By Steve Healy
Despite the fact that the NAB Cup was starting, the match I was most looking forward to last weekend was the Dees’ intra-club match.
I have never been to Casey Fields before, even though I have planned to go a few times over the past couple of years, these plans haven’t eventuated. But my Cousin David (also a passionate Demons supporter) kindly offered to pick me up at nine o’clock in the morning, as well as his friend Mark (another Demon).
We walk into the ground, where the playing surface looks wonderful. The teams are warming up on the field, Team white clash-strip versus Team red clash-strip. We walk through the outer, past some familiar faces (Garry Lyon and Jim Stynes) who are leaning against a wire fence. We stand on the flank, as the game gets underway.
I take a glance at the teams and tip Team Red to win, since they seem to have stronger players, like Jurrah, Green, McDonald, Jamar and Trengove. Scully was playing for the Whites, which was definitely a good decision made by the coaching staff.
Jake Spencer (Red) starts at full forward, and immediately the ball comes his way. He marks the ball cleanly, goes back and slots the game’s first goal. Soon enough, the ball falls back into the hands of Spencer, and he kicks a second, another clean drop punt straight through the middle. Liam Jurrah provides a mark of the year attempt on the goal line, but just can’t hold on. I notice the absence of many players, such as Bate, Watts, Tapscott, Wonaeamirri, Bruce, Blease, Johnson, Meesen and Gawn. Gawn, 208 centimetres tall, stands next to the players on the bench, towering over all of them. Joel MacDonald was stamping an influence right from the beginning, getting possession after possession in the back half. Jurrah is running around like there’s no tomorrow. He snaps a brilliant goal from the boundary line, before kicking his second and getting the Reds out to a commanding lead. Miller kicks a nice goal as well At quarter time the Reds lead, 1.2 8 to 6.3 39, even though it appeared to have a slight breeze, the Whites’ skills were sub-par. Trengove is the highlight of the quarter, running around and setting up players for goals. Scully didn’t do as much. We climb over the fence, and run to the huddle as the siren sounds. This is the thing I love about these matches.
The second quarter begins, and we move closer to the wing, directly behind the Red bench. The Reds continue to dominate; Brad Green kicks a goal, one of the ones he never misses from 50 out directly in front. Green seems to be playing more as a lead up forward. Lynden Dunn finally breaks the drought for the Whites, reeling the margin back to 37 points. They come back from here on, and after 25 minutes elapses and its half time. The score’s 6.3 39 to 9.6 60, and it’s game on (even though it’s a game where the result doesn’t matter). While I leave David and Mark to go and get some food, Gary Lyon is interviewing Jack Watts on the balcony above. Jack’s apparently tweaked a calf at training or something. Jim also says a word to the 2,000 strong crowd at Casey Fields.
The second half gets underway and the game tightens. Scully is taking the game on for the Whites; he misses a shot on goal, as does Jack Fitzpatrick, who looks quite impressive as a ruckman/forward. Aaron Davey comes off the ground (and doesn’t return for the rest of the match), Jamie Bennell and Neville Jetta, two players who didn’t quite perform at their peak in their debut seasons last year, really were showing an influence. After a 20-minute quarter this time, the game is really tight, 10.7 (67) to 11.7 (73) in favour of the Reds.
We move spots again, and this time we go up to the White huddle at three quarter time and hear what Dean Bailey’s telling the troops (Josh Mahoney was in charge of the Reds).
The last quarter is the best of the match; the Whites hit the lead before VFL player Mark Weekes kicks a goal, which is lucky since Brad Green was free over the top. It continues to be a tight scrub, until Tom Scully dashes to 35 and kicks a goal on the run at the other end, giving the Whites a one-point lead. They have all the momentum. Insert Liam Jurrah.
The Walpiri Wizard leaps high to stop one going through for a behind, before casually stepping around and snapping a goal. He casually kicks another goal, giving his side a nine point lead. They blow the siren at 17:33, just for the sake of it probably. The final score’s 12.10 82 to 14.7 91, a great contest, but I now turn my mind to getting some players’ autographs, but not before a kick of the footy on the ground.
A lot of the players go off the field afterwards, but some stay to sign autographs. It’s brilliant. I get James McDonald, Jack Watts, Cameron Bruce, Jamie Bennell, Aaron Davey, Jack Fitzpatrick, Austin Wonaeamirri, Cale Morton, Neville Jetta and even Jack Trengove and Tom Scully. But most importantly: Liam Jurrah, the man of the match. He has a massive ring of supporters around him when I get his autograph, and I feel honoured as he signs the back of my 2010 Melbourne Guernsey.
