It's a rough game and she's a gentle voice, humorous and knowing. That last word – knowing – matters. C.L.R. James, the Trinidadian who was one of the great sports writers of the 20th century, said sports writers with no knowledge of technique are condemned to mere impressionism. Alicia's contribution to From The Outer is a word painting of what footy meant to her as a 19-year-old which includes, as one of its impressions, the way Hawthorn goal ace Jason Dunstall leaned the moment before he exploded on the lead. And he did – like a tree about to fall.

I haven't met Nicole Hayes, the collection's other editor. But, having read Nicole's article, I was reminded of another literary favourite, James Joyce, saying that the measure of art is the depth from which it proceeds. Football is ultimately a players' game and Nicole's autobiographical story is about a player who wasn't allowed to play because she was a girl. Now a mature woman running a lap of a local oval, she pauses to watch a girl being coached at cricket and reflect that times have changed

Nicole and Alicia met at the footy – both are Hawthorn fans. Their aim was to put together a collection of footy writing that "wrested control away from the usual suspects" and handed the microphone to "fans from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds". Jason Tuazon McCheyne's piece is about setting up an Essendon supporters' group, the Purple  Bombers, for LGBTI people. The person who emerges well from the story, being open and generous with the group, is club captain Brendon Goddard.

Miriam Sved is a gay woman who came late to the game and fell in love with it. The first footballer to take her eye was Daisy Thomas, then in his brave, skinny, skilful prime at Collingwood. In about 200 words, she paints a portrait of him as a footballer that's as sharp as glass. Later, however, she encounters cultural attitudes within the game which disturb her and falls out of love with footy. Now, like another contributor, Sydney author and football historian Erin Riley, she sits on the periphery of the game.

(All I would say to women who are seriously concerned about the cultural attitudes within the game is to make sure they talk to women who are actually in the game, for whom football is part of their daily lives because they work at clubs or actually play the game. People like Peta Searle, another contributor to this collection. There is more than one narrative here).

The editors also wanted to challenge "the arts-versus-sports discourse. In fact, it shouldn't even be a competition". Demet Divaroren was born in Turkey and barracks for the Western Bulldogs. There is something about her piece on the Dogs that is as clear and as pure as a tune played on a tin whistle. One person who will hum along with her tune is Bob Murphy.

The collection starts with a bang – an open letter by AFL goal umpire Chelsea Roffey to the voice of doubt in her head which, not surprisingly, is male. If you have ever watched Roffey behind the goals, poised and precise, and wondered what sort of person she is, here's the answer. She's smart and sassy and ultra-determined, and when she writes the words ring in your ear.

A former member of the Queensland Symphonic Wind Orchestra, she seems to have taken on anything and everything that has come her way in life. Her mother always said she had FOMO – fear of missing out.

Reading Roffey's piece reminded me of how brave a goal umpire has to be or, as she writes, "reasoning with Fraser Gehrig when he's got an opponent in a headlock is a bit like trying to wrestle a bone from the mouth of a Doberman". Jarrad Waite planted one of his size 14 boots on her neck flying for a goalsquare mark and she has been on the end of a Drew Petrie smother.

She also talks about what underwear she favours beneath her game-day uniform and the comments she cops about it from over the fence. She finishes her letter by thanking the voice of doubt in her head. His continual discouragement has fuelled her ambition.

The book also contains Stan Grant's piece on the Adam Goodes drama which appeared in The Guardian in July 2015. Most people applaud its politics but I also applaud it as journalism. Grant allows every one of his opponents' arguments space, but then proceeds to make his point in a way that is dignified and telling. Written during a raging controversy, it's a beautifully weighted piece.

There's lots of good stuff in this book. Tony Birch tells the Fitzroy story as only a true Fitzroy man can. Sophie Cunningham likens becoming a Geelong fan in the 1990s to "falling for the depressive bloke who tells good jokes at parties but always leaves early and alone". Harsh, but memorable.

Rebecca Lim writes with clarity and passion about footy's history in the Asian Australian community, author Christos Tsiolkas maps the history of one gay man's passion for the game with his customary gusto while the luminous spirit of Leila Gurruwiwi shines through her prose as it does through her television persona … I could go on. If I was to review this collection for a literary magazine, I'd say all played well.