The ultimate inside story about football. In 1977, writer John Powers was a fly on the wall at the North Melbourne Football Club when revered coach Ron Barassi was in control. The book that emerged from that season, 'The Coach', recorded the months of often brutal training leading up to the spine-tingling Grand Final draw between North Melbourne and Collingwood, and on to North Melbourne's ultimate victory. Nominated as 'the bible on motivation' by 'The Age' newspaper, this account of the team's massive commitment and Barassi's extraordinary motivation techniques is as relevant and fascinating today as it was in 1978. Republished nearly three decades on, with Ron Barassi's own reflections on that amazing season and a new introduction by John Powers.