Writing the Red Fox

FROM THE AUTHOR

The Red Fox - The Biography of Norm Smith, Legendary Melbourne Coach is the result of 18 months' work, which included about 100 interviews - with Norm Smith's family, friends, those who played with, against and under him, etc. - and countless hours trawling newspaper archives and scrapbooks.

Delving into the life of arguably the greatest football coach of all time - and a man of great complexity - was, among other things, all-consuming, demanding, exhilarating, inspiring, humorous, emotional and always rewarding. I hope readers experience some of these emotions themselves when they read his story - Ben Collins.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Ben Collins's research is exemplary in every way, for any project. He deserves congratulations for producing the most meticulous study yet of any figure in the history of Australian Football - Geoff Slattery, managing director, the Slattery Media Group.

About the Author

Ben Collins was the co-author of Jason McCartney: After Bali – the highest-selling non-fiction book by an Australian author in 2003 – which tells of Jason McCarthy’s recovery from horrific burns suffered in the Bali terrorist bombings and his quest to play one last game of AFL football. In 2004, Collins wrote The Book of Success – a series of interview with Australian leaders in business, sport, politics, science and entertainment. In 2006, he wrote The Champions: Conversations with Great players & Coaches of Australian Football, which included in-depth interviews with the likes of Ron Barassi and Bob Skilton.

Collins started as a cadet journalist with The Courier in Ballarat in 1997 and worked with Fairfax Community Newspapers before becoming one of the original reporters with the Herald & Weekly Times’ free commuter publication, MX, in 2001.

He is a full-time writer for The Slattery Media Group, which produces all AFL publications including the AFL Record. The Red Fox is his fourth book and his first biography.