Slab Masks the Media Storm as Blacks Beat Jackas

CRAMERI’S GOLDEN PERFORMANCE GETS BLACKS THE ‘V’
Dressing oneself for a day at the football can be a tricky task. Whilst in the dead of winter one can throw on a series of layers with confidence, the remaining rounds of the season can bring a sprinkling of sunshine that can make a true Melburnian wary. Your correspondent recalls the time he headed out to Moorabbin one August afternoon donning an overcoat and later coming home sporting leg warmers and a ‘Choose Life’ t-shirt. Although the post-match Saints Disco probably had something to do with that.
In any case, my choice of attire for this Saturday gone was a very straightforward affair. It was Andy Smith Tribute Day (ASTD) and a v-neck pullover was the only way to go. As I packed my tram timetable and handkerchief in order to complete the outfit, I considered all that had occurred during Andy’s 50 year tenure – from wars to droughts, from colour TV to iphones, from woollen to lycra jumpers – and that if Andy were to have a sav blanc for every year of service he could give you an opinion on all of them, and that he’d just be warming up.
The curtain raiser on ASTD featured a Blacks reserves side on a 5 game winning streak, and an AJAX side that is clearly still developing. The fact that the two sides were separated on the ladder by 32 premiership points and 258% leading into the game was a clear indication of what sort of a result was to be expected.
As has been the case in many of the Blacks magoos matches this season, there was a key forward returning from injury which captured the interest of those in attendance. The Uni’s own Maryborough Mauler, Justin Crameri, was back from a knee injury and ready to compete. In an interesting aside, American writer Mark Twain, according to various sources, visited Maryborough in 1895. In his recalling of the visit, he noted that the local train station was so vast that ‘you could put the whole population of Maryborough into it, and give them a sofa apiece, and have room for more’. I think I wouldn’t be pushing the gold pan too far if I said that the AJAX backline were referring to Justin in a similar vein after Saturday’s performance. Six majors was just reward for a man of such strength and athleticism.
Another forward target who capitalised on the ball being repeatedly sent into our forward line was young Nick Holt. With hands as safe as Andy Smith’s timekeeping finger and being as tall as the stories within Andy’s luncheon, Holty was able to haul in numerous marks and bag four majors.
1st
2nd
3rd
Final
Uni Blacks
5.6.36
11.10.76
14.11.95
18.14.122
AJAX
0.2.2
0.2.2
2.2.14
3.3.21
Goal Kickers
Crameri 6, Holt 4, Brennan 3, Lane 2, MacGugan, Clarke, Nettlefold
Best Players
Crameri, D Batten, Nettlefold, Holt, Myers, Brennan
SLAB MASKS THE MEDIA STORM AS BLACKS BEAT JACKAS

With the pre-game tribute lunch completed, our Blacker Boys made their way onto the Uni Main to pay tribute to Andy Smith in the only way he would appreciate – by completing from start to finish. Unfortunately, this plan was made difficult by a ‘Jackas’ side that was clearly up for an honest scrap and by the possibility that some of the Blacks players had snuck into the luncheon for a pre-game sherry. Thankfully, with a couple of late goals before the first change, our boys were able to have a comfortable buffer.
Although the opening 15 minutes of the 2nd quarter was again evenly matched, The Blacks were able to pull away before half-time with a quick set of goals. It should be said that the backline, the midfield and most of the forwards were more than holding their own. As the game developed, however, it became clear that there was one man who had the crowd talking.
The role that social media plays within an athlete’s preparation has been one of the main talking points of the London Olympics. With Emily Seebohm and other medal-chances confessing to allowing online fan interaction to distract them from the task at hand, it is clear that whilst Facebook, Twitter and the like can be useful in many ways, it can also cause distraction.
As usual, issues don’t hit the mainstream media without having first gone through the Blacks news cycle. Back in April, after having kicked 7 against OMs in round 2, Jandre Slabbert became the eye of a multimedia storm. It seemed that no Twitter entry was complete without the ‘#slab’ signing and The Clyde’s Thursday night ‘Black Spot’ became ‘Slab Spot’. With all this commotion, our young gun played AJAX the next week and bagged a solitary major. Admittedly, it was a game played in wet conditions but one wondered whether the publicity has gotten to him.
Thankfully, Slab’s form has stayed strong and he has been a marvellous target in the Blacks forward line in 2012. On Saturday this was even truer than usual as he netted a career-best bag of 10 goals and proved to the AJAX fans that he was the real deal. Once again, the Twitterverse was abuzz and almost immediately young Jez Nettlefold was keen to toast the performance with Stedders… 

Aside from the fact that Jez was so excited that he didn’t have time to spell-check, this was a sign that the Slab name was once again on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Indeed, the brand has even made its way to the USA where a young Texan named Sofia discussed the Blacks big man over dinner with her Mother….

 

 

As the game concluded, all that was left was for our seniors to pay a final tribute to Andy Smith. Just before leaving the ground, the entire team posed for a photo with Andy, with half of the players wearing bespoke Andy Smith face masks. It was a wonderful moment and with Andy being a proud Carlton man, he would’ve been thrilled to have seen cardboard being put to such good use. After joining the players in the rooms and leading the team in their victory song, Andy was overheard reflecting on his time in the game. As one player after another filed out to partake in an ice bath, Andy remarked that when he started the only ice required in the change rooms was for the post-game beer. He then followed it up with a quick line about beer and amateur football…or at least I think that’s what he said. Either way, he thought it was pretty funny.
1st
2nd
3rd
Final
Uni Blacks
5.4.34
13.9.87
22.11.143
27.16.178
AJAX
2.1.13
5.2.32
8.2.50
8.3.51
Goal Kickers
Slabbert 10, Foster 4, Mahon 2, Weekley 2, Richardson 2, Lahy 2, Bismire, Pitt, Gardiner, Lacey, Else
Best Players
Slabbert, Pitt, Thomas, Lahy, Weekley, Lacey 

About The Black Hack

Loves scoops. Hates deadlines

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