Fearless 2019 – Round 11: The Sir Doug Nicholls Round continues…. & Trevor Barker

St.Kilda fans were arguably robbed of history when Trevor Barker died aged 39. Already a Premiership Coach in the VFA with Sandringham, Barker was widely seen to be the logical coach for St.KIlda in their quest for Premiership number 2. The bloke was a legend and deservedly feted as such.

 

Today’s interview in the Herald Sun with Trevor’s mum Norma captures everything that’s great about footy and life, despite its heartbreaking content.

 

I had the privilege of meeting Trevor as the owner of the King Club in Sandringham, a fitness centre well known in the southern  suburbs of Melbourne.

 

He was a gem. Quite possibly Trevor was the nicest bloke you could hope to meet in the context of former AFL star.

 

Great to see all nominees honoured last night. All well deserved for their services to the game far and wide. But Trevor was the Hollywood action hero of the Seventies at Moorabbin, a figure of hope amid the Saints fluctuating fortunes of the era.

 

Time gets to recognise and celebrate everyone in due course hopefully.

 

For Norma Barker to be able to smell her son via his jumper seems like a small and just reward for the mother. For the industry to recognise him last night was a great service to Trevor and his family. I daresay his mother aged 91 would’ve felt extraordinarily proud last night. Long may his talents be remembered.

 

Cheers PT

 

 

FEARLESS 2019 RD11:  Sir Doug Nicholls Round…continues

 

Rhyce’s Roos debuted at Marvel to kick off the round against the Tigers. Cam Zurhaar led the Roos’ noticeably higher tackle count in the first half. Physicality outpressured the Tigers when normally it’s the opposite. Apart from Dusty’s cameo late in the 2^nd, North showed what’d been missing. Brown 5, Wood 4, Zurhaar 11 tackles. Roos 37pts.

 

It’s a shame that a game had been impacted by a poor video review. When the AFL admits fault then there’s a stuffup somewhere in the ether. Despite Magpie Mayne’s fingers bent backwards, the Dockers displayed a grit and maturity not seen by fans on the MCG for a while. Michael Walters the hero again with last goal heroics. Freo 4pts.

 

Ok, so it’s not a stretch to call the Giants Suns game the Who Cares Cup? Whilst the Suns were competitive early, the Giants wiped the floor with them by the end of the game. Most noticeable was the Blue skies on the Suns’ jumper, the Giants Indigenous jumper is very good. Fi Fy Fo Fum Giants by 83pts, eclipsing the Suns. Cameron 5.

 

Geelong hosted Sydney and one Dan Menzel, he formerly of the Cattery. After an enforced break Dan teamed with Buddy for 2.3. Ok, so not much but a start at least. The potential for the double team is exciting. Cats showed why they can’t be underestimated. Despite a late Hayward goal in the 2^nd, the Cats led, a win by 22pts.

 

Brisbane hosted Hawthorn in the Fagan-Hodge Cup at the Gabba. So far Lions promising year had seen the Hawks, by contrast, a bit of a yoyo. 0.6 wasn’t a great start for the home side, but they started to wind in a 25pt qtr time deficit in the 2^ndwith 5.3 to 2.2. In the 2^ndhalf, Lions 7.4 to Hawks 3.3, a 19pt Lion win, a Clarko head-scratcher.

 

Melbourne kicked 1.11 to finish in Darwin. That might’ve been ok had the 31pt lead midway thru 3^rdnot been whittled away by the Crows from there. 16pts the Demon lead at the last change…slowly the momentum had swung in Adelaide’s favour. If you can explain the last qtr, then you can explain Jordan Gallucci’s moustache. Crows 2pts.

 

Fair to say that St.Kilda sold its soul for $400K. Maybe a financial necessity, but also large amounts of Dengue Fever plagued both teams. Port experienced here, but this was a China Crisis. Then St.Kilda captain Jarryn Geary was brave to play but ended broken. The Martyr Saints of China need to draft Augustine Zhao Rong. Port by Wow wee.

 

Speaking of which, BT channelled Bob Davis by saying that the Essendon Carlton game on Sunday was no great game by any stretch of the imagination. Carlton’s lineup was inexperienced minus the drunken Daisy and the Dons had to do what was required despite injuries. Dons by 41pts. Walla with 3, Carlton’s young helped only by Kreuzer.

 

Bad kicking plagued the Dogs in their trip to WA to tackle the Eagles. 2.7 becomes 4.10 becomes 7.10 becomes 10.12. Opposition teams need much to go right when playing in Perth. If you shoot yourself in the foot, you gift the home team the advantage. 9 goal Eagle 3^rdqtr iced the game. Eagles by 61pts, Darling 6, Gaff 36, Daniel 34.

 

 

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