Round 5 Gather Round – Pete for President!
AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY KICKS
At the outset of Gather Round I made up my mind that I would try to do a Phineas Fogg and Passepartout. The one thing I did not take into consideration was the weather. Boy, was it hot.
After six games I had had enough. Rather than the games it was the weather. ‘Adelaide and the Barossa glorious one day delightful the rest’ . Premier Pete would have been over the moon which by the way looked glorious at Norwood on Saturday night.
From Thursday through to Sunday the football kingdom of SA was bathed in colour that would have done Paul Gauguin proud. No club looked like they missed out although I think the Sydney team must have lost their guernseys on the way over. Who dressed them? It certainly wasn’t Anthony Daniher or a member of his family. I can just imagine what they said.
PETE FOR PRESIDENT or Chairman of the AFL.
He was all smiled when we chatted on Thursday night before the game. Just watch that he doesn’t try to excise Mildura in the near future. Although a Port boy, I couldn’t help myself, when I told him to” watch out for number 35”. Loves his sport.
Fantastic opener on Thursday night with the much improved Crows putting up a sterling performance against the ever-reliable Pivotonians. It was only the expert experience of Cameron and Dangerfield and the best recruit in years Smith that turned the tide. The Crows would have learnt a lot and what about the baulk and goal from Taylor walker early in the game. Superb!
What struck me from that first game was that everyone was in Mardi-gras form and all the club colours where there. But what really, really struck me was the price of $35 to get your car in the parking area. Being a friend of the Lutherans of Adelaide I got a spot for $10.
Chatting with people at the Lutheran College, as you do, I found it had been sold to a Chinese business mogul. Thank God it has an environmental overlay and heritage protection on it. He is going to turn it into a house with indoor pool. No cheap parking after June this year.
The Virgins of Sydney did not put up a whimper against Carringbush who had all the answers and like the night before it was a veteran who stole the show. This time Steele Sidebottom. Do these seniors only come out at night? Sidey, Jezza, Danger, Pendles, Tex and Zorks have played some fantastic football this year.
I thought about giving the Baggers v Eagles game a miss but seeing so many Lygon Streetites and the hope in their eyes I have better attend. I do have friends at the Club really doing it hard seeing they were flag favourites six weeks ago.
Funny how many people were wearing club scarves in the heat of the day plus a very impressive Gather Round scarf that certainly will be a collector’s item.
It was a horrible game and I am sorry Eagles that you have a long way to go and Blues still must be giving their supporters the same.
Another reason I went was to watch the boy wonder from the class of ’24. I am afraid that he might struggle in the big time in the future. There is something about him that I think would be better suited to a wrestling competition. Too much hype last year I’m afraid.
A quick uber to Norwood to watch a ‘real game’ at a ‘real ground’. A ground where you heard just about every word that was spoken by the coaches and players coming from the field. We were that close to them.
I won’t mention the press box circa 1940.
Still, I went there for the nostalgic heritage of the place, people standing everywhere, the Sir Edwin Smith Stand looking splendid and Rulebook and his mate working the scoreboard by hand. Not to forget the housing stock, the street scapes of an era past. I was expecting Hansom Cabs to trot around the corner with the establishment on board.
Footscray and Brisbane turned on a splendid display in the first half on the small ground where kicking it ‘up the guts’ was the common theme. Young Mr Darcy is a splendid player and it showed when he reached up nine feet to grab a couple of marks. The ‘Dogs were terrific in that first half but once again as on Thursday and Friday nights the experience of the players from Queensland showed. Hipworth with 5 goals and a great game from young Fletcher were the highlights,
Speaking of ‘highlights’ the lights were a problem as I don’ think they were up to standard and when the signage on the east wing started to glow all one could see looking across the ground were black silhouettes . Not a good look but artistic with the shapes doing all sorts of ballet movements.. Think if you are going to have games at The Parade Pete then they should be in the daytime.
