Neil Sachse was a deeply fascinating character.
 
A young man whose natural athletic talents made him a star of Australian Football at North Adelaide. He was part of a side declared 'Champions of Australia' after winning the SANFL premiership and then defeating Victorian premiers Carlton by one point in 1972.
 
He was recruited by Footscray as part of a bold plan to make the Bulldogs the best side in Victoria but in his second match he suffered a catastrophic injury that rendered him a quadraplegic. His injury shocked the VFL and sent ripples through the lives of those around him. 
 
As a young father of two boys, he put away bitterness and spent the rest of his life working as a disability advocate and promoting pioneering medical research into spinal injuries.  It wasn't the life he wanted but it was what he had and writing his book involved finding out how he did it and what impacts he had.
 
It is a story of the human spirit.
 
As Bruce McAvaney put it 'Neil has always refused to be defined by his accident. His strength of character and determination is truly inspirational.'