A fan of Rudi

[Dogwatcher]

[/url]http://www.cricket.com.au/default.aspx? ... fileid=203[url]

I knew Greg Blewett was a Centrals supporter, but thought this was a giggle.

Imagine cricket fans with no idea about SA football, or football full stop, seeing the name Rudi Mandemaker. "Who?"

Reminds me of that ol' chestnut about Christian Vieri being interviewed by the Italian media, and asking them who his hero was "Allan Border".

[smac]

Rudi used to live around the corner from me when he was playing for the dogs. Always happy to come out and kick the footy on the road with me and my mates, champion bloke. We used to scream out "Ruuuudiiiii" every time he marked the footy, even if he just stood still and casually marked it.

I understand why his eyes were always red now, never made sense when I was a kid!

[Dogwatcher]

ha ha ha. gold.
I remember him watching one of our games when I was a kid.

All the kids were pointing him out from the field "Rudi's here, Rudi's here".

[Booney]

My first ever mini-league game on Thebarton,I ran out on the ground,soaking up all the atmosphere and checking if I could see Mum in the outer....*BANG* big Rudi was in the way of one little Boon not watching where he was going.

[Jimmy]

i was about 8 or 9 (maybe older) shopping with dad in the craigmore shops when we ran into rudi, top bloke, had a chat with us even tho we are sturt fans, I think sturt may even have got an upset win that weekend over the dogs too, but he was more than happy to chat and sign his john hancock iirc.

never heard anyone say anything bad about it....plus, im surprised he never played in thongs coz thats all i saw him in off the field.

[Dogwatcher]

Seems everyone has a Rudi story!

[Armytank]

Yeah I think everyone has a Rudi story just because of the type of person he is. I lived next door to him for a couple of years and coached his son at an U14 level. I cannot rate the guy highly enough. He is a top bloke.

[Grahaml]

And a sad demise for the great man. Deserved to go out on better terms. Was the first footy hero I can remember having, although I'm told Johnny Platten was the first, but I was too young to remember that now.

Played cricket in the PDCA apparently, and at Parafield Gardens smashed a six over the railway line. Massive hit if it's true since I've seen some big hits there not even go close to beating the fence he would have had to have clobbered the ball over to get there.

[magpie in the 80's]

so with all these RUDI stories, "WHERE IS HE NOW" and "WHAT DOES HE DO"?

[dinglinga]

must have been a huge hit to clear the fence at bradman reserve( parafield gardens ssc)

even the great men of mcconnell and roadley be struggling with one

[Grahaml]

It's a Robbie Drake hit that far.

[Hondo]

Did he play state-of-origin for SA at full-forward in 1987 v Vic??

As I write this, a Victorian playing for SA doesn't seem right but that's what I remember. Maybe it was v WA instead?

[johntheclaret]

i was about 8 or 9 (maybe older) shopping with dad in the craigmore shops when we ran into rudi, top bloke, had a chat with us even tho we are sturt fans, I think sturt may even have got an upset win that weekend over the dogs too, but he was more than happy to chat and sign his john hancock iirc.

never heard anyone say anything bad about it....plus, im surprised he never played in thongs coz thats all i saw him in off the field.

Hope you are referring to the footwear Jimmy

[Jimmy]

i was about 8 or 9 (maybe older) shopping with dad in the craigmore shops when we ran into rudi, top bloke, had a chat with us even tho we are sturt fans, I think sturt may even have got an upset win that weekend over the dogs too, but he was more than happy to chat and sign his john hancock iirc.

never heard anyone say anything bad about it....plus, im surprised he never played in thongs coz thats all i saw him in off the field.

Hope you are referring to the footwear Jimmy

the they say that over there too mate? yeah, i get teh thongs/flipflops mixed up all the time, get plenty of strange looks

[johntheclaret]

i was about 8 or 9 (maybe older) shopping with dad in the craigmore shops when we ran into rudi, top bloke, had a chat with us even tho we are sturt fans, I think sturt may even have got an upset win that weekend over the dogs too, but he was more than happy to chat and sign his john hancock iirc.

never heard anyone say anything bad about it....plus, im surprised he never played in thongs coz thats all i saw him in off the field.

Hope you are referring to the footwear Jimmy

the they say that over there too mate? yeah, i get teh thongs/flipflops mixed up all the time, get plenty of strange looks

I bet you do Lets hope you wear them the right way round.

[Armytank]

so with all these RUDI stories, "WHERE IS HE NOW" and "WHAT DOES HE DO"?

Rudi runs a termite and pest extermination company I believe, lives in Coromandel Valley in the southern foothills.

He has recently been associated with the Blackwood Football Club as an assistant coach at a senior level and the Ironbank Cherry Gardens Football Club as a coach and umpire at a junior level.

Also doing his best to keep the till in the bar at both clubs working on a regular basis

[Magpiespower]

im surprised he never played in thongs coz thats all i saw him in off the field.

Jimmy, I can assure you Rudi owned at least one pair of shoes - green Nike Air Max's.

Because my dero mate stole them from his front porch.

Could be why you always saw him in thongs...

[twosheds]

so with all these RUDI stories, "WHERE IS HE NOW" and "WHAT DOES HE DO"?

Rudi runs a termite and pest extermination company I believe, lives in Coromandel Valley in the southern foothills.

He has recently been associated with the Blackwood Football Club as an assistant coach at a senior level and the Ironbank Cherry Gardens Football Club as a coach and umpire at a junior level.

Also doing his best to keep the till in the bar at both clubs working on a regular basis

Correct weight on all three and hes still a champion bloke!

[bulldog pommy]

must have been a huge hit to clear the fence at bradman reserve( parafield gardens ssc)

even the great men of mcconnell and roadley be struggling with one

That's if you can get those two out of the bar

[MatteeG]

Reakon his son plays at Flagstaff Hill Footy Club ATM..