50th Birthday Weekend Part Two

If you are just catching up with my blog make sure you read Part One first so that all of this will be in perspective and correct chronological order.

Part Two

The first potential spanner in the works came when Tiger cancelled the flights that several of the WA contingent were due to fly on! The joys of cheap fares and discount airlines! but there were further problems to come of a more earth-shaking nature. Having managed to secure replacement flights on other airlines, these subsequent flights were threatened by the ash cloud that resulted from the volcanic eruption in Chile!

Cancellations and delays made the already tricky arrival schedule of the birthday guests a changing and uncertain affair. Despite these hiccups everyone ended up making it.

The following table summarises the comings and goings as I remember them. Unfortunately I’ve lost the sheet of paper that had all the travel and accommodation plans on it so this won’t be as accurate as I’d like.

Guest	Original Arrival	Actual Arrival	Scheduled Departure	Actual Departure
Mum	6 weeks early	On time	24/6	23/6
Dad	Wed	Thurs	23/6	23/6
Vicki	Wed	Thurs	23/6	23/6
Alan	Fri AM	Fri AM	Mon PM	Mon PM
Zach	Sat AM	Sat AM	Mon PM	Wed AM
Jordan	Sat AM	Sat AM	Sun PM	Sun PM
Alex	Tue	Tue	Wed	Wed
Collo	Fri PM	Fri PM	Sun PM	Sun PM
Steve	Fri PM	Fri PM	Sun PM	Sun PM
Birchy	Fri AM	Fri AM	Mon AM	Mon PM
Chris	Fri PM	Fri PM	Mon AM	Tue AM
Joshua & Eleanor	Fri AM	Fri AM	Mon PM	Mon PM
Sally Warren & Callum	Mon PM	Mon PM	Wed PM	Wed PM
Carolyn	Allan
Sophie	Lorna
Paul
Chris & Carol

Originally Sophie (Favourite Daughter) said she would cook dinner for us on  Friday night, which would be a treat as she is an excellent cook, but there was a mysterious change of plan and instead she and Mum took me out for lunch on Friday.

(Carolyn was busy doing a Zumba instructor’s course that day which is a whole other story, and she couldn’t join us for lunch.) I figured something was afoot but had no idea what.

When I walked into the restaurant I got perhaps the biggest surprise of my life, all 50 years of it! Sitting at a table was someone I hadn’t seen in nearly 20 years. Joshua Brinen. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Not just because it was so long since I’d seen him but because of where he had come from to be there: the USA!!!

Further explanation is required.

Back in 1982 when I was 20 I travelled overseas and was away for a couple of years, living in London most of the time. In the northern Summers of 1983 and 1984 I went to America and worked as a camp counsellor on a Summer camp in upstate New York. It was at Camp Schodack that I met Joshua who was 12 years old. He was in my bunk (group) for the Summer and we became friends. The whole camp experience was wonderful and after it finished I stayed with Joshua and his family for a couple of days. The following year I was Josh’s counsellor again and a second memorable Summer ensued although not without mishap.

One day Joshua fell off a horse and broke a bone in his shoulder. I took him to the hospital and stayed with him for the next four hours as we waited for treatment. My care and concern for him while he was badly hurt had a much greater impact on him than I realised because he attributes this incident as the reason I became his “hero”, and ultimately why 27 years later he flew half way around the world to come to my 50^th birthday! Not only did he come from America but he also brought his 5 year old daughter Eleanor with him, all for four days, and all to honour me and celebrate my birthday.

The backdrop to the backdrop is that over the last dozen years or so my Mum has travelled to the USA and stayed with Joshua and his family on three different occasions. Unbeknownst to me they had been plotting for the last two years to pull off this surprise and boy oh boy, they got me an absolute beauty! I could hardly speak as we ate lunch I was so stunned to see him, and to realise that he had come so far just for me.

Having these special surprise international guests added a whole new dimension to the weekend.

By Saturday morning everyone had arrived, the food was being prepared and the BBQs were hard at work. At this point I need to mention Chris and Carol, our next door neighbours. A few days before the weekend when I was working out where everyone would sleep I realised that it would be handy to have a couple of extra mattresses. When I went next door to ask Chris and Carol whether they had any they could loan us they countered by saying, “We’ve got three spare bedrooms, how would people like to stay here?”

Their generous offer was the perfect solution to our accommodation needs, providing us with an extra two queen size and two single beds in three separate rooms for the weekend. They even had a side door, accessible via the garage so that people could come and go without disturbing them. This proved very handy as we had a couple of pretty late nights.

On Saturday morning Chris also offered us the use of his BBQ and in fact ended up cooking half of the meat for us too. In light of their generosity and hospitality the least I could do was invite them to join us for lunch and they said later they had really enjoyed it and that it had been very memorable.

 Very old family friends Allan and Lorna joined us for lunch too so we had quite a big group squeezed onto the back verandah come lunchtime.

The food was great and was followed by a few gifts and presentations.

A couple of the boys gave me Geelong items. (How did they know?) Chris blew me away by giving me an artist’s easel, something I’ve long wanted. Vicki had found some very cool Scrabble letter canvasses and personalised them with her birthday message. Pop gave me a Blu-Ray DVD player! And Mum presented me with the end results of many months of work, the afore-mentioned birthday book. (Thank you to any of my readers who contributed to the book, it is very special and affirming.)

There was another surprise: Vicki played a video message on her laptop recorded by my great mate Paul in San Diego. He recounted how we had met in Cairns in our early 20s and how our lives have inter-twined through a series of visits and adventures over the proceeding 30 years. Our youngest son Paul is named after him. By the time his message finished I was in tears.

Imagine that? And there were a few more before the day was done.

Because of the unique and eclectic nature of the group who were gathered, I took the opportunity to introduce everyone and describe the background and circumstances of my relationship with each of them. It gave me a chance to reminisce, tell some stories, acknowledge people for the part they have played in my life and thank them for being there. It went on for a while and I shed more tears but no-one seemed to mind. Now that I’m half a century old perhaps people are more indulgent of me! It seemed a good and appropriate way to formalise the celebration.

The last act was provided by Alex who pulled out a pink guitar and sang a song for me, something he has done at many of the special events and significant moments of my life over the last 30 years since we met at Thornlie Church of Christ. Al has been a constant in our lives, our kids have grown up with him as a special presence and in turn we have offered him love and hospitality whenever we could. His gift of music has provided a soundtrack throughout our friendship.

The next thing on the agenda was a little bit left-field: a Skype hook-up to stage the mid-season draft of the CFFL!! A frantic 45 minutes of footy based banter, aborted trade deals and semi-informed selections occurring on either side of the country with four of us crowded around the computer in my study and a room full of mates/coaches gathered in the hills of Perth.

Time was very pressing due to the fact that we needed to get going to the footy in Melbourne by 4.30pm.

