Alan Hopgood

A play first performed in Melbourne in 1963. It tells the story of Achilles Jones, a freakishly strong and talented athlete from the remote country town of Manangatang in Victoria. Achilles is so strong he can kick a bag of wheat 10 metres, but he knows nothing about football. Achilles is recruited by a top Melbourne club, the ‘Crows’, and club, coach, and Achilles must all learn how to make it work which leads to surprising and hilarious results. Followed by a sequel, see listed below. Filmed as a television series in 1974 and broadcast on ABC television. The first published edition appears to have been in 1969 but a manuscript version produced around 1964 is held in the Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts at the University of Queensland Library.… (more)

A play first performed in Melbourne in 1963. It tells the story of Achilles Jones, a freakishly strong and talented athlete from the remote country town of Manangatang in Victoria. Achilles is so strong he can kick a bag of wheat 10 metres, but he knows nothing about football. Achilles is recruited by a top Melbourne club, the ‘Crows’, and club, coach, and Achilles must all learn how to make it work which leads to surprising and hilarious results. Followed by a sequel, see listed below. Filmed as a television series in 1974 and broadcast on ABC television. The first published edition appears to have been in 1969 but a manuscript version produced around 1964 is held in the Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts at the University of Queensland Library.… (more)