Garry Hocking's flight into the pantheon of AFL greats has been an epic story of grit, guts, determination and raw talent. Like the proverbial rough diamond, Hocking or 'Buddha' as he is affectionately known by friends, family and fans alike, started out in the hothouse of AFL football as a shy, naive, rabble-rousing troublemaker more concerned with winning over his team mates than cementing his place in the senior squad. More than 200 games later, Hocking is a stalwart of the Geelong Football Club and a consummate footballer who leads from the front, plays the game hard and tells it like it is.
This candid, poignant autobiography reveals a different, richly human side to a sportsman who is infamous for dishing out hard knocks, but who has also copped his fair share along the way.