I had hired a Coaster bus from work for the weekend and we all piled aboard that and headed up the Princes Freeway on our way to the MCG. I even managed to get Jordy to come with us. It is something of an anomaly in the Holt Press family but Jordy doesn’t like football so the fact that he came in my honour was pretty cool.

The 14 of us found seats near the wing in the Olympic stand of the MCG and were joined by Cameron and his mate Dave and kids. It was the first game of Aussie Rules footy Joshua and Eleanor had ever been to so some explanations were required. I don’t remember many of the specifics and details of the game apart from the important fact that the Cats won, another birthday present. I love going to the footy but it was even more fun than usual to have a group of friends and family there to share the experience. Even St Steve and Chris, the only St Kilda fans seemed to enjoy the night.

After the game we piled back into the bus and headed home to Ocean Grove, dropping Mum, Dad and Vicki off in Geelong along the way as, with all beds full at Ocean Grove, they stayed the night at Allan and Lorna’s.

A midnight feast of leftover BBQ food, a bit more footy talk and then to bed by about 1.30 concluded a great day.

On Sunday we split into two groups. Carolyn took Paul to his soccer game and a few family members went to watch him play, or tried to! They got a bit lost in Lara and only made it for the last 15 minutes of the game.

The rest of us headed back to the MCG and another footy game, between Melbourne and Fremantle. Sadly the Dockers decided not to show up and were thrashed by the Demons. After the game we dropped Steve Grant and Jordan off so that they could catch their flights home to Perth. It was sad to say goodbye and I thanked them profusely for coming.

Home again to Ocean Grove and a hilarious game of Balderdash to conclude the evening.

Early Monday morning I took Birchy to Avalon airport but the volcanic ash cloud meant his flight was cancelled so he joined us for lunch with Joshua and Eleanor in Geelong.  He flew out later that afternoon.

All good things come to an end and I had to go back to work after lunch!!

Mum took Joshua for a drive down the Great Ocean Road in the afternoon and he and Eleanor flew home to America early Tuesday morning. Their presence for the weekend was like an extra layer of special icing on what was already a very sweet birthday cake.

Alan flew home that night. Chris left on Tuesday morning although her flight too was cancelled and she spent another night in Melbourne with family.

Zachariah was supposed to fly home Monday night but managed to miss his flight. The subsequent flight was cancelled so he ended up spending two extra nights with us, which was fine by me. Thankfully he has an understanding boss.

My actual birthday was Tuesday and I had arranged a shift swap so that I could finish earlier and we could go out for dinner that night. By then things were supposed to be winding down! So I thought!

Mum, Dad, Vicki, Carolyn, Sophie, Paul Alex and I walked into a lovely restaurant in Barwon Heads and I got another stunning surprise! Sitting at the table was my dear friend Sally and her husband Warren with their son Callum!

I was gob-smacked and blown away all over again! Sally had been one of the people who had told me she couldn’t make it and enjoyed telling me how proud she was of herself for fooling me because of the disappointment she sensed in my voice at the time! My scheming mother had been in on this secret too and was glowing with satisfaction at yet another successful undercover plot! It was fantastic to see them and have them share in my now very very special birthday!

Sally and I met at a creative writing and drama camp in 1979 when we were both in year 12 at high school. We became great friends and have many many special memories of adventures and good times shared together. I am pleased that Paul and Callum get along really well and I hope they may continue the family friendship into a second generation.

I had been blind-sided again but was thoroughly delighted regardless of my naiveté. We all had a beautiful meal which finally consummated my birthday.

I told everyone over the weekend that it was far and away the best birthday I’ve ever had. It was certainly the most memorable, not to mention the most elongated!

Finally, let me again say a huge thank you to everyone who was a part of it, either in person or via my birthday book, and thank you for your love and friendship over some or all of the last 50 years.

Love Marcus

PS Sorry if I got any details wrong, my memories were a little hazy on a few things. I blame my age!

50th Birthday Weekend Part One

50^th Birthday Weekend

NB. I have taken a long time to get around to blogging about this because I really wanted to do a good job on it and do justice to what turned out to be a fantastic event. Consequently, it will be quite a long post. No apologies though, it was worth every word. I will add pictures as soon as I can.

Several months ago I sent out a tentative invitation to a small group of family and close friends inviting them to join me in celebrating my 50^th birthday, June 21 2011.

Having moved to Victoria in October and knowing that the majority of invitees live in WA, SA and Qld, I was not expecting a big response. In fact I wasn’t very hopeful at all but 50 is a “special” birthday and I figured I should at least put it out there. The plan was to make it a footy, friends and family weekend on the 17-19 June. We would host people who were able to come, have a BBQ lunch on the Saturday as the main “celebration” and all go to the footy at the MCG on Saturday night to see Geelong play St Kilda.

One of my mates, Cam, a colleague from school chaplaincy days was already going to be in Melbourne for a conference in the week preceding so when he said he would stay on for an extra day and join me for the footy I knew I had at least one guest for the occasion.

I was not prepared for what happened next and that was to become a recurring theme!

Another mate, Grant “Collo” Collins said he was coming and that Tiger Airlines had a really great fare available. We weren’t to know the troubles that would engulf Tiger at that stage and Collo sent out an email to all my CFFL (Chaplains Fantasy Footy League) mates encouraging them to join the party.

Next on board was St Steve, so named because he is truly saintly in his role as CFFL Commissioner and because he is a St Kilda tragic. The Cats v Saints game was all the incentive he needed.

Then Birchy said he was coming. He’s both an ex-chaplain and ex-CFFL coach and one of my closest friends, having spent the last few Summers together on team at Augusta Beach Mission.

By now I was getting very excited. The response was way beyond my hopes and although a few people said that much as they’d love to come they just wouldn’t be able to, there were still more positive RSVP’s to come.

Chris, my friend and former youth work colleague who lives in Esperance signed on. Chris has a bit of an identity crisis when it comes to football. She purports to be a West Coast fan but interestingly in recent seasons has declared her love for the Saints. I’m not going so far as to label her a fair-weather fan but…!

In her defence Chris was actually at the MCG for the famous 1966 Grand Final to witness St Kilda’s only ever premiership so her Saints credentials are bona fide but she does love to party on with the Chardonnay set now that she lives in WA. We love talking footy and stirring one another up so I was rapt to hear she was coming.

As soon as Alex heard about the event he made plans to be there although, with Alex, making plans and following them through are not always the same thing. However, he assured me he was coming and my delight and expectation continued to grow.

On the family front the first to RSVP was Mum. I always knew she would be there but she seemed even more excited about it than normal and asked unusual questions about the plans and arrangements. I would only discover why later. Mum actually arrived 6 weeks before my birthday and enjoyed several visits and excursions of her own with family and friends around the eastern states in the lead-up to the event including meeting up with her closest friend from school whom she hadn’t seen in over 40 years! She tracked her down via FaceBook and they had a lovely couple of days catching up, picking up as if they’d never been apart!

