SANFL Childhood memories

[Dogwatcher]

Bit of a different memory than the rest here. Played U17 footy for Centrals with the likes of Stuart Cochrane, Mick O, and played the best game of my life against my beloved Double Blues in a practice match at Stirling. Was so used to seeing the Double Blue guernsey that i walked into the wrong changeroom after the match

Drizzly, drizzly day.

[Rik E Boy]

My first trip down to Football Park from the country to see my first ever Grand Final with my beloved Redlegs, the 1984 Grand Final against Port, what a first ever grand final to see live, an awesome day and awesome match (especially cause the Legs won), those were the days that really enjoyed going to footy to watch footy played as footy should be played, that is:

1. Simple footy, one on one contests with no flooding and good hard courageous footy (I remember Keith Thomas's mark running back into the play, talk about courage from a smaller player.

2. Not over umpired - the umpires kept themself out of the game, and didn't try to impose themself on the game and they had character, if the players answered back at them they wouldn't get arrogant with a "I'm the one with the whistle, you will listen to me" back then they would have a crack back at the players, and would earn and build respect with players.

3. There was a healthy respect between supporters and a healthy rivalry that you could enjoy going to the matches and enjoy the banter between oppositions.

And who could forget duffle coats at the footy with the number and name of your favourite player on the back and badges on the front.

Now back to the actual day, starting with the tussle between Craig Balme and Tim Evans during the national anthem, Evans didn't know where to go, Balme was going to eat him alive. The the scuffle in the square after that and Dwayne Russell came through and took out a Norwood Player (Duncan Fosdike I think it was). The Keith Thomas's mark running back with the ball into the play, courage plus and the best feeling of all - the final siren sounding.

That is the memory that I will always have with me as a country kid coming down from the bush, as we didn't get to experience that often, so something very special for me.

FANTASTIC!