Mark Ricciuto is a true champion of AFL. In the decade and a half since he was signed by the Adelaide Crows his list of achievements has been extraordinary. He has played over 300 premiership games in the quickest time on record - only 13 years and 83 days. He won the Brownlow Medal in 2003; was the Crows' Best and fairest in 1998, 2003 and 2004, and Best Team Man 1994 and 2003. He was an All-Australian in 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 (captain) and 2005 (captain); and represented his country in the International Rules Series in 1998 and 2000. He has been club captain since 2001.
It's a remarkable record for a boy from the Riverland, whose early life was spent on the family 40-acre fruit block, and where hard work and family values became second nature to him. Roo is his story, revealing the man himself both off the field and on it. Shane Mensforth is an ex-teacher who turned to journalism when he decided he really didn't like other people's kids. He has been heavily involved in outdoors writing for over 20 years and has recently turned his hand to penning the life stories of high profile sporting personalities. He rates Mark Ricciuto's biography as his most challenging, yet most enjoyable work.