Mum had also been busy working away behind the scenes on a special project, putting together a Birthday Book for me containing messages from friends and family from around the country and beyond.

My sister Vicki was coming from South Australia which shamed me a little bit because even though I was in SA when she turned 50 I wasn’t able to be there for her birthday party as I was running a footy trip for a group of kids from Busselton at the time and had my hands full.

My older brother Alan (Big Brother the Accountant) surprised me with the news that he was coming. I say surprised only because I had tried for years to get him to join me for a footy weekend to Melbourne when I lived in WA and he had never taken up the offer. Again, I was rapt to hear he would be joining me for the occasion.

My younger brother Bruce was not able to make it but we did share a special phone call on the day which really touched me as did the things he wrote in my birthday book.

The final WA guests on the RSVP list were very special, being our sons Zachariah (The Heir) and Jordan (Spike). Carolyn (Mrs Holt Press)  really misses everything and everyone from WA and especially feels the distance from the boys now that the rest of the family are living in Victoria.

The last of the known guests was my Dad. I was quite worried that Pop wouldn’t make it because of a recent episode of Bell’s Palsy which has had a serious impact on his health, particularly his eye and mouth, making all sorts of everyday things liking seeing, eating and drinking quite challenging, not to mention driving. Because of these limitations he decided to fly down from Queensland and hire a car to get around in once he got here.

There was quite a bit to organise in readiness for the weekend which was done against the backdrop of Carolyn’s Dad’s on-going health problems and the need for her to be available for him.

To be continued

Footy Almanac Geelong v Hawthorn Rd 12

Hawthorn v Geelong

Rd 12 MCG 7.10pm

Wow! What a game! We all know the recent history of the Cats and the Hawks but can we keep expecting them to deliver every time they meet?

Every time they play it’s built up and anticipated as a huge clash of FIERCE RIVALS, and unlike other “Big Games” that promise much and deliver little, Geelong/Hawthorn games promise much and deliver more!

More pressure, more intensity, more drama, more excitement, more skills and more thrills. And if that isn’t enough, they also manage to deliver edge of the seat cliff-hanger thriller finishes every time they play, even when there is only a seven week break since the last time they played as in last night’s encounter.

The round five game was a comparative blow-out with a margin of 19 points but that didn’t reflect the closeness of the game.

Last night was not a goal for goal slug-fest with neither side able to break free.

It was a game of intense and sudden swings of momentum where both teams looked capable of running away with it at times before the other hauled them in, overtook them and sprinted ahead, only to be unable to shake off their pursuer.

Last time Buddy and the Hawks - a passable name for a 50’s rock n roll band I feel - raced out to an early lead before the Cats awoke and began to claw their way back. Last night it was Geelong who started the better and built a three goal lead by quarter time on the back of a virtuoso performance by James Podisadly. The JPod was irresistible. Every time the ball came his way he marked it and goaled and when he didn’t mark it, he crumbed it and goaled and on one occasion even marked it and hand-balled it to Travis Varcoe who goaled. Gone were the JPod’s yips that threatened to destroy the Cats hopes of victory against Collingwood. Last night he was cool calm and confident in front of goal and never looked like missing.

But just when Geelong looked comfortable Hawthorn came on a charge and kicked five goals in a row. Franklin was in the right place at the right time to capitalise on the good work of Mitchell, Shiels and Rioli further up the ground.

A soft 50 as a result of a melodramatic dive from Buddy from a Bartel bump lead to a Hawks goal and they were up by 13 but footy karma would remember what happened.

Hawthorn were on a roll and the game was in the balance when suddenly it was Geelong’s turn again. Bam bam bam and the Cats were in front. JPod bagged his sixth goal of the half. It came as a shock but it shouldn’t have.

Five goals without reply and the Cats were cruising into half time.

Until the last 90 seconds of the half that is, when Renouf and Franklin           goaled for the Hawks and the margin was cut to just six points. I was really disappointed with the way the quarter ended. Our advantage was wiped out, momentum shifted back to the Hawks, the game was delicately poised and a nagging doubt that with every successive Geelong victory post 2008 we moved inevitably closer to a loss to Hawthorn. How long were they going to accept coming second to the Cats? They hadn’t lost a game since we played them in round five and the amount of media focus on Geelong’s recent domination must surely burn them up.

I was worried at half time. Imagine how I felt at ¾ time after they had held us goalless in the third term? The Hawks had finally decided enough was enough from JPod and double-teamed him for the rest of the game while kicking four goals themselves. They were 17 points in front at the final change and I said to Sport Boy, “I’ve got a feeling Hawthorn are going to kick the first couple of goals and run away with it”.

Ever the confident one Sport Boy chided me and said “I reckon we’ll win by two points”. I wished I shared his faith but despite the evidence of the last eleven weeks that the Cats are the most resilient, hard-working, never-say-die team in the league and can never be written off, I thought this was the game we were going to lose.

I watched the Cats huddle intently through the binoculars at the break and did not pick up any sense of urgency or detect any sign that they were worried. It looked matter of fact and focussed, as if they knew what they had to do and it was now a matter of doing it.

Last week Luke Breust came on as the sub for Hawthorn against the Bulldogs and kicked three goals. Early in the final quarter last night he took a mark in the forward pocket and lined up for a set shot that would put the Hawks 23 points in front and surely in a game-winning position. There were no heroics for the young Hawk this time, his shot missed everything and went out on the full.

The first few minutes of the final term were all Hawthorn, they just couldn’t get a goal to capitalise on their dominance. Then the game took its last and most decisive shift of momentum. Joel Selwood who had been quiet all night seems to have a special reserve of something extra: determination, desire, commitment, courage, will to win; whatever it is he turned it on in the last quarter and on two separate occasions forced the ball forward under intense pressure and both times Steve Johnson goaled as a result. The Cats were not done, the margin was 5 points and the embers of hope were being fanned back to life in my doubting heart.

Then came the worst moment of the night. At a boundary throw-in Jarred Roughead dropped to the ground as if shot and immediately hailed the trainers. His Achilles tendon had snapped, his night and his season was over and with it perhaps the Hawks hopes of victory were also gone. After the ambulance carried his forlorn figure from the ground Jimmy Bartel kicked the ball forward again, the Cats piled on the pressure and Daniel Menzel kicked the third goal of the quarter and Geelong were in front. They had done it again, they would not be denied. They kept pressing and had several chances to seal the game but successive behinds and missed shots saw them only manage to grow the lead to 5 points. The door was still open if the Hawks were good enough. Their problem was that Geelong’s backline put on a master class of defensive skill and coolness under pressure with the usual suspects, Scarlett, Taylor, Lonergan, Enright and the AFL’s oldest super-sub, Darren Milburn continually marking across half back and repelling wave after wave of Hawk attacks.