Back to the Oval where they expected at east 300 cars to enter each day. That makes 300 x $35 = $10,500 x 4 days = $42,000 from car parking alone. A nice tidy sum indeed to add to the expected $100m that the government expected to come into the coffers of Adelaide businesses. By the way Pete must have got the price of petrol down as I paid only $1.61 a litre in his suburb.
Back to the Oval for the game between The Erratics (yes, Essendon were called that in early 1900s) and the Fuchsias.
Melbourne is definitely in trouble; you didn’t have to be Einstein to say that. Gone is the precision they had in in the early twenty-twenties to a game plan that did not exist.
There was only one highlight for this observer and that was the play of the Essendon big-man Sam Draper. If ever there was a showman he is ‘THE man’. What’s good about it is, to me, a very humble person whilst he is putting on these amazing acts. A touch of joie de vivre in everything he does. The Dons were never in trouble but they don’t look foreman material.
I made up my mind on Sunday morning that Phineas and his French valet had me beat. The unusually hot April had got to me and I would only go to one match and that would be the match at Barossa Park at Lyndoch between Richmond and Fremantle. Lyndoch was on the way home.
What a showpiece for country sport all over Australia this brand new Pete built, stadium is. As I walked through the gate I could not believe what I saw, take away the portable stands. The eastern side of the ground looked spectacular with it three levels of observation and little seating. We still love standing at football don’t we?
Behind this level were casual eating areas where you could sit and enjoy food and then walk casually across to the observation areas. It reminded me of the colosseum where on certain levels the senators and their entourage could enjoy the fruits of Rome and then come and sit outside. Makes corporate boxes look unhealthy with their Tv’s to look at instead of watching the play.
Once again you could just about touch the players and the young Tigers looked like they should still be at school. They gave the Dockers a run for their money early in the game but were outclassed by the rat pack of Brayshaw, Serong and Young whilst forward Josh Treacy looked bigger than I thought and booted 6 goals.
A marvellous expose for the land of wine and I topped it of by attending the Art Exhibition at Seppeltsfield that featured works by Knackers Kate Birrell and Jim Pavlidis.
Driving the 400km home was not boring as I had the footy to listen to and the Giants certainly must have looked foreman material in beating the Seasiders.
I am now sitting at my computer and working on my story and glancing across to the tele where Port annihilated the Mayblooms in the first half and led by over 50 points. It is now into the last quarter and the hawks have whittled back the lead to 22 points with 8 minutes to play. Unbelievable! The lead goes out to 40 points when Willie Rioli gets 2 goals without the ball going back to the middle.
It has been a fiery game but the people from Adelaide will be happy as the win brings to a finale an extra-ordinary Gather Round with the locals bringing the curtain down.
Premier Pete will be happy in more ways than one!
More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.
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About Bob Utber
At 84 years of age Citrus Bob is doing what he has always done since growing up on a small farm at Lang Lang. Talking, watching and writing sport and in recent years writing books. He lives in Mildura with his very considerate wife (Jenny) and a groodle named 'Chloe on Flinders' and can be found at Deakin 27 every day.
Fab account of your Gather Round experiences CB, makes me totally envious and wish I’d been there – especially with a Bombers win! Maybe next year.
Give yourself the day off Citrus. For the record, Rulebook’s mate on the Parade scoreboard is Peter Myers.
COL – Yes the Bombers had a win but when you experience something like Gather Round and get to see nearly all he teams in action you can see the significant difference between the top sides and the bottom.
One only had to go from Blues v Eagles to Footscray v Lions within an hour of each other to see the difference.
It is joie de vie all round the town and in today’s world it stands out. All footy fans must make it in their lifetime.
SWISH – kept telling media people look at the scoreboard with the attendants using their knowledge of primary school tables to get the score right and we could actually SEE THE SCORE. Well done Rule and Peter. Can’t take the day of as I have to write back to people like you. Many thanks
Norwood Oval scoreboard attendant here. We had a blast. These gather round games at the Parade the last three years bring back so many happy memories of the halcyon days of the SANFL, when the place used to be packed to the rafters. For a fair bit of the first half yesterday, we actually had several of the current Norwood players up on the scoreboard with us. Best view in the house! It got a bit crowded up there for a while, but Rulebook and I soldiered on regardless!
