On a day when the AFL’s two newest clubs were thrashed by a total of over 200 points, there was a bit of joy to be had from Wayne ‘The Duck’ Carey’s appearance on Triple M’s The Sunday Rub.
His old club was about to debut in Hobart for what all were hoping would be a long-term presence, unlike previous brief forays in Canberra, Sydney and the Gold Coast.
The early indications for North are good: plenty of local interest, about two thousand appearing at a training run, and plenty of blue and white in the crowd to watch North notch up a bread-and-butter 20-goal win.
The key to North playing games in Hobart is that we are talking about fair dinkum footy fans; there’s no need to convert anyone to the game. The Tasmanians know the game as well, if not better, than your average Victorian.
The Duck reflected on North’s first experiment with playing home games away from home, which was in Canberra about ten years ago.
Carey said that the move may have worked out if North had been prepared to stick with it and invest some time and energy.
One of his co-commentators suggested that perhaps he had spent a bit too much time chasing educational videos in Fyshwick, which may also have explained his excess baggage.
With North lining up to play GWS, The Rub interviewed the Giants’ assistant coach, Mark Williams, and we all witnessed one of the funniest moments in sporting radio history.
The Duck asked Williams whether it would be good for Israel Folau’s education if he were to play on North power forward, Drew Petrie, to follow him around and find out what the game is all about.
Williams responded, “Aah… you got money on Drew kicking 10, have you? No, no, I don’t think we’ll be doing that today.”
The commentary box completely lost it – a hilarious moment, but a brutally honest assessment of Folau’s ability.
The Duck’s old club had been in the news in recent days, with Majak Daw having been reported in the VFL for taking a swipe at an old team mate, Daniel Pratt, the two having been involved in a love triangle.
Amazingly, everyone kept a straight face when the Duck told everyone that he simply has to learn to deal with it.
When talk moved to arrests in Miami, an old footy story was recalled involving Hawthorn on and end-of-season trip and Allan “Yabby” Jeans.
Jason Dunstall had been arrested along with three team mates. Yabby Jeans turned up to the slammer wearing his night gown. With no hint of sarcasm, he said “Shoot him, him and him, but don’t shoot the fat bugger.”
Another old team mate of The Duck’s, Schwatta, recounted how he set fire to the shirt of a club director, and not long after that found himself traded to Sydney.
Among the merriment and the absurdity of the scorelines involving GWS and the Suns, the real news is that North may have at last found a home away from home.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
AS it's a ripper yarn, very easy to imagine Yabby Jeans turning up in a night gown, all grand fatherly like, but very willing to condone a bit of rough justice and/or tough love. John Kennedy was another that was always in an overcoat. When the mods questioned what the hell this article was all about, I had to admit that it was just an excuse to tell some footy stories!!
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
that was the most irritating part of the nomadic roos. If theyd committed to something like hawthorn, where they play 7 games in Melbourne and 4 games in Tasmania a year, then its not unforeseeable that the 26 million 10 year deal that GWS got could have gone their way. Coupled with the Murray Kangaroos already in play, they would have had a great base to work from. That would have been enough to prevent GWS who wouldnt have had canberra memberships to fall back on - oh yeah North could have grabbed another 5k memberships too. Tasmania would then have likely been the 19th or 20th team withh Gold Coast. So many ifs
ManInBlack
Guest
Brayshaw at one point spoke as well that Hobart was only happening because effectively North were invited to and Ballarat was on the back burner for the time being. If it's understood that North playing in Hobart is a benefit for 2 or 3 or so years to help test the water and provide a focus and improve the facilities (which it seems to be) -- then great. The Taswegians still want their own team. re the crowd - funny after the game reading the local 'comments' about the guys in the North reckoning it's wasted in the South and Lonnie is more central and all that. The crowd though - given the forecast had been for windy, cold and showers - the weather turned out great, basically windy and in the Southern Stand we were almost sun burnt - I was in a t-shirt until the last quarter!! However, on the hill in the full face of the wind I think they were fully rugged up despite the full sun. The hill could've been packed a bit more - but the main area of concern was probably the cricket members sections around the N-W of the venue. They are also the dodgey buildings and structures that make the ground a mismatch. The odd thing is that locally, there was all this talk about a full house and here and there whispers of tickets still available. I was left wondering what the heck was going on. We got to Lonnie on Thurs and to Hobart on Sat - and really didn't have a clue but had our tickets purchased (as North members) from back in early March.
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Cattery, I like the Allan Jeans story. Wasn't he always in a dressing gown, or raincoat? Those were the days - when everyone got drunk and/or arrested on end of season trips and the public never found out!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Speaking of North, just saw a repeat of Mike Sheehan's interview with Glennn Archer - what a player this bloke was! Not naturally gifted, but such a tough competitor, but always quietly spoken. I remember one game at manuka, I had seats right next to the fence, which were bad seats because they are so low to the ground and Manuka has that inversed bowl shaped surface. But Arch was playing on my side on the HBF, and it was such a joy to see him doing his business up close, and with Canberra crowds being so quiet, you could hear every hit. It was funny when Arch talked about him and Schwatta being rubbed out for a prelim in 1997, and they were both standing in the race as the siren went, and they saw Pagan walking towards them, and Arch says to Schwatta: I'm outta here. Schwatta stayed where he was, and Pagan tore strips out of him on the way in to address the players.
Norm
Guest
Canberra Kangaroos even sounded right!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I too thought that the Murray Kangaroos concept coupled with games in Canberra was a great fit. It doesn't matter now, if that had continued, we may never would have taken a risk on two new teams.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
MIB and Wookie, thanks for those thoughts. I was aware of the Ballarat initiative, but I'd be pretty upset if North was going to hang round for a few years then depart the scene, making it four places outside of Victoria where they've wasted people's time. The Qeustion is: could 3 games in Hobart, 3 games in Ballarat and 5 games in Melbourne work?
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
The lack of crowd in Hobart reflected the perceived lack of commitment by North.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Im almost certain its not, Arocca has referred to it as a means of making money until the Ballarat thing happens. I think much of the Roos future planning hinges on games at Ballarat, and they are playing Cricket Tasmania like a banjo at the moment.
ManInBlack
Guest
The irony is that North has been chasing Ballarat and had the Brumby Govt survived, then that's where the Roos would've been and I could've saved about $1000 on getting the family to a game at the 'home away from home'!! Canberra should've worked. That combined with the Murray Kangaroos in the VFL. Should've worked in spades. I lost a lot of faith in North when they kept jumping around, up to Sydney and then to the Gold Coast. We were prostituting ourselves more than a HAL club to a Billionaire with an open wallet. I'm yet to be convinced that North regard Hobart as a long term option. But, I am convinced that Haw in Lonnie and North in Hobart (North in the South is ironic) is medium term going to assist Tassie in getting a stand alone side. I'd still like to see North in Vic with games at Ballarat. btw - Bellerive isn't as good as Aurora and needs work.