Sport Boy and I were literally bouncing in our seats it was so tense. The Hawks sent the ball inside 50 one last time. Buddy lurched forward. Lonergan’s hands were suspiciously positioned. The Hawk fans screamed for in the back. The whistle blew. Andrew Mackie was paid the mark, no free-kick. Mackie cleared. The siren sounded. The Cats had won again. I could hardly believe it even though I’d seen it with my own eyes.

As we made our way out of the MCG Sport Boy said to me, with a completely straight face, “The footy’s getting a bit boring Dad…Geelong always win…the margin’s always less than a goal…I dunno if I want to keep coming!”

Cheeky little bugger!

Footy and Family

I'm still recovering from the footy last night, another great game, another thrilling finish, another narrow win for the Cats who are now 11-0 on top of the ladder and breaking all sorts of records.

As we were walking out of the MCG Sport Boy said to me with a straight face, "Dad, the footy's getting a bit boring...Geelong win every game and the margin is always less than a goal". Cheeky!

I have already said to him we should be thankful we are living in a time of such football richness, most fans don't get to see their team win every week and the days will come when the Cats start to lose regularly. 

But until then, we are enjoying the footy immensely.

 Last week I took Mum up to Shepparton on one of my day's off so we could visit Auntie Merle. Merle hasn't been in the best of health recently but seemed quite bright and happy while we were there. My cousin John and partner Heather dropped in to say g'day. When we were kids many of our school holidays were spent at Nathalia with Nanny "Falia" and our cousins the Gallaghers, John, Geoff, Julie and Kathryn. I have many special and happy memories of Nathalia, a small town in the Goulburn Valley between Shepparton and Echuca on the Murray River.

Last weekend my stepmother Julie came down to Geelong so we could go to the Cats v Bulldogs game together. All of her family are Footscray/Western Bulldogs fans and they usually get together and go to this game each year, but for some strange reason all the Bulldogs fans found reasons not to attend this year! Maybe something to do with what a lousy season the Dogs are having but that didn't stop me sending a message that they are all lacking in loyalty and like rats deserting a sinking ship!

The Cats had a 10 goal win which Julie, The Heir and I enjoyed very much. The Heir was over for a week to visit Grandpa Jones who has been very ill the last few weeks although I'm pleased to say he has improved significantly the last few days.

 After one of Sport Boy's soccer games a couple of weeks ago, in Ballarat, we went to visit Mrs Holt Press' Auntie Joan who lives nearby. We were invited to stay for lunch and ended up having a lovely visit that lasted all afternoon. Joan is a bit eccentric and a lot of fun and seemed to really enjoying seeing us.

Don't let that disapproving expression fool you.

There is a very significant event looming in the Holt Press world: my 50th birthday on June 21.

In honour of this great occasion a number of family and friends are flying in from around the country to help celebrate on the weekend. There will be a Birthday BBQ lunch on Saturday followed by a trip to the footy at the MCG on Saturday night to see the Cats play the Saints. I'm really looking forward to it as you can imagine. If any readers would like to join us please come along!

What's Been Happening?

It's been a busy and intense couple of weeks in the Holt Press world.

My has Mum arrived for a visit. She apparently spent a great time with Vicki at a scrapbooking weekend retreat at Nowra if such a thing is possible before hosting her Victorian grandchildren for a weekend at Echuca. Then came a real highlight, a reunion with her best friend from school, Irene, whom she hadn't seen in over 40 years!! She came back to Ocean Grove glowing and bubbling over with stories and happiness.

Mrs Holt Press' Dad Alan has been sick and in hospital for a few weeks. One thing has led to another and his condition has deteriorated significantly. Despite this, after discussions with me and her brothers she decided to take a short trip back to WA to see The Heir for his birthday and visit her friends whom she misses terribly. Her brother Trevor was on hand to do "hospital duty". Unfortunately the day after she flew to Perth her Dad's health took a serious downturn, to the point where the medical staff were afraid he wouldn't make it through the night. So Mrs HP got on the next available flight and came back, with The Heir as her companion.

I spent a couple of hours at the hospital with her Dad before going up to Melbourne to pick them up and am pleased to report that he has perked up considerably and the crisis has passed for the time being. He is still gravely ill and the prospects of him coming out of hospital are not great but he has improved enough to be able to talk and smile and enjoy the visits of various family members over the weekend. We're taking it one day at a time. 

It is nice to have The Heir here for a visit and last night Favourite Daughter cooked a stupendous meal in honour of his birthday, roast chicken and lamb and veges followed by homemade pavlova! The only one missing was Spike.

Sunday morning I umpired a footy game at the old Geelong West oval which brought back happy memories of going to watch the Roosters play there in the VFA when I was a kid. 

Sport Boy had a soccer game at Lara, North Geelong's home ground, and drew 1-1 with Werribee in a good quality game. After that we took Mum up to the MCG to watch the West Coast v Collingwood game, risking the physical contortions and exclamations that go with watching a live game of football with my mother! The Heir, Sport Boy and I laughed our heads off at the looks on the faces of all around after one particularly high-pitched outburst after a West Coast goal! To say Mum is a nervous spectator is the height of understatement.

I have a couple of days off but work rang to ask if I can cover a late shift this arvo. Money is tight so overtime is a welcome boost. Tomorrow I'm hoping to take Mum up to Shepparton to visit Auntie Merle who hasn't been in very good health herself lately but is back home again now.

The other family milestone of late was my Dad's 75th birthday on Saturday. He too has been having his own health problems recently, suffering an episode of Bell's Palsy which has not gotten better as yet. Despite that he sounded in good spirits when I rang to wish him happy birthday.

No extended footy report this week but suffice to say I was a lot more pleased, and relieved, with Geelong's second half performance than their first half effort against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night. There was a lot of love for ex-Cat Gary Ablett after the game, once victory had been secured!