PETER MYERS – congratulations Peter on a marvellous weekend and again a job well done. Just how many games of SANFL would you and Rulebook done over the years?
No doubt nostalgia has played a big part in Gather Round for you guys. For me I would have loved to see Roger Woodcock play on this hallowed turf. He must have been a ripper?
Hi Bob, speaking for myself, this is my 6th season up on the board at Norwood, not sure how much longer before that Rulebook started doing the job. He actually gets paid by the club for his efforts, I’m happy enough to do it purely out of love and devotion for the mighty Redlegs. I can remember coming to games with my parents, at Norwood and other SANFL grounds as far back as 1965, when I was 5 years old. They were probably bringing me to games even earlier than that. My Dad, Max Myers, played 12 league games and a lot of 2nds games for Norwood, between 1945 and 1949.
Saw Roger Woodcock play many games and kick many goals. A silky smooth left footer, not too many half forward flankers kick over 600 goals in their career like he did.
Back in the day, as well as the game going on in front of them, the guys on the board used to put up progress scores from the other four SANFL games being played simultaneously, and the race results! God knows how they kept up with all that lot!
Cheers mate!
A suitable addendum to your excellent report, Citrus may be a reference to Premier Pete’s playing career. He has certainly turned out for the AUFC (Rulebook’s “Greatest Club of All) in his time in the big chair. I don’t know if that was a one-off or if it’s an occasional – or even a regular – event. Over to you Rulebook for the details of PM’s career, and any recent appearances.
Enjoyed your recount Citrus. Knew I’d be without commitments Saturday afternoon so thought I’d go to watch Calrton and the Eagles. Tried to buy a ticket Thursday but it was sold out and then learnt via the AFL website that the crowd was only 41,000. Given AO holds 53,000 were there 12,000 no-shows?
Popped into the Festival of Footy by the Torrens instead and the heat and traffic reminded me of the Fringe which happens in February. Worrying weather. Did the SK Warne health check and discovered that my heart and biological ages match. Disappointing!
Well done on writing this immediately after a big few days and driving home!
Loved the headline. Disappointed in the content. A familiar situation with us Eagles supporters. I’ll stick with Albo for President (best of a bad lot). I’m too busy with senior pennants golf to take up your leadership offer.
Gday CB not sure how many years I’ve been doing it now – for 1 of Darcy’s marks for WB – Pete and my view was spectacular -best week of footy for the year the good feeling and attitude around is fantastic
Went to the pies v swans game – Daicos work rate and ability to sprint to contests is remarkable and Lepinski is v important defensively for the pies – awesome weekend
I did say to the -Norwood guys I’ve got a master plan to get a full house for this coming – Thursday night
Nwd v Sturt game – lock everyone in they laughed and thought great idea
Pete chasing up – Mallys playing career details- I will return
Rulebook – Good to catch up with you in Wacky’s bar after the Giants v Sainters.
Great job on the manual scoreboard – so good!
Love the book! Well done.
Also caught up with Rossie Dillon.
Thanks for this report, Citrus.
Most enjoyable. Cheers!
SMOKIE – I t was a delight to participate in the Gather Round and is must for every football fans bucket list. An extraordinary event.
RULE & PETER M Thanks for your insight into Norwood and the scoreboard. “Mally” certainly kept playing for his team up to the start of his premiership. Peter M will bring us the news later.
ROSEVILLE ROCKET – even though your message was directed to “Rule” it was amazing just how many people one caught up with during the carnival and at all three grounds.
PETER F – this is a Peter Perfect moment PF! Wonderful carnival makes Rio look second rate.