We finally go back to the car park and leave Casey Fields. I was so proud that I got to talk to so many players. I stare at my Dees jumper, admiring every signature.
Casey Fields is a wonderful place.
White Team 1.2 6.3 10.7 12.10 (82)
Red Team 6.3 9.6 11.7 14.7 (91)
Goals
White Team: Jones 2, Maric 2, Newton 2, Gysberts, Morton, Sylvia, Dunn, Scully, Hughes.
Red Team: Jurrah 4, Green 3, Spencer 2, Miller, Petterd, Moloney, Jamar, Weekes (Casey).
Best: Jurrah, Green, Trengove, Scully, Grimes, Jones, Moloney, MacDonald, Spencer.
My Votes: 3. Liam Jurrah, 2. Brad Green, 1. Jack Trengove
Go Dees!
Here’s hoping the Dees have a better season Steve.
Thanks JB, I appreciate it.
What, Melbourne actually won a game? Haha good article Steve.
Mum surprised me with a new tennis racquet today!
Cheers mate,
I hardly ever get any surprises
She also bought me a new pump.
The Melbourne jumper for Christmas was a surprise wasn’t it? Starting a good friendship with all of us and getting to meet up was a surprise wasn’t it?
Yeah, that Dees jumper was a great surprise, and of course all ya’llmanackers
Pump? A bike pump?
Yes a bike pump but i’ve needed one to pump up my footy.
I use an asthma pump to pump up my footy, no joke
8: What a joke.
9- I’m serious
Lol your a funny one Steve
Matthew Warnock’s a funnier 1.
Hey Barney, I’ve thought up a new nickname for you.
Mr T
status- trying to cut down oral on womens’ roles in afl.
If anything, women’s roles in AFL should be increased, not cut down.
15- lol exactly..ive gone from 11mins to reading kinda fastish normal pace at 9mins 51 seconds…argghhh lol
I rehearsed mine last night and it was 6 minutes and 5 seconds.
I have an extra week to prepare for the oral SAC…but less time for the Enduring Love SAC the next week.
lol i keep reading mine and changing it..crossing stuff out..add in quotes.
im reading this book by Kevin Sheedy & Carolyn Brown called ‘Footballs’s women- the forgotten heroes’ is so cool!
did you know that it was a NUN who lead Sheedy to footy??????
Nice – did reading that help you with writing your speech at all?
And no I didn’t know that Danni – can you enlighten me? Pardon the pun.
Casey fields is a wondeful place.
Hi Danni
lol well if my speech timing goes down more im gonan add thsi quote
‘women play a vital role in football- i slaute them’- Kevin Sheedy
well at his primary school a nun called sister Rupert introduced him to footy. it says.
‘she used to enjoy having a kick in her full length black habit, she introduced him to football’
and his first ever coach was a female too.
hello steve. lol
Sister Rupert? You sure you’re not taking the piss?
Yay James McDonald
yay Kyle Cheney
You went for James McDonald and got Liam Jurrah! It’s like losing a $2 coin and finding a $50 note.
and then i got to a page where i had to do a double take.
a familliar face..that fimillair smile of my idol…as a 18 yearold with bleach blond short hair, im talking baout Sam Lane. lol i was like..
‘WAIT A MINUTE!!” LOL
23- Nope it says it in the book.
and bakc then Nuns used to have male names from saints.. like Sister Paul and stuff like that.
Don’t you dare question James McDonald’s skill Adam
Tambling.
Scully
Bruce
Wonaeamirri
CLOKE
34- (JASON CLOKE btw)
lol
just to show im on good terms
34- TOOVSSSSSSSS
11: Why Mr T?
Just finished tennis training, the racquet goes alright. Very pleased with it.
speech time trials
9:51
10:06
10:04
36- is it a Wilson???????? :)
Mr TEA! duh
38: No it’s Prince.
39: Ohh..well Steve, GET SUM NUTS!
You don’t have the nuts to call dinner a proper name
Hahaha! Its so funny you said 36- is that a Wilson? Cos thats Callum Wilson’s number for West Coast
….Prince! thats still cool.
i was just wondering if u had the same as my man Federer.
lol i should buy a wilson…jst to look at it.
