We arrived in the land of big things and took in the new ground. Metricon Stadium has a roof like a crinkle cut potato chip; a really big potato chip. It curves around the top of the stadium in a horse shoe shape leaving one end open to the world like a giant front door.
What does Metricon mean? What do they do? I believe they build things.
In Queensland they are trying to build another football team; the Suns. But football teams are made of people. The building process is infinitely complicated. At least they have a home.
They’ll assemble the Suns’ squad around a muscular, sporting freak. A man who can swivel and baulk with magic in his legs. The ball sits in his hands with the same ease that a bunch of grapes lay in the grasp of a Roman Emperor and he kicks it with uncanny precision. He can also run this bloke. It’s an interesting gait that he has; hunched at the shoulders, low like a prowling leopard, a combination of burst and bust. His shiny, sweaty head makes him look even more poised in full flight. He’s my little bald mate. He’s Gazza.
I’ll play on Gazza but not the one I know. He won’t be wearing the blue and white hooped jumper that was once tattooed onto his body; he’ll be wearing the jarring red guernsey of the Gold Coast Suns. It sits awkwardly on his frame like a hat on a horse. He’s now our foe. But how can he be an enemy? We both have the same premiership medallions forged out of blood and sweat and worn around our necks on those last Saturdays in September 2007 and 2009. We’re brothers. Isn’t that what premierships do, make men brothers?
But once he puts on his new red armour we must try to bring him down. We’ll batter him, pound him, and exhaust him until his skill is blunted. It’s an outrage. Scotty wants me to stay goal side of him. I’ll do my best, but it will be a bit like staying goal side of the equator. You can’t simply corner a player like Gazza for the same reasons that you can’t hold back water with an open hand or crush the human spirit by erecting a wall.
The scoreboard doesn’t matter. We’ll win. A bigger battle will be unfolding; the battle with ourselves. When we crunch Gazza we’ll be crunching a little piece of us, when we sing the song in the rooms after the game a note will be missing.
The fireworks blast off, the first siren sounds, and we go after Gazza. We block him, cajole him, and harass him. But it seems the Suns have the planets aligned. Kids with pimples and blotchy arms kick some goals and we look old; old and tired. We feel old. The ball is falling their way because they haven’t been around long enough to question its shape. Experience tells players to be wary of the oval ball, to acknowledge the absurdity of the unpredictable bounce. But a lot of the Suns have no experience. The ball is the toy and the paddock is the stage and they want to play.
Names are placed in the reference library of my mind for future seasons; Zac Smith, McKenzie, Swallow, Weller, May, Krakouer. The Suns are 21 points clear. Incredible. We’re scrapping our way around the turf like a walrus on the sand. Red flags and music bursts greet moments of joy for the Suns. In the first half they have nine of them.
I find Gazza at the centre bounces when it’s my turn to block out the sun in the light towers. With each attack he takes longer to get up. Skill is succumbing to the brutality of defence. We are taking turns to knock the stuffing out of him. It seems to me that as Gazza’s energy is sapped so the shine of the young Suns fades. He’s the barometer, the peg in the ground upon which the Sun’s tent will be hitched. When it’s loosed so are they. They are learning about the value of physical strength; of concerted, unflinching concentration. But they are learning quickly.
Johnno plucks the ball inside our forward fifty like he’s picking apples from a tree and kicks four goals in the third quarter. The kids with pimples and blotchy arms fall apart like wet paper. Pods grabs the ball out of the sky, we win it in the middle and slice through their hearts like a fisherman gutting a trout. Thirteen goals to one after half time kill the red army’s joy.
He went to Queensland for the challenge, for the opportunity to be part of something new, to lead a team of youngsters to the dais on Grand Final day. He plays in a team whose front door is wide open, welcoming the locals to be involved in the story. One day they might get there and if they do Gazza will have another family of premiership brothers, but I still think he’ll call Geelong home.
