The Merger (2018), directed by Mark Grentell

The Bodgy Creek Roosters haven’t won a game in three years; they lack the players to make up a full team; and their asbestos-ridden clubrooms have been condemned. Troy Carrington was a local hero who made it to the AFL, but now he is hermit - regarded as a town killer after his activism resulted in closure of the timber mill. Can he really turn around the fortunes of the team and the town by involving the controversial refugee centre? It will come as no surprise to discover the answer is yes; the fun is in the journey Troy takes to arrive there. The messages of inclusivity and diversity are not subtle, but the film is nevertheless both heartwarming and funny as Troy forges a group of misfits and no-hopers into a true team. Comedian Damien Callinan adapted the screenplay from his own one-man play and stars as Troy. Some very familiar faces ably support him, including John Howard, Penny Cook, Kate Mulvaney and Angus McLaren, as well as newcomers Fayssal Bazzi and Rafferty Grierson. It is not often that the end credits of a film are greeted with an outbreak of applause. The Merger is a welcome addition to the ‘Aussie as’ genre.