I should take a picture of the racquet and show you guys, its got some cool colours. Oh and i got a Wilson vibrator thing Danni..for the racquet i mean.
Steve, get sum nuts and go on msn or facebook.
hahaha, I was about to say…
45: You’ve been watching too many Auskick CD’s Steve ;)
I couldn’t find the naked girl on it! I remember looking
Keep trying mate, you’ll make a breakthrough one day.
Nah I lost the CD
there’s the picture of that girl on the internet, just search auskick CD on google images and one of the first few results is the picture
…..agggghhh teenage boys!
what are we doing wrong Danni? lol
Shaun Rehn!
51: Danni, we’ve had to put up with your girly remarks for 7 months, give us some slack!
yes ill def keep it at two boys.
Andre-federer and Jack-Anthony…that way i wont have to put up with all this dude hormonal stuff again! lmaoo
he’s got a point Danni, all your nawwwws and teddy bear and shopping talk
Hey guys,
Yeah I remember the fiasco surrounding that CD, I think I’ve still got it but I can’t find the images lol.
How many girls? 36? *NON OFFENSIVE COMMENT*
Does anyone still have any of those Auskick CD’s? I’m willing to buy them off anyone who has them..
ive got one of them, I think its 2005 or something. How much Josh?
Yeah I have most of the old CD’s and when I stopped the Auskick my neighbour just gave them to me.
How much do you think they are worth? lol
I think I have the CD’s from 2002-2006.
they’re brilliant. Did either of you guys used to go on the AFL kids zone site which they got rid of about 4 or 5 years ago, I loved that site!
2005? Never seen that one..
$1.99?
I don’t remember it.
Hety josh if you’re intrested in that 90’s DVD, the whole program is on Youtube.
hey guys,
58: Go to a garage sale josh
Damo, $20 for the lot? Lol i loved the goals and marks of the year highlights, and was also pissed off that a North player didn’t host one of those teaching clinic video things, until Brent Harvey did one with a Melbourne player..
Hey Favs
Josh if you like I’ll lend you the 90’s DVD, ill throw it to you like a frisbee next time there’s a strong northerly wind
65: Dom, i live in Waaia. No one has garages.
Okay let weigh it up steve.
nawwwws and teddy bear and shopping talk to naked girls….
Yeah that’s totally on the same level..
Pftttt teen boys!
ello Dom! :)
67: We’re meeting up on Sunday..
I’ll bring some stuff for ya Steve, some good copies of the Herald Sun and a little black book. Oh and that picture of you in the Age.
its called quantity v quality Danni
69 (haha): Pfft teen girls!
cheers Josh, ill find something for ya as well
67- Thats the nickname my re teacher gave me last year
68-lol- then yard sales- im sure you guys have front yards
Do any of you guys follow soccer?
I still want to keep a couple of them so I might give you three out of the five, 03,04,05, how does that sound?
Lol, i’d say i would be very lucky to find those CD’s at a yard sale/garage sale. And plus, those things are boring as. Garage sales, markets, clothing stores=way boring.
I don’t mind the soccer, I follow Chelsea in the EPL and I think we are on track for a title this year.
76: Don’t like the sport, like playing it though.
77: If you want to keep them Damo, don’t worry about it lol.
76- NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quiz on msn tonight anybody?
I can give you three of them if you want and you don’t have to pay.
12.12
Well, if it’s alright with you. But if it ain’t, keep them by all means. And you can’t give them to me for free!
11.19
13.9
I still haven’t done my questions for the quiz yet lol.
…im not into the sport but im into the players! :)
yeah youve gotta love those blokes like Fernandez porte and lemarco bombardus
Why can’t I give them to you for free? I haven’t used these particular CD’s for a while anyway.
and Samalo Degrizzio
13.15
12.22
79: Man U for the Champons league and epl title
15.4
Just because, i’ll at least buy you a drink or whatever at the footy (which costs a bit of money so at least you’ll be getting your worth lol)
Mum bought the train tickets for me and Dad today. We leave Seymour at 2:30pm and depart Melbourne at 7:43pm.
95- Why does everyone go for Man U, Liverpool or Chelsea!
ARSENAL!!!!!!! :)
Man U? How dare you Dom! lol
You don’t have to pay for anyting Josh! lol.
Man U are crap.
Try and stop me Damo lol. Oh is anyone going to the first Almanac lunch next month? I am.
I actually go for Juventus but in the EPL I prefer Chelsea.