About Damian O'Donnell
I'm passionate about breathing. And you should always chase your passions. If I read one more thing about what defines leadership I think I'll go crazy. Go Cats.
Dips – The way you were travelling in the first half, I reckon you might actually have been one of the Geelong players. Once they subbed you off at half time the team came good.
AF – what are you suggesting? That I’m old and fat and slow??
The Suns actually impressed me a lot (even though the Cats were awful early). They’ll be good in a few years, especially up there. The young fella McKenzie is the best kick of the football I’ve seen since Jarman.
Here’s a record of my stats from Saturday night: 0-0-0 = 0
Nice one Dips.
Was that interchange infringement because Geelong wrote O’Donnell on the sheet instead of Hawkins?
You’re not fat Dips.
I agree re Trent McKenzie. Played his early junior football at Altona before coming across to Williamstown for a couple of years prior to getting selected by the GC. I think he is a relative (nephew?) of Williamstown Team of the Century player Brett McTaggart.
Dips, if you’re fat, I hate to think what I am.
I think you Geelong folk are very nice and forgiving. If Judd left Carlton we’d want his blood.
For a young side I thought the Suns put up a good fight.
Seeing the comraderie between Gazza and Geelong players after the game reminded me again to not soak up the media’s views verbatim. There was genuine love and respect, built from years of knowing and trusting one another. These are profound and resiliant qualities. For all the superficial analysis of whether someone is following the money there has been scant regard given to what the players truly know and think of each other. We got a glimpse after the siren sounded.
Cheers
Another area where the Cats have set a very high bar.
Will it be the same when the stars start to leave Collingwood. I’dd like to see that.
Phantom – excellent point. I wander if Pie supporters will go nuts when Daisy kicks a long 60m bomb from the uranium enrichment plant side of the GWS stadium in his new orange and grey jumper.
Oh, you are a naughty boy Dips.
Did anyone catch a glimpse, late in the game, of the banner held up by some bloke inviting ‘Chaaaaaaaaapy’ to have breakfast in bed with his wife?
(Well that’s not exactly what it said, but as this is a family blog I can’t repeat the exact wording)
Phantom – saw that and had a giggle. Chappy is so reliable.
I also saw the sign and wasn’t so impressed. But I suppose if you are at risk of losing more players to interstate clubs, and you aren’t confident that your offering is going to be sufficient to make them stay, you have to provide more. Especially if history has already shown star players and successful coaches are very keen to leave. You have to introduce additional incentives for players. However, if I was Chappie, I would want to see some photos before making any decision.
He was asking ‘Chaaaaapy’ not you Andrew.
I found the whole game difficult to take. Seeing Geelong players trying to tackle Ablett instead of blocking for him just didn’t look right. Seeing Ablett running at full speed in the opposite direction to the Geelong goal looked even worse. At least we won. Not looking forward to the day when the Ablett Suns actually beat us.
Regarding Chappy: I think he was distracted by that sign. He had three shots at goal and missed them all.
GigStat: GONE MISSING – D O’Donnnell, no touches, last 120 minutes.
Cats dual premiership stars (apart from Dips) sign for life.
Collywood single premiership stars sign for one year.
Thats show biz baby.
Dips, very creative way of telling the yarn. I think R. Kane’s point re the media constructing the terms of the discussion is a good one. More on that from me tomorrow, once I have a few things out of the way today. I am also enjoying the AF style of jousting. Very parliamentary. Menzies: the member ofr Woop Woop has the brains of a sheep. Speaker: retract that statement. Menzies: the member ofr Woop Woop does not have the brains of a sheep.
