I climb down from the loft-bed,
open the front door. The JRT dashes out for his urgent morning piss. I retrieve
the big paper, head back indoors, brew porridge and spread the broadsheet
across the island bench. I finish my morning cup of tea deep into the sport
section, page 22, Scoreboard.
VAFA Premier is what I know in
1971 and 72 as A Grade Amateurs. Caulfield Grammarians are in A grade. I play
on the half-back flank down at Albert Park number 3 oval. The team descends to
D grade; this year they’re winless in their first year back in the top grade.
They’ll go straight back to Premier B. An 87-point flogging this weekend.
In 1974 and 75 I’m on the back
flank for Ringwood, black guernsey, white yoke. The old EDFL is a murderous competition,
pocked by nasty brawls involving players, officials and spectators. Ian Montgomery,
former Collingwood hard-nut, captain-coaches; Ralph Rose, Bobby’s brother, ruck-roves. Sixteen year-old string-bean Paul van der Haar gets a game late in 75. This week in Division 3 Ringwood go down to Templestowe 8.7 to 12.9.
In 1976 I don the blue and
white stripes for Newstead; their captain Mac Fyffe teaches at my school. I move
to the pivot and enjoy my first taste of country footy, win the club B&F
with over 200 votes, the runner-up on 137. Last year the Maryborough
Castlemaine League absorbs half the old Lexton Plains league. Yesterday Newstead
23.16 pound the arch-enemy Maryborough Rovers 1.5.
Trafalgar are the powerhouse of
Mid Gippsland, red and white stripes, always play finals. This week they kick
17.10 to Yallourn Yallourn North’s 5.5. The Mid Gippy is largely as it was in
1977 and 78. Big porker Jim Forsyth, former Essendon ruckman, exhorts us to “bring
home the bacon” each Saturday. I’m a utility player, backline, forward line,
centre and on the ball.
Greta, purple and gold then, navy
blue now, kick what is a record Victorian score so far this season of 56.16 to
Glenrowan’s 1.1 yesterday. They’re mid-table in the Ovens and King. In 1980 Gunna
is the gun centreman so I go into the forward line, kick goals. Greta come from
seventh in 1979 to win the 1980 premiership. I’m proud to win another best and
fairest, this time in a premiership team.
My footy career ends there, but
the scores go on forever.
Rock on.