Cats v Blues @ Docklands: Footy Almanac

Carlton v Geelong Rd 9 Docklands

May 22, 2011 @ 10:38 pm posted by Marcus Holt

Preparation for this game started months ago.
As soon as the AFL fixtures came out and I saw that my roster had me finishing work at 2031 that night. Too late.
I needed to find someone who would swap a shift with me.
I needed someone who’s not a footy fan. Billy was my man. He was happy to forgo a 5th consecutive day of Deakin Expresses for a late finish on Friday night. Not only that, he made up the balance of hours by doing my last couple of runs on Monday night, freeing me up to pick Mum up from Avalon airport.
There was a setback when the game threatened to be a sell-out and the only way to secure seats as a Geelong member was to get there when the gates opened. Even with an earlier shift that wasn’t possible. Enter Favourite Daughter and Sport Boy: their mission- get to Docklands early and save me a seat.
I finished the last run of the day, resisting the temptation to tilt the bus to tip the last few passengers out at Geelong station and ten minutes later I was on my way up the Princes Freeway and headed for the footy.
I found a park in my usual place, made the dash up the stairs at Southern Cross and headed for Docklands and a rendezvous at Aisle 41 Row N.
I was especially keen to get there in time for the pre-game tribute to Bob Davis. The word icon is used way too easily these days but in this instance it is the perfect description for Woofa, The Geelong Flier who passed away earlier in the week. The minute’s silence was powerful and emotional.
The game starts and Carlton jump us early. The ball is camped inside their forward 50 and they have two goals on the board before we’ve even crossed the half way line. It’s not a good start but I’m not worried. The Hawks jumped us and we got them in the end, we’ve been finishing games really strongly.
Sure enough we kick a couple of goals but the pattern is established. Carlton break away and we reel them in. They look good and we’re playing catch-up. The Blues move the ball quickly and effectively with Murphy the driving force. Kelly is outstanding for the Cats. Put these two in a room together with a footy and no-one gets out alive.
A dubious free kick and goal to the Cats just before the main break and the scores are tied.
Some things in football are 100% predictable. Tonight it is that Darren Milburn will get roundly booed every time he touches the ball, and Joel Selwood will get the most free kicks and the Carlton fans will howl and moan at the injustice. Never mind that he goes where angels fear to tread and the ball is always his object.
Half time brings an unexpected question.
“How come your son doesn’t have a fishing rod?”
The enquiry comes from a big burley Blues fan sitting next to Sport Boy.
His name is Raff and he is friendly, engaging and good company, and seemingly equally passionate about the Blues and fishing.
I tell him my interest in fish only extends as far as eating them. He confides he’d rather catch them than eat them. I see a beautiful relationship forming!
The game restarts and the battle is rejoined. It’s a high standard game and the Cats need someone to stand up and break the game open. As if on cue, Travis Varcoe realises it is Indigenous round and this is his stage. He kicks the first three goals of the third quarter as a result of that most wonderful combination, speed and skill. The Blues hit back and Geelong lead by 7 at the last change.
The Cats had suggested they were about to run away with the game but one Blue has other plans and a certain dual Brownlow medallist threatens to win the game on his own. I’m sure he limped off with an ankle injury late in the second quarter but you’d never know when he kicks a brilliant goal to start the last quarter and follows up with a pinpoint pass to Simpson moments later and it is well and truly game on.
Can anything or anyone stop Chris Judd when he sets his mind to a task?
In the hour of need Chappy and Stevie J can always be relied upon. They both kick goals and the Cats grab back the lead.
Two defining moments bring the game to a thunderous crescendo.
The first is when Steve Johnson climbs high for a pack mark at full forward and is eclipsed by the soaring shadow of James Podsiadly who comes from four deep to fly even higher and pull down a screamer. I immediately look at Sport Boy and we share the same thought without having to say a word. Seven nights ago the JPod missed three dead-set sitters against the Magpies from about the same position. What would he do this time with the game again in the balance?
We needn’t have worried. He put it through the big sticks although the replay revealed the ball had helicoptered back from outside the left hand goalpost to get there. Cats by 10 and not long to go surely.
Carlton respond and Jarrad Waite goals shortly after. Cats by 4.
Andrew walker has a set shot from just inside 50 and misses.
Cats by 3.
Nerves fraying.
Then comes the final decisive moment. Corey Enright tries to spoil and succeeds only in clouting Blues ruckman Robbie Warnock in the head.
Free kick. 15 metres out, bit of an angle. The result rests on the big man’s shoulders but unbeknownst to anyone at the time, he is not a well boy. In fact he spends the night in hospital with concussion. Armed with this knowledge his miss to the left for a point is perfectly understandable. Never-the-less, at the time all we know is the Cats are clinging to a 2 point lead and in need of another hero.
Matty Scarlett volunteers for the job with two game saving marks in the heart of the Carlton forward line. The Cats clear the ball to half forward.
The siren goes.
I jump out of my seat in relief and joy and give myself a headspin.
We’ve won again.
Another thriller.
Saints by 1, Pies by 3 and now the Blues by 2.
What a ride!
“We are Geelong” rings out and I fancy Bobby Davis is grinning from ear to ear.
I swap phone numbers with Raff and picture a juicy snapper for dinner.
Votes: Kelly 3, Selwood 2, Murphy 1

Comings and Goings

There has been a shift in the "balance of power" in the Holt Press home of late. 

Favourite Daughter has returned from her sojourn to WA for weddings and such. She has brought her friend Toni: the two of them crossed the continent in the Kombi which is proving to be a most dependable vehicle.

And to fully complete the package, Mum has arrived for a visit.

Suddenly Sport Boy and I are out-numbered and the house is awash with females.

Mrs Holt Press is not complaining, especially as she has been fully occupied for the last few weeks tending to her Dad. He has been in hospital with a succession of issues, most of which have improved to the point where he may go home again soon.

Meanwhile, Mrs HP is booked to make a short visit back to WA next week, her Dad's health permitting.

She had an unused air ticket as a result of the move back to Victoria and booked a trip "home" to coincide with The Heir's birthday. We'll have to wait and see whether she can go or not.

Sport Boy has a trip to WA in the July school holidays which he is really looking forward to.

He has started the soccer season with North Geelong in the U14 A Division which involves playing against teams from Melbourne every second weekend as well as Ballarat. After two losses they won their first game last weekend so we were all very pleased and relieved.

He is home from school today with a cold.

Mum has caught the train and bus up to Echuca to spend a weekend with her grandchildren (Shannon's kids) and is then having a reunion with a schoolfriend, Irene who she hasn't seen in over 50 years: they are both very excited at the prospect.

Favourite Daughter and Toni have gone for a drive down the Great Ocean Road for the day.

I've got a late start today and am currently doing as much overtime as I can to ease some financial pressures. When I'm not working I'm enjoying going to the footy. Last week's win over Collingwood was an absolute thriller. Beating the Magpies is always good but this one was even sweeter considering both teams went into the game undefeated.

The Cats play Carlton at Docklands on Friday night which will be Favourite Daughter's first game of the season. It will be an emotional game following the death of Geelong legend Bob Davis this week. I'm hoping to attend his funeral on Tuesday.

Winter has arrived in Victoria! We've had the fire going the last couple of nights which provides very welcome comfort against the cold.

Footy Almanac Round 7 Geelong v North Melbourne 2011

 When I was growing up Saturday in Geelong was always synonymous with footy. Saturday mornings saw me running out in the resplendent yellow and red jumpers of the Terrifics in the Geelong West YMCA Little League under 9’s. Each week we’d line up against similarly named opposition: the Dazzlers, Rippers, Corkers or Beauts. Positive reinforcement may have had its birth place in Geelong junior football.

The only premiership I ever won was against the Dazzlers in 1970 on the back of our star player Grant Sutherland and our little red haired rover Patrick McGinnes.

