Almanac Footy: Stubbornness Got Me This Far
Stubbornness Got Me This Far
It hurts.
And maybe more than that, it drains you, your energy, your strength. The things you use to play good football. So it goes, so it goes. Even at my age, late 50s, there are new experiences to be had with footy. Not being picked for either team in Round One may be new, but it’s also horrible.
The club has numbers this year. All the new reserves recruits from Geelong make the drive up to train, to be a part of the club, to hang around for a meal and a beer on Thursday night, so no beef there. They give back, they understand it’s local football.
The co-coaches want new blood, faster legs, ten year men. There’s youth about, I can’t argue with any of it.
My body’s all out of whack. Routine has got me this far, in my un-routine life. Diet, mostly. Even now my food and fluids intake is always, come footy season, AFL standard. But tonight, Friday, I had sour cream and cheese on my baked spud. Fatty foods. I haven’t pumped myself with water, carbs, anti inflams! Haha. It makes me feel overweight and lazy.
There’s just so much on with a 7 year old, and long days of work in the bush, and trying to write, and maintain the farm, and be a husband. Time-crushed, I had a short pre-season this year, the shortest ever, bar that summer I tried to retire by going to Cuba. My first Saturday back was Round 3. I drifted down to Simpson to cheer on the boys, say g’day to a few. Somebody threw me some boots, and out I shuffled, sweating out copious amounts of Club Havana! That was it! I was hooked. Trained three nights a week and won the league ressies B&F at 40.
17 years ago.
The hunger’s still there. Not sure what I’ll do about it. Especially if the numbers remain good. And I hope for the club they do. Way, way more than my playing future, I want the club to have a future, to be strong on the field and off it, to have numbers, this year and forever.
THE MIGHTY OTWAY DISTRICTS!
Otway is my club, my family. I doubt I could play against them, but the next nearest league is 1hr 20 min away, on roads, riddled at night by kangaroos and wallabies. Driving there three times a week, even two, would be wasted time a family man doesn’t have, money gone on fuel, lots of native wildlife dying on the roads while I passed the 12 Apostles.
I don’t mind distance, never have, or a challenge. Playing in the North Queensland cane fields took 1 ½ hours to get to training, never missed a session, not even when my back was throbbing from a full day splitting rocks while track building. But the kid was a baby then, too young to miss me. I got to know and drink with the best mob of blokes ever! With a 7 year old it would be hard to buy in to a club and its culture from such a distance.
I’d just be another one of those awful blow-throughs, who rock up on a Saturday, play, then are gone again, without you learning anything about them.
Besides, Otway and I fit. Always have and will.
It’s a pickle.
For now, I’m offering to run water for all four grades in the rain tomorrow. Stay fit, even if not body tough, in case down the line we lose a few soldiers. I’m looking forward to the Under 12s the most. Burner will be coaching, and he is the best, most genuine bloke you could ever meet, just plain honest and friendly. No wonder he’s our club captain.
To get an up-close view of him marshalling the little troupes will be sensational.
As for the rest, I’ll simply keep training. Beyond that, we’ll just have to suss out what happens. Maybe I’ll kick a few ankles.
719 games. Stubbornness got me this far, it will see me right again.
More from Matt Zurbo HERE.
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Country footy clubs exist because of the commitment and dedication of people such as you Old Dog. Well done!
No one ever said if only I’d spent less time with my family. David Parkin and Ron Iddles Homicide Cop mentioned how many significant family events they missed. Your daughter will appreciate the time you have prioritised with her
“To every thing, turn, turn, there is a season, turn, turn, and a time for every purpose under heaven” Or something like that…Noelmc is right, in the hospice, nobody ever wishes they spent more time in the office. Spend it with your wife and daughter, spend it with the young blokes in the club, clubs like Otway need blokes like you, just as much as they need players. Better to go out leaving the audience wanting more than make a goose of yourself going too slow. My time came in basketball at 47, so you have done much better. well played.
An incredible number of games and devotion Matt. Congratulations but somehow I think game 720 may well occur at some stage! Cheers
It is tough when the time comes, old dog.
My time came at the spritely age of 32.
But Otway need people like you, whether playing or not.
“Otway and I fit”. Maybe that line says it all.
Truly remarkable commitment huge admiration OD
Wow. Thanks for posting this. I have recently rekindled my interest in country footy/culture. I concur with the above. You seem to have reasoned it all out very well. I look forward to reading about your next playing adventure sometime early this season with you Ottway family.