Danni you can use John Terry for an example on your oral.
like I said ill try and get there if im allowed.
Steve are you going to wear your Melbourne jumper to the game? lol
Hopefully sunday will be cold.
Anyone heard Kesha’s new song? She’s such a slut.
I think so, Damo.
Apparently its gonna be 32 degress on sunday guys
Damn, i’ll probably just wear what i wore to the launch then, except a green undershirt.
I might wear my Aussie cricket top lol.
By the way Steve how old are your cousins who are in this report?
Cousin(s)? David’s 28, his friend Mark’s probably the same age im guessin
damo..im not touching my oral anymore. it stands at 10mins with normal reading pace.
All my Cousins on my Dads side are 26-38, all my cousins on my mums side are 13 and younger
Kesha is pretty.
Mark is a hawt name
I hate her song!
Fair enoungh Danni.
Sorry must have been typo, it was a good piece anyway, might be the Dees only win for the year lol kidding.
111: She isn’t setting herself up for a good life.
Hey they mention Tom Swift in To Kill A Mockingbird.
Status – reading the book.
Is Kesha black?
Steve, which side was tanking more? Red or white?
114-
glug, glug. Pressure point! pressure point! glug, glug. Pressure point, pressure point!
118- ewwwwwwwwwwwwww pavlova
117- bwuk bwuk bwuk bwuk bwuk bwuk bwuk bwuk bwuk bwuk bwuk bwuk.
18.13
17.20
118- why were the crowd cheering?, for the red team for winning or the white team for their defeat, as a preview for this year and judging by 2009 I’d say the latter lol.
123- I admit that joke was lame but you get the picture lol.
123- Oi! dont piss on my window you low life (&%$*&$*^&$*%%&&#$(!
glug glug glug glug glug
come on guys..dont be mean to steve.
125- What’s the difference between a fireman and the Melbourne footy club?
A firemen climbs a ladder lol.
The Whites must have thought it was the real season in the first quarter, until they realized they could actually play to win.
Lol i love that joke, applies to every team really.
128- The north Melbourne membership phone line…
ring ring
Indian accent: Hello there, can you complete this survey about home loans?
Brad Scott: Can you buy a membership first please
HS Phoneline- Hello Jon Ralph speaking..
Danni- OMG RALPHYYYYYYY!!!!!!!
LOL
The last time Melbourne won a Premiership:
-Colour TV wasn’t invented yet
– Elvis still hadn’t made his comeback
– The late Princess Di was only three years old
– The Beatles were topping the charts for crying out loud!
132- elvisssss!!!!! yay ELVIS!! :)
What’s the difference between a fireman and the Carlton footy club?
A fireman stays sober during work hours
Come on now yall, need to calm downnnnnnnn.
The last time Carlton won a premiership:
-They didn’t have a stupid membership slogan
134- that isn’t the case in America lol.
Don’t doubt the guys who risked their lives on the 11th of september, 2001
135: Its hard reading that sort of talk, its all throughout Mockingbird!
last time Collingwood won a flag..DANNI WASNT BORN COS SHE MISSED OUT BY 2 YEARS!!
The last time Melbourne won a Premiership:
– People weren’t allowed to say ‘Pants’ on TV.
-There was no such thing as a membership slogan.
Don’t doubt the guys who risked their lives getting Chris Judd to Visy Park.
The last time Collingwood won a flag… the score was 13.11 89 to 5.11 41 in front of 98,944 fans
139- ROFL
‘ATTICUS, ATTICUS!!’
I’m gonna make a book about Danni called “To kill a honeybird”
The last time North Melbourne won a Premiership:
-They beat Carlton 8)
…STEVE…why do ya wanna kill me?
i thought u loved me! :(
138- You know I didn’t mean that, in other places where their system is corrupt.
144: I just read past where Miss Maudie’s house burns down and Boo Radley sneaks up on Scout and puts a blanket over her. Scary stuff.
Sorry, danni, I mean its about how to make you DIIIEEE as Josh says.
I still love you
The last time Collingwood won a flag:
– The Great Southern Stand wasn’t completed
– The Simpsons were in their first season.
144: I just read past where Miss Maudie’s house burns down and Boo Radley sneaks up on Scout and puts a blanket over her. Scary stuff.
I read that as: Roo Brady lol
151:
-And the likes of Tom Scully, Jack Trengove, Liam Shiels, Ben Cunnington weren’t born yet.
