Blessed

The Breakout Year of Rampaging Roy Slaven

By: John Doyle

Narrated by: John Doyle

Who is Rampaging Roy Slaven? An Australian icon, a raconteur, an athlete of unsurpassable - and some may say improbable - sporting feats. Whether it was riding Rooting King to another Melbourne Cup victory, commentating the Olympics or hobnobbing with the country's upper crust, Rampaging Roy Slaven has lived an extraordinary life.

But even some of the greatest men come from humble beginnings. Before he shot to fame as Australia's most talented sportsman, he was just another kid in Lithgow, trying to avoid Brother Connell's strap and garner the attention of Susan Morgan from the local Catholic girls school.

Blessed follows one year in the life of the boy who would become Rampaging Roy Slaven, a boy who, even at the age of fifteen, knew he was destined for greatness but had to get through high school first.

John Doyle, the man who knows him best, delves into the early years of the master of midfield mayhem.

Solid but ....well...just solid

Not much here. a simple story that moves a little. Without the names Slaven and Doyle this would be a zero. Needed more humour or a richer story

Loved the relationship of Roy with his mum .. and ‘the brothers’ .. and the tundra

This is to The Castle what Curb your enthusiasm is to Seinfeld. Absolutely brilliant John. Shoulders have been shaking and some uncontrollable snorts of laughter and tears on my morning bus trips. Haven’t had a 7 hour trip down memory lane and comedy session like this since I went 3 back to back ‘Bludging’ shows on route with the family to Byron. Brilliantly written and brought to life for the ultimate in Audible experience with your narration. Well done. Compulsory listening for all Australians .. old and new .. especially if you’ve ever been a 15yo boy or been the mum of one. We all need more Roy in our lives xx

Not great, Roy

Becomes an anti Catholic polemic, and I am no Catholic, so hugely disappointing. Much of promise in the Doyle/Slavin story, but there is real confusion between the fictional and real persons in this story, and it seems that the possibility of joy has been compromised in the interests of jihad. HG's story of life in the Barossa is at least better if entertainment without sermonising is the goal, although even that is not up to their 80s peak.