HELEN GARNER The Season. Reviewed by Michael Jongen

Helen Garner’s account of a single season of her grandson’s AFL team is about more than football.

Helen Garner may have begun her career as a novelist, but she has long been admired for her non-fiction, which has been defined by its fearless honesty and unflinching portrayals of her subjects – and herself – as she immerses herself in their lives. The resulting works are emotionally rich, and feel personal and relatable.

In her non-fiction, Garner explores complex human sensitivities with insight, and her literary craft makes her nonfiction works as compelling as any novel. Books such as The First Stone, Joe Cinque’s Consolation, and This House of Grief have sparked debate and highlighted important social issues.

It was with great interest that I learned that Garner’s latest was to be an exploration of her grandson’s under-16s football season. To write The Season she went to nearly every game, and to all the training sessions as well. ‘Shivering’ on the sidelines, she writes about the spectacle. Garner is also fascinated by the Western Bulldogs, and in the book there is much about their season as well. But at the heart of this memoir is her desire to connect with her youngest grandchild as he moves into manhood.

Third quarter. I move around closer to the goal, near a gap in the fence. Suddenly they’re thundering down on me, they’re going to trample me, I’m frozen, they won’t stop, they can’t stop. I leap out of the way and the ball goes tumbling past me over the boundary and under the fence towards the path behind me. I turn and run after it, grab it off the ground with both hands. God, I can’t kick. What a fool I’d look. I raise it above my shoulders and chuck it to the chubby little boundary umpire who catches it and flashes me such a comradely smile that for one second my whole existence is justified.

As an educator, I am interested in the current debate about teenage boys and toxic masculinity, which often imposes a stoic emotionless facade, discouraging boys from expressing their feelings or seeking help when needed. It is argued that the pressure to conform to hyper-masculine stereotypes can create barriers to forming meaningful connections. Boys may find it challenging to communicate openly and build emotional bonds, leading to strained friendships and difficulties in romantic relationships.

I loved the exploration of the boys and their families in The Season as Garner faithfully attends the training sessions each week and the matches each weekend. She records how the families support each other and the boys as their team goes up and down through the season.

They manifest from every direction, not in a hurry, walking steadily and faithfully, or scooting, or pedalling, or scrambling out of their parents’ cars. As they gather, Archie taps each boy’s hand. They form into a loose circle around him. A sudden whiff of liniment. Archie’s voice, sharp and serious. They share a solemn purpose. They are committed to it. It’s boys’ business. And my job is to witness it.

Can violence and aggression and traditional ideals of manhood that emphasise dominance and physical toughness – too often manifesting in bullying, sexual harassment and other forms of violence – be overcome by organised sport and teamwork?

No, no, no, no, no. I don’t. What a fool I am, I think, stumping home from pilates, to idealise the game, depicting it as a Homeric struggle full of noble manly customs and ethical training for teenage boys – and now I’m told that it’s corrupted, shot through with evil, just like everything else in this world. Why the hell am I shocked? How could it be otherwise? It’s a bloody institution, and this is Planet Earth.

By writing about her own experiences and observations with intimacy and immediacy, Garner explores many of these issues, directly and indirectly. She also explores her own family’s social dynamic and structure; this personal involvement makes her writing feel genuine and engaging. The boys’ season, and the parallel struggles of the Western Bulldogs – ‘everyone’s favourite second team’ – are engrossing.

Garner’s skilful use of language and attention to detail make The Season a rich reading experience and study of the human condition. If you appreciate well-crafted prose, insightful commentary, and emotionally resonant storytelling, you will enjoy this insight into Australian Rules Football and the passion it engenders, while realising it is also about so much more.

For various reasons, including the fact that many years ago I managed the Flemington–Kensington Library and knew the area well, I felt very connected to this story. The Season provides a snapshot of a particular time and place, offering valuable cultural and social insights. The story of these young footballers, their friends and families, should be celebrated for its honesty, emotional resonance, literary quality, cultural significance, and personal touch. It was a joy to read.

Helen Garner The Season Text Publishing 2024 PB 208pp $34.99

Michael Jongen is a librarian and you can find him as @larrydlibrarian on Instagram and Threads.

You can buy The Season from Abbey’s at a 10% discount by quoting the promotion code NEWTOWNREVIEW.

You can also check if it is available from Newtown Library.

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Tags: Australian Rules Football, Australian writers, footy families, footy teams, grandmothers and grandsons, Helen | Garner, masculinity, teenage boys, Western Bulldogs