I think they were in their second season Damo.
The old southern stand hadnt even started to be demolished
The last time Carlton won a premiership- it was my first birthday!
That’s the worst birthday present since my brother’s friend’s sister had a year 12 English exam on her 18th.
Yes it had they removed the roof!
According to Wikipedia the second season started five days after the Grand Final, but lets not go down that path.
lol yeah, 30th of september 1995 for all you trivia buffs
157- oh yeah they did too I forgot
West Coast beat Geelong the day after I was born
What a Grand day in 1995 that was.
157: Wikipedia: The second season of the Simpsons started 5 days after the 1990 AFL Grand Final, which was actually won by Collingwood. :|
4 days before Danni was born Collingwood lost to Carlton at the MCG, that was the game that was celebrating Collingwood’s centennary.
hahaha, the Dees beat the Roos by 20 points the night before Josh was born!
163- naww steve luv ya too
163- Yeah from memory that was the night game and over 70 or 80 000 attended
164: Hey Steve, reckon Melbourne is gonna top the score of 200 in a match someday soon? Your the oldest club in the AFL yet haven’t reached that milestone yet..North’s biggest score in a match: Against Melbourne!
163-166 well no wonder i didnt want to come out! i knew we had lost even when i hadnt come into the world and i didnt want a bar of it! lmao
Carlton scored 210 against Hawthorn in the summer of 69′, sorry I meant winter.
The largest winning margin in AFL belongs to the late Fitzroy football club. 36.22.238. Who did they get it against? The Dees!
The margin was 190 points by the way – That’s almost 32 goals.
at the late Waverley Park…
Actually no i don’t think North’s biggest score was against Melbourne, but we did score an even 200 points against the Dees once.
I’m in favour of a quiz now.
170: Wasn’t it Geelong with the biggest winning margin AND the biggest score?
did you now that Fitzroy was originally known as the gorillas in 1944?
175: Geelong has the biggest score with 37.17.239 against the Bears in 1991 or 1992, the Bears scored 92 so Geelong only won by 147.
Didn’t the Demons used to be known as the fuchsias?
I thought the Bears scored 75 that night.
meh i dont know damo..i only knwo the thing baout Fitzroy cos i borrowed a book fmr the school library called ‘more than a century of AFL Grand Finals’
And the Cats as the Pivotonians? The Hawks were the Mayblooms?
179: Yep Damo, you’re right actually. Still only a margin of 164.
lmaaoo in 1901 collingwwod vs essendon the only collingwood player to kick any goals was Bryce (2)
status- Hist questions
Essendon were the Same Olds as well.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/country-with-the-worlds-sexiest-people-revealed/story-e6frf7jo-1225831361936
lmaoo read 3rd comment form Nick.
“I think Turkish and Lebanese women are very hot!”
I’ve never met any. Well, MET.
That’s an extremely stupid and biased poll, I think Venezuela personally.
lmaoo.
todya a friend hwo has known me for atleast 2 years found out i was lebo.
he response; “gee danni..im sorry i seriously thought u were Italian.”
lol
Really? I could tell you were from somewhere in the Middle East just from your surname. People think I’m Italian too.
Everyone look at this:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/jarrod-sammuts-tattoo-has-a-spelling-error/story-e6frf9if-1225831351187
here u go Adam..and shes dads personal fav lebo singer. lol
http://kafee.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/haifa-wehbe.jpg
I can’t deny she’s attractive.
yerp and shes in her 40s too!
lmao
lebo girls seem to have the trademark long dark hair down.
my hair goes past my waist now! :)
So she’s a cougar?
I imagine it wouldn’t be terribly difficult for you to have your hair grow past your waist, it’s not that far down is it :P
excuse me! lmaoo
its took like 3 years to get it THIS long cos i made a huge weirdo..’im gonna chop all my hair off’ decision in year 9 so it was a bit shorter than my shoulder!
A girl at my school has hair extensions and they go right down past her waist.
196- mine is reallllllll!!! :)
the other day my friend stated to yank my hair cos she wouldnt believe i didnt have extentions! lol
anyhoo ill bid u adieu!
Im tired..need sleep!
I dunno how extensions work
I’m off boys and girls.
Status- At school
Status – just finished playing Ultimate Frisbee, at lunch.
Disappointed, Josh. I thought you were have lunch with Stevo today
What I love about Casey Fields is that it so versatile and can be used for such a range of sports.