The Geometry of Tom Harley
by Andrew Gaylard
That these two lines will meet there is no doubt:
A burly forward leading from the square,
The footy’s arc descending through the air;
They will converge just thirty metres out.
Then from an angle, running back without
A hesitation and without a care
For safety, just in time arriving there,
He leaps and clears the Sherrin with a clout.
Tom Harley got to contests every week,
Knowing no other way except to run
Direct to his objective. Tough as teak,
A number two who played as number one.
This maxim to his legacy equate:
The shortest line between two points is straight.
About Andrew Gaylard
Andrew used to do computers; now he does books and writing. 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2022 were particularly good years in his football-following life.
Very Good Andrew: and if I may indulge myself with some vernacular verse
Alas our champ Tom Harley’s gone
but Happy Harry’s joined the throng
he will now bang Tommy’s gong
and sing out loud the Toreador Song
Steven Wells and calm Neil Balm
hold our future in their palms
they search the cities hunt the farms
to catch more Cats with special charms
fear not attrition Cats are hardy
they’re lining up to join the party
they come mature, skilled, cultured, arty
that’s why we signed Podsiadly
Why is it that people named Andrew G seem to be so talented, I wonder?