First Bounce: Little Isaac Footy Fever 1 by Isaac Heeney

From one of the AFL’s most-loved and high-flying elite footballers comes a terrific junior fiction series that celebrates the joy of sport, the thrill of teamwork, the importance of learning from mistakes and the love of the game.

Little Isaac LOVES playing soccer and NRL with his mates. But he’s got so much energy to spare. He wishes there was a sport where he could run all over the field, jump, tackle, and use up all the fizzy feelings in his legs.

When Pop gives him his old faded AFL footy, Isaac might have found the answer. Soon Isaac and his big brother Beau are practising Aussie Rules every day and bursting to play.

But will Isaac and Beau ever find enough keen friends to form a team? And if he finally gets his opportunity to play a real game, will he be any good?

A terrific sports series from Sydney Swans superstar Isaac Heeney, with award-winning author Nicole Hayes, and illustrations by Dan McGuiness, illustrator of the bestselling Hot Dog series by Anh Do.

Perfect for:
– Young footy fans
– Encouraging sporty kids to pick up a book – the Little Isaac books are a great fun read, with low word count and black and white illustrations
– Gift-buyers looking for footy-themed junior fiction novels for sporty kids

Collect the whole series:
– First Bounce: Little Isaac Footy Fever 1
– Game On: Little Isaac Footy Fever 2
– Super Swan: Little Isaac Footy Fever 3

A brilliant sports series that will entertain young readers, inspire kids to be active and healthy, and encourage them to find fun and friendship in sport, by All-Australian Sydney Swans AFL superstar Isaac Heeney.

About the Author: Isaac Heeney is one of the AFL’s most loved players. A Sydney Swans superstar and All-Australian, he is known for his high-flying marks, toughness and leadership. Off the field, he is a proud country boy with a passion for fishing, surfing and the outdoors. Isaac has a special connection with young fans and is often described as the ‘king of the kids’, especially through the school holiday AFL camps he runs.

Nicole Hayes is an award-winning writer and podcaster, and a popular writing teacher. She is also a founding member of the groundbreaking, all-female AFL podcast and radio show, The Outer Sanctum, which won an AFL Media Award and a Sport Australia Award for coverage of women’s footy. She has a PhD in Creative Writing.

Dan McGuiness is an author and illustrator based in South Australia. He began his career with the children’s graphic-novel series Pilot and Huxley, published in multiple countries. He has illustrated books for many Australian authors, including the hugely successful Hot Dog series by Anh Do.

04 Aug 2026
 

First Bounce: Little Isaac Footy Fever 1 by Isaac Heeney ISBN 9781761182631