Keep a lid on it but the Ressies look like a good thing for the flag. We gained percentage and 4 points on
While we should focus on the Magoos as the September playboys, it is difficult to ignore the career of Korey Fulton because he has been where few go in sport.
We were given the whisper that Korey might hang up the boots after his last home game dependent on total goals. He has been playing through the pain barrier on a weekly basis since week one in his tribute year to Harry Keenan, and risked permanent damage as the weeks wore on. We have seen better ankles on an astronaut suit. For a while it seemed he was going to do a “Tubbie Taylor” and finish equal with Ray Hughson’s 636 career goals. Restricted to playing deep, late in the third stanza Fults missed from a set shot; then preferred to back up his team mates in a blue while Fifey took advantage of the adjudicator’s play on to goal unattended; then mid final term Simmo goaled from a Korey handball; following which the Fulton right foot didn’t make the distance from another set shot. However, at 4 minutes and 3 seconds to play, Ben Walters kicked to the hot spot where our heart dipped when Korey was out of position and the player under it was Fitzy. He juggled and spilled the nut but did enough for the ump to whistle a mark while simultaneously Fults pounced voraciously and slotted number 637 which was allowed as an advantage play. It has taken 44 years for this milestone to be bettered - it was enough to make a jelly fish go hard.
Much was said post game when Fults surprised Smithy with his emotional retirement announcement. Both Smithy and El Presidente Paul Rolfe spoke in glowing terms of the character shown by Korey to return to Broadie this season after a crack at a premiership with
Smithy and Rolfey challenged the playing group to match Korey’s longevity at the Cattery and declared him a legend at Broadbeach and of the QAFL. Look up legend in your dictionary. Maybe future legends should be declared as “
Seniors
On a windswept day in very cold conditions we were overwhelmed by an accomplished side with two forward focal points in White and Eagle. Both were dominant in racking up 13 of Redland’s 18 goals between them - White had 4 and 2 assists in the opening stanza. Tinker was everywhere, Fifey was Fifey and Hutchy proved to be a useful ruckman. While Stewie quietened down White in two spells on the big fella, Simmo, Hales, Rhino never stopped, Ryan Thompson was hard at it, Cloughy rocked on Carse, and Fitzy showed some good moves.
Our third and fourth quarters will have
But fair to say Redland is a contender and their hard work on and off the field over the last couple of years is paying off. Final score: Redland 18 12 120 def Broadbeach 5 9 39.
Goals:
Best:
Magoos
Pat Evans, who we believe will not back up in 2010 to notch 100 senior games, was back as skipper and hopefully he can finish off with a flag, but we are keeping a lid on it.
Given
In the first quarter you’d reckon that we were playing a fifth stanza to last week’s great effort v Aspley. Kicking with a fair breeze, Spackers was up and about with 5 sausage rolls, Swinger was on his game, Tom Clough was on Qantas looking for grabs, Searly was dominant wherever the ball was and Joel Wilkinson hit targets, ran with the nut, and took marks under pressure from behind in a generally outstanding display for a kid who has not played too much aussie rules. We will not mozz his future with the predictions of a certain moustachioed coach. At quarter time we were up by 7 goals and looking the goods.
It looked like they would have to shoot Wilko to stop him as he continued on his merry way after the break. Unfortunately we did not take advantage and could only manage one for the quarter after a bit of stoppage magic from Searly found Jake Tooma 30 out dead in front.. Skrinner should have put one through but was unusually run down from behind. Wilko missed his only target for the day when he had a poster 50 out from the boundary against the wind and Swinger to Skrinner to Searly should have been rewarded. At half time we were still in control 8 5 to Redland 3 7.
The bombers started to get on top early on in the business period. We appeared to slow down, to not run as hard. Maybe it was complacency, maybe in the face of the breeze dropping we dropped our concentration. On the bright side, Searly did well across the middle, Chook showed plenty of dash, Ash Palmer goaled after a big catch by Harry Sleigh and Swinger swung in with a grab and goal. Whatever, Redland put in the hard yards against the odds and closed the gap to set up a nervous last quarter. Three quarter time Broady 10 9 to the Bombers 8 9.
Chands asked for a big effort in the face of a season defining quarter. The boys responded early with a build up and goal from Spackers, giving him consecutive 6 goal bags, but a quick reply from
Goals: Spackman 6, Edwards and Palmer 4 a piece, and 1 each to Searl, Tooma and Moss.
Best: Wilkinson, Sleigh, Clough, Edwards, Hensby, Spackman
Under 18s
Caloundra forfeited so our blokes get 4 points and some recovery time from playing a couple of games per weekend. We are also tipping a percentage adjustment upwards.
Lunch (see also ‘Caught in the Act’ – click on the ‘637’ album)
First up thanks are due to Anne and staff for the tucker and service on this and all the sponsors’ lunches for season 2009. And a huge thank you to all our sponsors who have stuck by us – we are indebted to all – and we hope you will be on board in 2010.
Guests for the lunch were Ray Hughson after whom the QAFL state league names its goal kicking award, and prior to the game, the second most career goals in QAFL history, and Travis Auld, newly appointed CEO of the GCFC.
Ray, born in
Travis has had 12 years at the Bombers commencing in finance and finishing in the football department where his task was to rebuild post Sheeds. His initial comments were a note of thanks to the GC clubs in gaining the AFL license and a recognition that local clubs are the lifeblood of the game. That master of interviewers, Bob Walters, enquired why Travis would leave the Bombers when their CEO position was becoming vacant, to which Travis as a good VicLander replied “the weather and an opportunity to purchase some Ashcroft real estate at bargain basement prices”.
Ray Hughson went for the jugular with “Why will the GCFC succeed where the Lions failed?” Pretty convincing argument from Travis that submitted that a new stadium, significant draft concessions, the cream of Australia’s 17 year olds and more than plenty of money, stacks up well against an aging list of the Bears playing at an under developed Cararra. Moreover the GCFC will have appropriate organisational support including off field development - current full time staff level is 15 which is expected to expand to 45 by the first round 2011. Throw in the likes of Mal Blight, a local derby with the Lions (to be played at the Gabba) and it is not difficult to envisage one hell of a ride for the club and supporters.
The inevitable KH question evoked the fact that within 24 hours following the signing, national coverage of the GCFC doubled. Enough said.
For the immediate future the club will field a side in the VFL in 2010 playing 10 games in
Finally Travis summarised his objective as engaging the community as supporters of the GCFC even if only as their second club. He suggested that Essendon has 1 million supporters, forty two thousand financial members and around 16 thousand loyal match-goers. In contrast, the task here is to sign up members and gain regular attendance from the 170,000 persons on the GC interested in Aussie Rules.
The annual Top Cat draw was the last item before the main game. The club returns $2,000 to one of these ten generous souls who donate that sum for the season. Last man standing draw went in order: Percy Baker, John Barret, Terry Young, Errol Holmes, Terry Roach, Ben Keenan, Trevor Shepherd, Bill Fehr, Doug Burgess and LES SHEERS. Many thanks gentlemen, we hope you are back in 2010.
It has rules, it is Australian, and it is FOOTBALL. Honk your horn if you love fair dinkum footy.
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