Fast forward 41 years and Saturday morning finds me back at a junior footy ground, this time as an umpire for my first game of the season. Resplendent this time in bright orange I may look the part but before long it’s obvious my body has lost all semblance to the 9 year old who used to run around for the Terrifcs. I struggle to keep up with the under 16’s in the opening game and in the second game the under 18’s whiz past me in a blur of footy speed and skill that leaves me breathless. I contemplate alternative means of transport for aging unfit umpires to get around a footy ground; maybe one of those Segways I’ve seen on TV would do the job, or a horse?

I’m just glad that Neil, my co-umpire is fitter than me and carries more than his share of the load. After the game(s) I start to stiffen up as I walk to the car and wonder at the wisdom of it all.

I’ve got about an hour to have a quick look for footy badges at the Collectables Fair in Belmont before the Cats v Roos game at Kardinia Park.

Carolyn delivers Sport Boy and a very tasty packed lunch then drops us off outside the ground.

We find some seats in the temporary stand in the pocket at the river end that is set aside for general admission punters. It’s a good spot: I like having some elevation and a better over-view of the game and bring binoculars to see what’s going on at the city end.

Much has been made of this being the first AFL game ever coached by opposing twin brothers, the Scott boys. They refuse to buy into the hype:

“It’s not about us, it’s about the teams”. Fair enough; it’s an interesting piece of trivia and that’s about it.

Of more long term interest is Geelong’s chance of setting a new record for consecutive wins at our home ground. Victory today will take it to 25 in a row. Kardinia Park has become an impregnable fortress for the mighty Cats.

I have to make comment here on the number of talk-back callers and footy commentators who have suggested that the record is somehow lessened in stature because of the number of “weaker” teams we play down here.

Firstly, we have no control over who we play here or anywhere else, the AFL set the fixtures not Geelong.

As we all know, footy is a business and the dollar is the bottom line, therefore, all clubs like to maximise their earnings by playing the biggest drawing teams at the biggest venues. The Cattery only holds about 28,000 (at this stage) so if Geelong played a team like Collingwood down here 50-60,000 people would not be able to come to the game. It makes perfect common and financial sense to play such a game at the MCG. But here’s the rub, where would we prefer to play all of our home games? At Kardinia Park of course.

Finally, and most significantly in my mind, the criterion for which teams we play at Geelong has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the relative strength or weakness of the opposition and everything to do with the size of the crowd they are likely to draw. Naturally enough that means the non-Victorian teams are scheduled at Kardinia Park because of their small support at away games.

Similarly, North Melbourne tend to play us here because they don’t attract huge crowds. But the thing everyone seems to forget or ignore is that we just happen to be in a period of dominance of Victorian teams.

We have been playing much the same teams at home for years. Let’s just consider the last ten years.

Brisbane, triple premiers 2001-2003, Port Adelaide, premiers 2004, Sydney, premiers 2005, West Coast, premiers 2006, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, regular finalists are all regular visitors to the Cattery.

No-one complained about unfair fixturing when we were drawn to play premiership teams down here year after year. Conversely we never play Collingwood or Essendon at home because of the ground capacity and nothing to do with where they are on the ladder.

Sorry, I worked up a head of steam there but it is a pet peeve of mine.

The game itself goes to script. The Cats start well and threaten an avalanche.

North put up some early resistance and Petrie marks everything in sight. Lindsay Thomas rediscovers his radar and snaps a ripper goal.

Dasher Milburn defies all rumours of his demise and ghosts forward to kick a goal. Menzel out-muscles his opponent in the goal square and pulls in a one-hander. Selwood racks up clearances and Matty Stokes kicks goals.

The stand-outs are Podsiadly, Varcoe and Kelly. JPod crashes into packs and pulls down a string of contested marks although no-one in football takes longer to get up off the ground after a mark than James. His kicking is erratic but he still bags three. Travis runs and runs and runs and his finishing has gotten better and better on either foot. And Kelly does what Kelly does: goes in hard, wins contested possessions, delivers accurately and tackles anything that moves, not flashy just super-effective.

After the first quarter North become bit-part players as the Cats pile on the goals and run away with the game. By half time the result is so certain that Chris Scott makes possibly the most unusual substitution of the season so far, giant ruckman Brad Ottens is replaced by midget first year Allen Christensen, hardly like for like. Hawkins and Moons share the ruck duties while Otto rests up for Collingwood next week.

The Cats coast to an 11 goal win, the streak extends to 25, the Cattery remains a fortress and everyone goes home happy.

The only thing that soured the day was the four blokes behind us who swore loudly and yelled obscenities and abuse all day and took extreme exception to my polite request that they restrain their bad language out of respect for the nine small kids sitting nearby. They looked at me as if I had three heads, incredulous that anyone could suggest they had no right to yell and swear and carry on as they pleased. Sport Boy was worried they were going to hit me but thankfully it didn’t come to that.

Footy Almanac Rd 5 Geelong v Hawthorn

My effort at reporting on the Hawthorn game is below but if you want to read some brilliant writing about the same game, go here and see what John Harms had to say.

It started out as a day of no-shows. 

First, Sport Boy’s mate Dylan piked it on the morning of the game. (That family membership I bought with the extra kid’s ticket has been a waste of money so far.)

We caught the early train so we could hook up with Darlow at the Hilton for a drink before the game but that also fell through. His apologetic text read “Sick kids going mental, I’m losing my mind. Call U later, I’m not gonna make it”.

Ditching the Hilton plan we settle on a gluten-free microwave meal from 7-11 and a kick in the park outside the MCG.

Not surprisingly the kick-to-kick was better than the food.

There was a huge crowd making there way to the ground and gold and brown seemed to be the predominant colours.

The third no-show of the day was the Cats in the first 10 minutes.

They were nowhere to be found and it was Buddy Franklin in full flight.

The Hawks had 4:2 on the board before we troubled the goal umps and Sport Boy and I were quiet and pensive.

Chris Scott moved Lonergan onto Buddy: enjoy your day Tom!

The first glimmer of hope came when Tomahawk out-muscled Josh Gibson to mark and goal. We started to breathe again.

More goals followed and by some sort of Easter miracle we were only a point behind at quarter time.

Turnovers and missed shots hurt us badly in the first half: mistakes from Milburn, Varcoe and Selwood all lead directly to Hawk’s goals and they were out to a 16 point lead before Joel redeemed himself to kick our only goal of the 2^nd quarter.

The game washard and tough and fast and furious and neither side was giving an inch. In other words it was a typical Geelong v Hawthorn game.

In the mid noughties Sydney and West Coast fought out a succession of thrillers.

Since the 08 Grand Final it has been the Cats and the Hawks  turn to deliver epic encounters with single digit margins. By equal measures of luck and determination the Cats have triumphed in the last four battles but I’d gladly trade all those victories for the 08 flag.

That can’t happen of course so I’ll settle for another victory today but right now I’m not feeling confident.

In the third quarter Chance Bateman set the Hawks alight with a couple of goals, one a brilliant snap from the pocket and my anxiety levels were climbing again.

