that would be for the ‘good of the game’ including the relocation of Richmond’s ‘home games’ from Punt Rd to the MCG in 1964.
Melbourne-based author Des Tobin, has crammed more lives into his 86 years than your average cat. He has variously been a failed student, a discontented apprentice panel beater, a youth worker, a springboard diver, a junior pole-vaulter, a VFL, QANFL and Olympic Australian Rules footballer, a 10-pin bowling instructor, a successful business executive, a golfing tragic, a university lecturer and a prolific writer. Des is also the author of “Simply Toogood – Peter Toogood’s Life in Golf”, “Frank Costa – Family Faith and Footy”, “Michael Tricarico ;- The Journey Not The Destination” and “Just a Man Called Phonse”. Des willrelease “It’s In The Genes – Australian Football Families” this October and the book will be distributednationally in book stores and online and retails for $55.95. Electronic copies of the book and excerpts for publishing are available on request.
An entertaining public speaker and storyteller, Des Tobin is available for media interviews, speaking engagements and bookshop appearances by arrangement.
Ends.
To review the book, interview and editorial opportunities contact Bronny Lane, Publicist, bronwen@littletrain.com.au | 0413 221 252
