List of Australian sports films

This is a compilation of Australian films in the genre covering sports activities. Films may cover issues in sport as World Series Cricket, 1968 Olympics Black Power salute, personalities Dawn Fraser and Phar Lap, sporting events and tours and satire. Films provide an insight into the importance of sport into Australian society.[1] Films include fictional and non-fictional stories.

SportTitleDateGentreComments
AthleticsSalute2008DocumentaryPeter Norman role in the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute.
AthleticsThe Four Minute Mile1988DramaMini-series about the race to run the Four-minute mile, focusing on the rivalry between Roger Bannister and John Landy.
AthleticsCliffy2013TelemovieStory of ultra marathoner Cliff Young.
Australian footballThe Club1980ComedyBased on statirical play by David Williamson. Inspired by the backroom dealings and antics of the Victorian Football League's Collingwood Football Club.
Australian footballAustralian Rules2002Drama
Australian footballThe Great Macarthy1975ComedyAdaptation of the novel A Salute to the Great Macarthy by Barry Oakley. and about a local footballer who is signed up (or more appropriately, kidnapped) by the South Melbourne Football Club (now Sydney Swans).
Australian footballYear of the Dogs1997DocumentaryFollows the 1996 season of the Footscray Football Club (now Western Bulldogs).
Australian footballValentine's Day2008ComedyStory about famous Aussie Rules footballer fallen on hard times that is required to coach "no-hoper" football team as part of a community service order.
Australian footballBlinder2013DramaStory about aspiring football star who fled Australia following a local scandal.
Australian footballJoffa: The Movie2010ComedyStory of Australia's best known sports fan, Joffa Corfe.
Australian footballAussie Rules the World2014Documentary
Australian footballWar Without Weapons1980DocumentaryBehind-the-scenes look at the North Melbourne Football Club and its head coach Ron Barassi during the 1979 Victorian Football League season.
Australian footballLife of the Town2009DocumentaryThirteen half-hour episodes of grassroots football ' tracking the fortunes of the Ongerup Football Club through the 2008 season.
Australian footballThe Warriors2017TV seriesExplores the elite world of professional sport through the eyes of recruits and established players living in a share house.
Australian footballLeague of Their Own[2]2017DocumentaryHistoric story behind the Women’s Australian Football League and the athletes and trailblazers who made it happen.
Australian footballThe Merger2018ComedyFilm explores the decline of a cash-strapped Aussie Rules rural footy club and the recruitment of refugees to keep the club viable.
Australian footballThe Final Quarter2019DocumentaryThe final stages of the Australian football career of Adam Goodes, during which he was the target of repeated booing by opposition fans.
Australian footballThe Australian Dream2019DocumentaryDocumentary that uses the remarkable and inspirational story of AFL legend Adam Goodes as the prism through which to tell a deeper and more powerful story about race, identity and belonging.
Australian footballCollingwood: From the Inside Out2019DocumentaryCollingwood Football Club's journey to rebuild itself through the 2018 AFL season.
BoxingRose Against the Odds1991DramaMini-series about world boxing champion Lionel Rose.
BoxingLionel2008DocumentaryInterviews with Lionel Rose, his family and friends.
BoxingTwo Fists, One Heart2008Drama
CricketSave Your Legs!2012Comedy
CricketBodyline1984DramaMini-series about English cricket team in Australia in 1932–33 and its bodyline bowling tactic.
CricketBradman1991DocumentaryDefinitive video of Sir Donald Bradman's life, from his youth and unsurpassed cricketing career, through to his time as Chairman of the Australian Cricket Board.
CricketBackyard Ashes2013Comedy
CricketHowzat! Kerry Packer's War2012DramaMini-series about World Series Cricket (WSC),a break away professional cricket competition staged between 1977 and 1979.
CricketHow McDougall Topped the Score1924Drama
CricketPrince Ranjitsinhji Practising Batting in the Nets1897DocumentaryOne of the earlist surviving cricket films.
CricketWarnie2017TV Mini-seriesLife of Australian spin bowler Shane Warne.
CyclingBMX Bandits1983Drama
CyclingTracks of Glory1992TV mini-seriesVisit of Major Taylor to Australian and his rivalry with Australian cycler Don Walker in 1903.
Greyhound racingGone to the Dogs1939Comedy
Horse racingRide Like a Girl2019DramaThe story of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.
Horse racingThe Cup2011Drama
Horse racingPhar Lap1983DramaStory of Phar Lap, a champion Australian racehorse during The Great Depression.
Horse racingThoroughbred1936Drama