Gold Coast did well for the first half and could be a a very good team in four or five years. As a Geelong supporter, I was pleased with the Geelong players treatment of Ablett during and after the game. I agree with Rick Kane’s comment on the media. Most of the mainstream media coverage of AFL football is trivial and celebrity nonsense. On the question of Gary Ablett, I believe he was given an offer that he could not refuse; it was reported to be $1.8 million dollars per year for five years with most of it to be paid in the first few years. Ablett gave great service to Geelong for nine years and will be remembered as a great player. The Gold Coast offer to Ablett reminds me of what the great Bob Rose once said. He left Collingwood in the late 1950’s to coach Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray League for more than double money. Apparently, He was earning 400 pounds a year at Collingwood and Wangaratta Rovers offered him 1,000 pounds a year. He said it was like winning Tattslotto. I have great memories of watching Rose play for Wang. Rovers, especially the 1962 O & M League grand final; he was a fantastic footballer.
Mark – Bobby Davis retired from football because the media offered him a better deal. I think he was only 28.
I’ve heard a few commentators saying that Geelong players showed too much love to Gazza after the game.If Gold Coast were at the top of the table and a September rival this might be valid, but given they are not I thought the scenes after the game were very uplifting.
JB Can’t see why Carlton should be more upset than Geelong about mercenary behaviour if Judd were to go. After all that was how you got Judd in the first place.
Phanto, your comments about Magpie players going to GWs are becoming increasingly shrill. Is this a sign that you are finally realising that none of our key player are leaving? Daisy Thomas, after his brilliant last few weeks, will be getting a lot more money next year, but he will be getting it from the Pies not the Giants.
great read dips – really craving cheese and onion now, or even chicken perhaps….
surely you’d be better than karmichael hunt, ok his goal was good but goal of the year?? (as some have said)
bartels in round one or any one of thomas’
Dave,
As a good Collingwood man, you know both clubs look at it as a one-way transaction.
However you enter the tribe, you don’t leave.
Dan – Chappy kicks goals like Carmichael Hunt’s every week!!
Dave,
those one year contracts are interesting.
If every one at Collywood is to get remuneration commensurate with their superstar premiership player status next year (when ten premiership players will be out of contract) there will have to be some salary cap pressure unless there is some special deal akin to the you don’thave to travel clause.
Those who miss out, and some will have to, will move on and subsequently the list will be weakened. It’s not rocket science.
Currently injuries are a challenge at Collywood as they are at all clubs. You don’t want grumpy monkies going elsewhere after they fill in for the injured superstars only to be dropped when the finals campaign that they underpinned starts.
Why would Collywood have a different dynamic to all the other clubs?
I am sure that Collingwood will eventually lose players through salary cap pressure but they will not lose their top players. A lot of experienced players left at the end of last year. That decreased salary cap pressure. Two out of Tarrant, Davis and Johnson will be veterans next year (and the third may well retire if we win a second flag). Many of our best players are young and can be offered structured contracts because they will be at the club long enough to collect if the contracts are backended. Even though our seconds “lack depth” we do have a few players struggling to force their way into the firsts who would look good at GWS.
With free agency looming and Collingwood having a lot of young talented players there might be problems holding players in the future but it won’t happen until long after the Gold Coast/GWS special concessions have passed
Good Dave,
that looks like you are shifting a bit. Pleased to have been of assistance in this important break through in attitude adjustment. We can add another quality to the list for Pies supporters: strategically flexible.
I still strongly believe that one, or more, of your big boys will go soon.
Phantoms listen to the drums. (Old Jungle Saying)
“Sometimes drums miss the beat. (Old Pie saying or actually, Saying of Old Pie.)
You and him travel to the beat of a different drum (old Mike Nesmith/Linda Rondstadt saying) :)
It will be interesting to see how much Collingwood bleat about the salary cap pressure on stars and how many they are able to keep. More importantly, will the top tier take reduced contracts to be part of an era, or will they take the crazy money?
I am not bitter about Gary going, as that has allowed many who were in his shadow to bloom in the light (thinks, James Kelly). I was impressed by the fact that the game plan against Gazza was so subtle and profound and above all else, effective. Never has he had 30 touches to so little effect, and the give+go which was the foundation stone of his game was utterly obliterated.
