Alive And Kicking

The Queenstown Crows represent over one hundred years of economic rationalisation that has seen them become the 'last team' in a town that once boasted ten clubs. They play on a unique gravel-surfaced oval, nestled in the midst of a range of barren, blighted hills. They're proud of the oval but their pride is not shared by opposition teams.

This four part series, directed by Steve Thomas and produced by Kath Symmons, looks at how four rural communities are keeping Australian football alive and kicking in the bush. The Tamar Cats were born out of the amalgamation between arch rivals, Beaconsfield and Beauty Point, two Northern Tasmanian towns separated by 5km and a world of tradition. The club's fortunes over the past few years have not been good and this has led to a decline in both attendances and the amenities.

Australian country football. It's been called a morality play; community theatre in a paddock. The football clubs have always been the heartbeat of rural communities - a barometer of social well-being. If the local club is going well, everyone in town walks that little bit taller and no matter where you finish on the ladder, the beginning of each new season brings fresh hopes and dreams. This four part series looks at how four rural communities are keeping Australian football alive and kicking in the bush.