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. Films include fictional and non-fictional stories.
Sport TitleDate GentreCommentsAthleticsSalute2008DocumentaryPeter 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.FootballThe Club1980ComedyBased on satirical play by David Williamson. Inspired by the backroom dealings and antics of the Victorian Football League's Collingwood Football Club.FootballAustralian Rules2002DramaFootballThe 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). FootballYear of the Dogs1997DocumentaryFollows the 1996 season of the Footscray Football Club (now Western Bulldogs).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.FootballBlinder2013DramaStory about aspiring football star who fled Australia following a local scandal.FootballJoffa: The Movie2010ComedyStory of Australia's best known sports fan, Joffa Corfe. FootballAussie Rules the World2014DocumentaryFootballWar Without Weapons1980Documentary Behind-the-scenes look at the North Melbourne Football Club and its head coach Ron Barassi during the 1979 Victorian Football League season.FootballLife of the Town2009DocumentaryThirteen half-hour episodes of grassroots football ' tracking the fortunes of the Ongerup Football Club through the 2008 season.FootballThe Warriors2017TV seriesExplores the elite world of professional sport through the eyes of recruits and established players living in a share house.FootballLeague of Their Own2017DocumentaryHistoric story behind the Women's Australian Football League and the athletes and trailblazers who made it happen.FootballThe Merger2018ComedyFilm explores the decline of a cash-strapped Aussie Rules rural footy club and the recruitment of refugees to keep the club viable.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.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.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 Heart 2008DramaBoxingKid Snow 2024DramaA film set in 1970s Western Australia during the final days of tent boxing troupes. CricketSave Your Legs!2012ComedyCricketBodyline1984DramaMini-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 Ashes2013ComedyCricketHowzat! 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 Score1924DramaCricketPrince Ranjitsinhji Practising Batting in the Nets1897DocumentaryOne of the earliest surviving cricket films.CricketWarnie2017TV Mini-seriesLife of Australian spin bowler Shane Warne.CyclingBMX Bandits1983DramaCyclingTracks of Glory1992TV mini-seriesVisit of Major Taylor to Australian and his rivalry with Australian cycler Don Walker in 1903.Greyhound racingGone to the Dogs1939ComedyHorse racingA horse named Winx2024DocumentaryThe story of Winx, a horse that captured Australia through an extraordinary 33-race winning streak.Horse racingRide Like a Girl2019DramaThe story of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.Horse racingThe Cup2011DramaHorse racingPhar Lap1983DramaStory of Phar Lap, a champion Australian racehorse during The Great Depression.Horse racingThoroughbred1936DramaHorse racingA Rough Passage1922DramaHorse racingSilks and Saddles1921DramaHorse racingDesert Gold1919DramaHorse racingWon on the Post1912DramaHorse racingThe Double Event1911DramaHorse racingThe Cup Winner1911DramaHorse racingA Ticket in Tatts1911ComedyHorse racingKeane of Kalgoorlie1911Drama Australian 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 Cup1896Documentary Series of Australian silent films being the first time the Melbourne Cup Carnival was filmed.Lawn bowlsCrackerjack2002ComedyMotor 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.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 Winter2007DramaRugby leagueFooty Legends2006ComedyRugby 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 teamSoccerOffside2009ComedySoccerJohnny Warren's Football Mission2006DocumentaryChronicles the life of Johnny Warren.SkatingDeck Dogz2005DramaFreestyle 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 Fear2013DocumentarySurfingBra Boys: Blood is Thicker than Water2007DocumentarySurfingThe Endless Summer1966DocumentarySurfingThe Endless Summer II1994DocumentarySurfingDrift2013DramaSurfingPalm Beach1980DramaSurfingPuberty Blues1981DramaSurfingWomen in surf1986DocumentarySurfingPuberty Blues (TV series)2012TV seriesSwimmingThe 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 seriesSwimming Streamline2021DramaStory of a teenage swimmer who faces problems after his father leaves jail.WindsurfingWindrider1986DramaWomen's sportThe Game is Up!1993DocumentaryHistorical look at women in sport in Australia between 1896 and 1956.YachtingAussie Assault1984DocumentaryStory of Australia II winning the 1983 America's Cup.YachtingThe Challenge1986TV Mini-seriesStory of Australia II winning the 1983 America's CupYachtingKay 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 Watson 2010DocumentaryIn 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
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.