David ‘Junio’ Nisbet, after the day’s play in which his side won The Blouse Cup, named in honour of his dad, Rob.
By ANDREW “DOUGIE” FRASER
This was remembrance as it should be: short, understated. Quintessentially Australian.
The ACT Masters AFL community gathered on Saturday (December 14) at Reid Oval, in the shadows of the War Memorial, to remember Big Rob “Blouse” Nisbet, thirteen years and a day since he dropped at training and didn’t return, at that very same oval.
The Masters boys, stretching from the 30-somethings to the septuagenarian, played in various combinations, with extra contingents coming from the ANU, the Weston Creek Wildcats and the Belconnen Magpies, where Blouse’s son, David, aka “Junior”, and his son, Tyler, both play.
Matches were of 12-minute halves on “summer rules”, meaning limited contact, handovers when the ball hits the deck and various other exceedingly sensible variations when you have young bucks running around with grand-dads.
The respect and love for Blouse is such that not only is there a match-day set aside near the anniversary of his death, but an annual club golf day as well.
Current club leader Matt Gately spoke briefly at the start on Saturday, welcoming the other clubs and saying just a few words about the day before a minute’s silence for Blouse.
After that, “Gaters” introduced former captain-coach, Alan “Chopper” Reid, who said a few brief words about our great mate, who reached only 52. Blouse had been not only the president who had put Masters footy in the capital firmly on the map. He had been a leading figure in the national administration; a guiding mentor for many juniors, including coaching a side with Chopper in the Barassi Youth Tournament; and a perennial volunteer for anything to facilitate or promote the playing of footy.
He was a champion father and husband and it was a particular joy that his widow, Ros, was able to attend this year, now living again a bit closer to Canberra after several years in Rockhampton. It was a special joy for some of us old-timers, no longer playing but who had played with Blouse (Chopper, Gary “Sharkie” Whytcross, John “Snowy” Nugent and your correspondent), to sit with Ros and share some memories and catch up on where we’d all got to over the past decade and a bit.
Chop hit on Blouse’s defining characteristic to conclude: his big heart, which included him staying on at training some nights (until 2am on occasion, Ros recalled, with eyebrows raised) because there seemed to be some younger, unsavoury elements hanging around the area and they might have been going to have a crack at the riches of our training shed after we went home. Blouse was always the one opening up and cleaning up, getting approval from the government for ground hire, and generally making sure the rest of us could just turn up and have a kick.
My over-arching memory of his kindness was when I was his “President’s pick” to join him on Princes Park in “The Allies” Masters side versus Combined Victoria in a curtain-raiser to the 2002 EJ Whitten Legends Game. I can assure you that I was not there on form. Blouse, first ruckman, was of course, as was then captain-coach “Filthy” Phil Adams and perennial goal sneak “Uncle” Wayne Bodsworth. I got the fourth ACT spot in the Allies side simply because I followed Carlton and had been hanging around the ACT club for some years and getting us a little publicity, and Blouse thought it would be nice. That was one of his greatest understatements.
All these and many more memories came cascading down on us all on Saturday as we watched the lads play out half a dozen games of “footy for fun”.
The skills of the former first-graders were still evident: Dave Skuta’s laser-like left slipper, Eric Bowman’s certain eye and safe hands, and the indefatigable Leigh McPhan, 67 and on one leg, pushing himself to spaces that those decades younger weren’t getting to.
Others of course were of greatly varying quality, showing the true beauty of Masters, everyone having a go and everyone getting a go. Just how Blouse would have wanted things.
Blokes like your correspondent, who hadn’t played in 15 years, were welcomed to watch those still going around. The barbecue, so often manned by Blouse, was wheeled out once more and what had traditionally been “Uncle Bods’ Bar” (the esky) saw solid service in younger hands this time out. Only after midday, of course.
A grand day with a hundred memories.
The best for me was standing with Ros as son “Junior” and grandson Tyler walked out together for the second half of one of their games.
“Look at the pair of them,” said a beaming Ros. Same features, same walk, same ready smiles.
There just should have been a third one in the line-up.
Read more from Dougie Fraser HERE
To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
Brilliant Dougie ? So good seeing you, Chop & Angry, oops i mean Snowy ?
Makin Memories
Bowie