PETER B – Give the man a bait and he will take it. Thanks for your literary comments PB. Very hard to describe the Eagles other than they were a great band. There is no song playing here and I would send number 9 back to Victoria ASAP. CA’s favourite boy back in action.
MICKEY R – probably the best thing you have done in ages by missing out on a ticket to this game. Seeing as many games as I did certainly showed the difference between the top and bottom teams. Well done!
You told me to slow down and now all my text hs disappeared!
SMOKIE – Many thanks. The Gather Round should be on every football fans bucket list.
ROSEVILLE ROCKET – one of the beauties of GR is that you get to meet so many people you know. I could have spent the whole carnival just talking to friends and acquaintances from way-back.
RULEBOOK & PETER M thank you both for your wonderful insight into one of the proudest clubs in Australia.
It was a delight being there on Saturday but they will have to improve the lighting and cut back on the advertising if they are to play twilight games there. Could not see on the eastern side of the ground when twilight came just black shadows. Great insight being so close to the Footscray bench as well.
“Mally” played for many years at Uni and even had a game just after his premiership started. Pete – I think you will be putting up all the details later.
PETER B – always good to hear from PB as he has a certain insight into sport that nobody is interested in, except the writer. Great effort by Rory McIlroy and will stand him in good stead for when he joins you on the seniors circuit. Time to send number 9 back to Victoria you had to be Blind Freddie to see he is not interested. It was a shocker of a game and both sides look certain to finish in the bottom four and after the Baggers were odds-on to be premiers at the start of the season.
PETER F – our boys from Norwood are chasing down the football record of “Peter Perfect”. I think you will find he even had a game after he became premier. A certainty to be chairman of the AFL when he retires from being premier (They might have to wait awhile though.
MICKEY R – you would be the luckiest man alive having missed out on a ticket to the BIG match! MR both sides are terrible when you look at the top teams who played over the weekend. Still it is such a wonderful concept that should remain in YOUR state but I also remember Formula 1
Thanks Rocket likewise and appreciate your support
Peter Malinauskas
180 Games – 219 Goals
1 Premiership 2013 – The Scum – Ad Uni G Grade
Position most frequently selected – Centre Half Forward
1st game – 2008 – Most recent game – 2023
Most goals in a game – 8
Total Club Votes – 145
Jugs of Beer – 5 times BOG
RULEBOOK/PETER – Marvellous news! I did know he played with “The Scum” on of the great footy teams names.
Wonder if there is a report on “The day I Kicked 8 Goals”. I think I will get in touch with him.
CB the lights are fantastic- advertising how and when it’s done can be v v frustrating that’s the problem
Vote 1 – Fuller, Myers and Baulderstone. You know it makes sense. (Authorised on behalf of Pete’s for President party – Perth – Trumpets for Tripe).
(PS – less CAPS CB – you don’t have to shout or keep repeating all your comments. Like me you can’t remember where you left your glasses, but you know who played in the back pocket in the 1965 flag.)
RULE – Perhaps it was the glare of the advertising signs at dusk that made the lights a bit out of kilter.
PETER B – DARYL GERLACH(Essendon) and ROGER HEAD (St.Kilda). Head was back-pocket in the premiership flag as well. Bugger! where are my glasses. PB I have 3 pair depending on what colour my clothes are on that day but often cannot find the right pair.
CB – see you and raise you.
Bob Fabian (Port Adelaide) & Brenton Adcock (Sturt). I was there as a 10yo sitting with dad and pop in the original Edwin Smith Stand (wooden benches).
Fabian was a great name to have in the 60’s – American pop singer.
Foster Williams’ last flag as coach before Jack Oatey’s beautiful game Double Blues won the next 5.
Port won by 3 points stacking the defence in the last quarter as Sturt surged. Following his man down the ground Adcock had a clear shot on goal on the run from 30 yards out. Kicked a point.
Remember Dad saying “first shot at goal he’s had all year. Port are home. Sturt have got stage fright.” As ever he was right.
Now – where are my glasses?