Then, someone flipped a switch and the Cats suddenly unleashed the sort of stunning 5 goal burst they were renowned for in the premiership years.

Fast, direct, daring up-the-guts footy launched by Scarlett, Enright and Taylor and finished off by Varcoe, Ling, Bartel and Duncan. Suddenly the Cats were 22 points in front and looking a million dollars.

Hawthorn responded with the last two goals of the quarter to narrow the margin and constrict the lungs.

They kept coming at the start of the last quarter and the margin was less than a goal. This wasn’t fun. This was becoming unbearable in that exquisitely painful way only a close game of footy can be.

Lonergan had done a brilliant job on Franklin but when he slotted one from the boundary the Hawks looked capable of pinching the game.

Joel Selwood must have sensed the same thing because he refused to be beaten at the ensuing centre bounce and forced the ball to James Kelly who dobbed the immediate reply from the 50.

A small wave of calm washed over me; I knew at that moment we were going to win.  When Duncan finished off some great work by Menzel and J-Pod goaled from the boundary line a minute later it was just the icing on the banana cake. The Cats were home: played 5, won 5. Chris Scott must think coaching is easy. Scarlo was chaired off in triumph for his 250^th.

We missed the last footy special so Sport Boy and I indulged in a curry at our favourite Indian restaurant before catching the Warnambool train back to Geelong.

 Votes

3 Lonergan 2 Taylor 1 Scarlett

Footy Almanac Sydney v Geelong Rd 4 2011

Round 4 Sydney v Geelong  SCG April 16 2011

Friday arvo.

Chris SMS’s seeking counsel for her footy tips.

“Cats or Swans?” reads her succinct question.

Three wins from three has convinced me the Cats are the real deal still and not even the fact that the game is at the SCG dents my confidence.

“Cats” I reply.

“Na, I’m going with the Swans” she shoots back.

Why did she ask if she’s not gonna listen I wonder?

Oh well, her loss!

Saturday night.

I have to work late and the game starts before I knock off. Thank goodness for the good old tranny, wedged next to the bus window as I complete the last route 50 for the night.

Apparently it’s been raining for the last 24 hours in Sydney and the commentators are predicting a tough tight low-scoring game. Hang on, this is a Swan’s game, what else would they be predicting?

No Geelong fan needs or wants to be reminded about what happened last time we played at the SCG but that of course is exactly what every tv, radio and newspaper commentator does in the lead up to the game.

My mate Mike just says two words whenever the Cats play the Swans.

“Nick Davis”

They still stab like a knife.

2005 semi-final.

In one of the great individual finals performances, the afore-mentioned former Magpie kicked four goals in the last quarter including the last one with three seconds left to steal the game from the devastated Cats. I’ve had many bad days as a Cats supporter and that one ranks right up there with the worst of them.

Ironically, two weeks later I was lucky enough to be at the MCG and barracked hard for the Swans as they beat West Coast in the ’05 Grand Final. You can’t accuse me of being bitter!

Tonight the Cats start well and kick the first two goals. Menzel’s side-stepping effort impresses the ABC team. Go Cats I say to the empty bus. Stevie J defies gravity and the soaking conditions to pull down a screamer. The Cats are on fire but the tide soon turns. The Swans start to get on top and kick four of the next five goals to lead at quarter time.

It’s starting to sound like the soggy slogging game everyone predicted.

By the start of the second quarter I’ve clocked off and am heading for home but it’s a half hour drive to Ocean Grove so Dan Lonergan and the Grandstand team are my eyes and ears at the game. By the sound of their description Geelong are having the better of it but typically the Swans refuse to be shaken off. They are more dogged than the Dogs and have been for years.

Finally the Cats dominance of possession pays off and late goals to Chappy and Wojo give us a 13 point lead at the main break.

By then I’m home and can watch the second half.

That ought to be good news but somehow being able to see what’s going on doesn’t bring me comfort.

It’s tense and so am I. Yes the Cats are doing well but as I remind Sport Boy, so were the Eagles last week until Sydney stormed home in the last ten minutes courtesy of an Adam Goodes inspired revival and two goals from Andrejs Everitt.

Perhaps I should take comfort from the fact Everitt is subbed off but the much vaunted “super-sub” Gary Rohan takes his place so there’s no room for comfort. As long as the scores remain this close I’m worried.

The spectre of 2005 seems ever-ready to rise out of the SCG basement and create another nightmare for Geelong.

Both sides kick 2:4 in the 3^rd quarter, the lead is still 13 and the game is still in the balance. When Kennedy kicks the first goal of the final quarter my pulse quickens several beats. The Swans will not be denied!

Then comes blessed red-headed relief, Lingy goals for the Cats to restore the two goal margin. Not long after the J-Pod  snaps truly and I breathe a little easier. He’s taken some great marks in the wet conditions tonight only to undo his good work by missing “easy” shots for goal, thank goodness this one’s gone through.

 The real star of the night is Bomber Wojicinski whose dashing runs and long bomb goals on the run belie both weather and age.

The Cats are safe. Not even Nick Davis could catch us now.

Four from four to start the season, three of them against finalists from last season. The signs are good. Go Cats.

Votes

3 Wojcinski  2 Kelly   1 Scarlett

Footy Almanac: Geelong V Port Adelaide: Rd 3 2011

Round Three Geelong V Port Adelaide  Kardinia Park   April 10 2011

Our first game at home this season, Kardinia Park that is, our real home. It has been a fortress for the last four seasons; another win today will make it 24 on the trot. The papers have done their best to spruik the game by reminding us that the last team to beat Geelong at the Cattery was Port, in round 21 2007. That game is memorable personally for three reasons.

1. I was on roster at the local art gallery back in Busselton so I couldn’t watch it. I took a portable telly with me but the reception was horrendous and the game was just a swirling blur of black and white static. At least the sound was clear.
2. Port lead for much of the game but the Cats looked like they had snatched a dramatic victory when Gary Ablett danced his way around 3-4 Port defenders to slot a brilliant goal with less than two minutes left.
3. Domenic Cassissi spoiled the party by kicking an equally dramatic if anti-climactic winner with about 10 seconds to go. Subsequent analysis blamed a fumble from Henry Playfair for giving him the ball and the chance to be Port’s hero. Coincidence or not, Henry never played for the Cats again, being traded to Sydney at the end of the season and not even their famed recycling resurrection powers could save his career.
   
   

Geelong and Port met again a few weeks later in the famous drought breaking Grand Final and since then have travelled hugely divergent paths.

So far in 2011 Port are in trouble and the Cats have started well.

Before the game Max Rooke does a lap of honour in the back of a Ford.

He is a crowd favourite and receives a rousing reception. Injections of calf blood in Germany enabled him to heal from a serious hamstring injury and take his place in the 2007 premiership side and in the epic ’09 Grand Final Maxie kicked the first and last goals of the game. Sadly 2010 was ruined by injury and in the end his body said “Enough”. Geelong are a pretty strong team physically but all of us miss Max’s toughness, he was the nearest thing we had to an enforcer.

