The Medal

By David Ryan

... the strange thing that happened was I realised sport wasn't my life. I realised that I had an abundance of sporting talent, but I took it for granted because it meant more to my fans than me.

Against the backdrop of community football, the heir to a sweeping family fortune and the son of a prominent bikie gang leader forge an unlikely brotherhood. With their families locked in a long and bitter feud, the football prodigies push each other - and the game - to new heights.

But in the brutal world of sporting competition, friendship and rivalry can quickly become indistinguishable.

When jealousy and ambition spark a devastating on-field accident, their bond is instantly shattered. As anger and guilt take hold, the sportsmen are confronted with the truth that friendship can be forged and fractured by the same forces: ambition, pride and a desperate need for validation. It isn't just about who's the better footballer; it is a deeper battle against the lives their fathers have planned for them.

To salvage what remains of their friendship, they must face a final test of forgiveness - one that may cost them everything.

In the high-stakes world of Australian Rules Football, the price for being the best is high. When all hope seems shattered, can meaning be found again?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1923517597
• ISBN13: 9781923517592
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: Hembury Books
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"