Horse racingA Rough Passage1922Drama
Horse racingSilks and Saddles1921Drama
Horse racingDesert Gold1919Drama
Horse racingWon on the Post1912Drama
Horse racingThe Double Event1911Drama
Horse racingThe Cup Winner1911Drama
Horse racingA Ticket in Tatts1911Comedy
Horse racingKeane of Kalgoorlie1911DramaAustralian silent film set in the racing and gambling circles of Sydney, based on a popular play by Edward William O'Sullivan and Arthur Wright, adapted from the novel by Wright.
Horse racingThe Melbourne Cup1896DocumentarySeries of Australian silent films being the first time the Melbourne Cup Carnival was filmed.
Lawn bowlsCrackerjack2002Comedy
Motor sportBrock2016TV seriesChronicles the life of Australian driver Peter Brock.
NetballThe Last Great Amateurs2004DocumentaryMelbourne Phoenix players, coach and administrators are followed through a season.
RowingParis or the Bush : the story of the Cods2015DocumentaryThe story of the men's eight rowing team from Murray Bridge, South Australia that overcame multiple hurdles to qualify for the 1924 Paris Olympics.[3]
Rugby leagueChasing Comets2018DramaFollows the onfield and offield life of Chase who is following his dream of playing National Rugby League.
Rugby leagueBroke2015DramaStory about a professional rugby league footballer at the end of his career with a gambling addiction and he is able to win back the respect.
Rugby leagueThe Final Winter2007Drama
Rugby leagueFooty Legends2006Comedy
Rugby leagueFibros and the Silvertail2008DocumentaryThe feud between two football teams - Fibros (Western Suburbs Magpies) and Silvertails (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles).
Rugby leagueThe First Kangaroos1988DramaThe 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, the first-ever such tour by the Australia national rugby league team
SoccerOffside2009Comedy
SoccerJohnny Warren's Football Mission2006DocumentaryChronicles the life of Johnny Warren.
SkatingDeck Dogz2005Drama
Freestyle SkiingThe Will To Fly2016DocumentaryOlympic aerial skiing champion Lydia Lassila returns to the sport as a mother to perform the most complex acrobatic manoeuvre ever performed by a woman.
Surf life savingthe Coolangatta Gold1984DramaFilm which led to the establishment of the iron man race The Coolangatta Gold.
SurfingFighting Fear2013Documentary
SurfingBra Boys: Blood is Thicker than Water2007Documentary
SurfingThe Endless Summer1966Documentary
SurfingThe Endless Summer II1994Documentary
SurfingDrift2013Drama
SurfingPalm Beach1980Drama
SurfingPuberty Blues1981Drama
SurfingWomen in surf1986Documentary
SurfingPuberty Blues (TV series)2012TV series
SwimmingThe Dawn Fraser Story1964DocumentaryHistory of women's surfing in Australia from 1915, through the big board era to 1986.
SwimmingDawn!1979DramaThe film deals with Dawn Fraser's rise to fame as a champion Olympic swimmer, her anti-authoritarian clashes with Australian Swimming officials, her triumphs, marriage and eventual divorce.
SwimmingSwimming Upstream2003DramaYoung male swimmer overcomes family dysfunction to become a world-class athlete.
SwimmingBarracuda2016TV series
WindsurfingWindrider1986Drama
Women's sportThe Game is Up!1993DocumentaryHistorical look at women in sport in Australia between 1896 to 1956.
YachtingAussie Assault1984DocumentaryStory of Australia II winning the 1983 America's Cup.
YachtingThe Challenge1986TV Mini-seriesStory of Australia II winning the 1983 America's Cup
YachtingKay Cottee : First Lady1989DocumentaryThe story of Kay Cottee, the first woman in history to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.
YachtingLionheart : the Jesse Martin story2001DocumentaryIn 1991, Jesse Martin b circumnavigating the world in his 34 foot yacht, Lionheart became the youngest person in history to sail around the world solo, non stop and unassisted.
Yachting210 days: around the world with Jessica Watson2010DocumentaryIn May 2010, 16 year old young Australian Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbour and became the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.

References
  1. Oxford Companion to Australian sport (2nd ed.). Melbourne: Oxford Uni Press. 1994. pp. 163–165.
  2. "Telling The Historic Story Behind The Women's AFL". Premier of Victoria website. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  3. Sexton, Mile (22 April 2016). "Paris or the Bush doco about 1924 Olympic rowing team The Cods premieres in Murray Bridge". ABC News. Retrieved 3 December 2016.

Further reading
  • Headon, David. Significant Silents: Sporting Australia on Film, 1896-1930. Journal of Popular Culture, Vol. 33 No. 1 Summer 1999 p. 115-128.
  • Miller, Toby. The Dawn of an Imagined Community: Australian Sport on Film, Sporting Traditions, Vol. 7 No. 1 Nov 1990 p. 48-59.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.