This game starts slowly. Marred by inaccuracy and missed chances and at quarter time the scores are pretty close. After quarter time it becomes one way traffic as the Cats set about pummelling an ineffectual Port. 62 inside 50s to 22 and 15 goals to 5 in Geelong’s favour, end of story.

James Kelly seems to be relishing his greater midfield opportunities and tackles everything that moves. Steve Johnson kicks a typical Stevie J goal.

New coach Chris Scott has performed his first miracle: keeping Brad Ottens fit and on the ground and that makes a huge difference to the whole team. Mark Blake may be destined never to play his 100^th game; this week Tom Hawkins takes 2^nd ruck duties and does a reasonable job. Cat’s fans have had to be patient with the Tomahawk but the experts always say big blokes need longer and I’m prepared to give him the time he needs to develop. I like him a lot.

By half time it’s clear the Cats will win and a little bit of the sting goes out of the game. There’s a procession of goals and goal kickers and all the kids who’ve been selected give a good account of themselves. Daniel Menzel in particular has good goal sense and that rare quality of “time with ball in hand”. Some players always seem rushed and under pressure but Menzel doesn’t and he kicks a couple of goals.

Jimmy Bartel has started the season on fire and takes six contested marks and kicks two goals. Only Moons and the J-Pod are quiet, in fact big Cam ends up at centre half back. Versatility seems to be one of Chris Scott’s strategies as he employs subtle rather than radical changes.

Port leave Kardinia Park empty handed and the gulf between the two teams seems as wide as ever.

Good News and Good News

Sorry I haven't written my Footy Almanac report on the Geelong v Port Adelaide game yet but the Cats won, easily. More to follow...

Good news pt. 2: I have lost 5kg since starting my COATC (Cut Out All The Crap) diet. I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped on the scales this morning to see that I have dropped down to just under 104 kg from a starting weight of a little under 110kg. Sorry about the approximations but my scales are not that easy to read! I got off and got back on just to check because the last couple of times I've weighed myself there has been almost no change. But I'm confident that I've dropped 5kg so far. My target weight is 90kg so I've got a fair way to go but I'm encouraged by the progress.

I have had occasional treats, a cherry ripe last week for instance and two bowls of low-fat ice cream in the last two months but compared to the daily indulgence in cakes, pasties, lollies and ice cream which had been my norm for a long time it has been a significant change. Interestingly, when I do allow myself a small treat, eg.a couple of squares of (dark) chocolate, A: I feel a little guilty and B: I don't feel the need to eat more and more.

I haven't yet gotten into any regular exercise so there is plenty of scope to accelerate the weight loss if and when that happens.

Buy Your Gas on the Way out of Town, Not the Way in

 Same sign, same time,same day, different sides

I know which price I'd prefer

Footy Almanac: Round Two. Fremantle v Geelong

Round Two  Fremantle V Geelong  Subiaco  Saturday April 2 2011  

The footy talk all week has centred on concussion. So much so it’s given me a headache to rival the one Joel Selwood copped courtesy of Farren Ray’s hip last week. The media speculate all week: Will Selwood play? Much as I love having him in the team I really hope the Cats play it safe and don’t pick him to play the Dockers. Why take the risk, especially when it involves flying to Perth and back? I’m relieved when the news comes through that he’s not playing but am less thrilled to hear that both Mooney and Lonergan are out too! With Scarlett already serving a week’s penance we’ll be significantly under-manned in the backline. On the strength of this and home ground advantage I’ve tipped Fremantle. On the plus side Ling is back and Chappy will line up for his 200th game. 

The warm up game on TV is a sad affair with Gold Coast being given a stark reminder that this is the BIG League and no amount of gun recruits and first round draft picks can make up for lack of experience. It looks like being a long slow learning experience for the Suns.  The fortunes in the actual curtain-raiser at Subi are more encouraging. My WAFL team East Perth kick three goals in the last four minutes and snatch an unlikely victory against reigning VFL premiers North Ballarat in the Foxtel Cup.  Having lived in WA for the last 38 years before a recent move back to Victoria it is the first Geelong game at Subiaco I haven’t been to in 20 odd years.  

So to the main event: the Cats and the Dockers. Emergencies Menzel, Guthrie and debutante Christensen line up for the Cats as Chappy leads the boys out and tosses the coin.   Sandilands and Ottens go head to head for the entire game with the jolly purple giant winning most of the taps but the Cats sharking well to lead the centre clearance count.  Freo make the early running and kick the first couple of goals. Pavlich is on fire in the first quarter but Chris Scott swings Lingy on to him at quarter time and that severely restricts his impact on the game. Late in the term the Cats start to find their range with Stevie J refusing to do things simply and Menzel looking like an inspired inclusion. Geelong by 5 points at the break and I’m encouraged rather than confident.

Geelong look like they’re getting on top in the second and manage to get out to a 22 point lead before the Dockers claw them back. Kepler Bradley has three goals and at half time the margin has been cut to three pints. It’s a good game, a vast improvement on last week’s dour struggle with the Saints. 

Half way through the third quarter there is a cataclysmic collision between Steve Johnson and Mt Sandilands. I feel the earth move from 3000 kilometres away! In an act that inspires groans and then amazement Johnno bounces straight up and chases after the ball. The biggest man ever to play football has failed to stop him and I begin to think it might just be our night.  Ballantyne is making a pest of himself as usual. He sucked Lingy in earlier which gifted Pavlich a goal and now he’s looking like a match-winner, bursting through packs and kicking a goal from 50.  Every time Geelong kick a goal the Dockers get a quick reply.

We’re 9 points up at the last change but by no means safe.

Our recent record in Perth is very good but this is not the Dockers of old. They’ve put a number of their old stars out to pasture and the kids like Hill, Suban and Fyfe seem to have sparked a new lease of life in the likes of Mundy McPharlin and McPhee. Will the heat and the travel take its toll or can we hang on?  Ottens twice has chances to kick goals that would make us safe and twice misses. I expect nothing less, as a forward Brad makes an excellent ruckman. At the other end Mayne misses twice as well before Pavlich, playing his 238th game to equal Shane Parker’s games record for the Dockers, lines up a very gettable shot but also misses. As a commentator said, “There’s no such thing as a captain’s point” and I feel my hopes rising. 

Enright has been brilliant all night and once again clears for the Cats. The ball travels the outer wing and ends up in the hands of Matthew Stokes who coolly and calmly slots the winner. We’re home by 11 points and there is much rejoicing in the lounge room at Ocean Grove.  

The boys chair Chappy off the ground to the applause of the small band of WA based Cats fans. It’s a suitably hard-fought win that matches the milestone man’s own tough character. 

Votes 3 Enright 2 Ling 1 Ballantyne