LOVE THE GAME FORFOR THETHE LOVE OFOF THE GAME
BIG V RECOLLECTIONS I have been fortunate to of pull on the Big V and represent the VAFA on a few occasions, each time was an honour and a memory I won’t forget. In 2008, I was selected to play in the U23 squad versus South Australia at the Junction Oval. I remember being nervous just turning up to my first training session let alone the actual game, not knowing what to expect, meeting blokes I usually wanted to beat on a Saturday afternoon. Mick Dwyer was the coach and immediately brought the group together, you could just tell they wanted to play for him. It showed on game day as we proceeded to smash the South Australians, running out 12 goal winners. Memories from the game would soon be matched by the celebrations shared by the squad and coaches that went on into the night. To this day, I’m still mates with players met through that game. The bonus of being selected in the U23 game was it provided the opportunity to be selected in the All-Australian Amateurs team to tour Ireland late that year. Thankfully Jack Watts dominated the ruck against SA and helped me get a couple of kicks in the midfield. When the call came from VAFA CEO Michael Sholly that I was off to Ireland I was absolutely rapt. I fully appreciated the support you get from the VAFA community, and in particular my club St Kevin’s Old Boys, who held fundraisers to get me to Ireland. I’ll be forever grateful to them for that. The trip itself was three of the greatest weeks I’ve ever had. To sum it up, it was like a footy tournament, combined with a footy trip with mates, on the other side of the world - a perfect combination. The 20 players from around Australia got along like we had been mates for years, and the travelling support staff were fantastic. Our first stop was Cork where we beat Bishoptown under lights by 5 points, a highlight of the game being the choreographed celebrations that the Aussie players performed whenever we slotted an ‘under’. Following some sightseeing it was off to Galway to play the University of Galway on a pitch beside a river with an old ruined castle opposite
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us, an incredible setting for a game. The major game of the tour was in Dublin against GAA club Donaghmore Ashbourne. It was Saturday evening under lights and the game was postponed half an hour. The reason? The local priest announced the game at church and all the attendees requested it didn’t start until after evening mass. My roommate from Perth and I both noticed our hands shaking with nerves as we lined up for the national anthems. By this stage the crowd was large, and seeing ‘Australia’ as the visiting team on the scoreboard really hit home as to the opportunity we had been given. The game was the most physical and challenging of the tour, playing against a handful of All-Ireland representatives. Whilst we narrowly lost, it was the most enjoyable game of the tour. A highlight post match was seeing Pete ‘Chuckles’ McGettigan signing autographs on the ground with a few kids and ladies. After three amazing weeks touring the country of Ireland, playing International Rules footy, it was time to head home with an experience of a lifetime. I’ve since been lucky enough to play again in the senior state team under Dean Anderson and Simon Lethlean. They have been fantastic coaches and genuinely great blokes that you love to play under and have a beer with after the game. Highlights include being a member of the teams to beat the EFL representative squad on two occasions, including the Bushfire Appeal Game in 2009, as well as having the honour of captaining the senior side in its 2010 win over AFL NSW. Rep footy provided opportunities to rove to players like Hayden Heta and Jack Watts; sharing the midfield with guns Brendan Iezzi, David Lowe and Ryan Colbert; and kicking to forwards such as Matt Robbins, Matt Handley and Nick ‘just get it to me’ Sautner. Pulling on the jumper on with clubmates Tommy Simpson, Plugger Lynch and Luke Williams has meant that I’ll always remember wearing the Big V and memories it has given me. By Ben Dowd THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2013