I am proud that we didn’t need to go the cheap shot to make our point, and that the context of the contest was highlighted both by he and Bomber Thompson sitting together at Bob Davis’ funeral service, and by the expressions of respect and genuine undying cameraderie after the game. Kudos to Gary for that as well.
The willingness of key players to committ to, and to receive long term committments from the club also speaks volumes of a deep club culture that is vastly more appealing than the superficial flirtations evident in certain some other clubs. Stars such as Selwood, Bartel, Scarlet and Kelly are now, and will always be Cats.
As will I.
Rick,
I suppose we are double or quits(ing) on that Freddo Frog for the next game. They seem to come around nearly as quickly as the Pies get the weaker teams at the “G”.
I am still owed two Chokitos and a Caramello bear from the last time we played the Hawks. What is it with you guys? You put enormous pressure on me for a bet then you don’t pay.
Here endeth the lesson Richard. And a dam fine lesson if I say so.
Mr Phantomman
I’m very much looking forward to the re-match and getting my hands on the (chocolate) prize! But first, we take Fremantle (to misquote Mr Cohen). Cheers
The incredible imbalance of footy reporting and representation was inadvertently highlighted in a segment of The Marngrook Footy Show tonight.
Andrew Krakouer was the special guest. After highlighting several of his great marks and extraordinary goals Gilbert McAdam took pause. He raised the issue of when Krakouer made a x sign with his arms after kicking a goal. The issue had been the subject of great debate in the mainstream footy media when it occured.
McAdam said, “Andrew, you brought a tear to my eye when you sent a message to your brother. It really took my breath away. I knew you as a kid and with what you’ve been through, it was just …” and he trailed off. Andrew replied, “I am honoured that you would say that”. He went on to explain that he wasn’t trying to offend anyone. He had spoken to his brother earlier in the day and his brother had asked him to give him a sign when he scored a goal. “It was for my brother, no one else”. The conversation was touching and genuine. You almost felt like you were eavesdropping.
In all the discussion about Krakouer’s gesture, I haven’t heard one commentator say that it almost brought him/her to tears. Wow! That’s a story, that’s footy right there. Brothers, family, struggles, hard work, luck, belief, and within the corporate controls of the product we know as Australian Rules, individuals will still find individual ways to show the undying determination that the circle be unbroken.
Cheers
I reacted as you did Rick. I hope some of the tabloid reporters who tried to get a cheap “outrage” story out of Krakouer’s gesture were watching the Marn Grook show tonight, but I suspect even if they were they wouldn’t have “got it”
Rick – great point you make. I take no offense at all if a bloke wants to make some sort of gesture so long is its not an obviously insulting one. The other great gesture of course was Nicky Winmar’s jumper lift – what a profound impact that had. And Damian Oliver’s signal to the heavens after his Melbourne Cup victory in memory of his brother.
This all goes to one of my great gripes with the modern media – they want to make the news not report it. They sit in anticipation of a bloke like Krakouer doing something that they can jump on. They even made a story of the banner held up at Metricon Stadium last week where a bloke was suggesting to Chappy that he would let him roll with his wife in the hay. How pathetic. Was it bad taste? Probably but is there no humour anymore?
As the great Neil Young sings on his magnificent album called Greendale:
“They (the media) don’t have any respect, so they’ll get none of mine.”
Or as little Elvis (that’s Elvis Costello) said about radio: “I wanna bite the hand that feeds me, I wanna bite that hand so badly”.
I was aghast when I saw the sign from the Gold Coast game but more angered that Channel10 or 7 or whoever chose to screen it. It’s one thing for a dickhead to make a throwback banner that maybe 10,000 might see, it’s another thing for the TV station to screen it for upwards of hundreds of thousands. There is also the messaging behind screening the banner (which was not solely done in good humour) and that is to reinforce a balance of superiority of the more cultured (gentrified) states against our more simple new friends. Ie.- They have a lot to learn (from us). It was a cheap gag but an even cheaper shot.
Cheers