Sorry this is a bit long winded, but it was truely hard to leave bits out!
It all started a couple of months ago when one morning I was checking the RFC website and noticed that they were again going to hold the Legends Cup this year. I have been threatening to do this for a couple of years now. As an added bonus it was to be the curtain raiser for the Richmond v Sydney game (my wife being a Sydney supporter).
I promptly emailed my wife to inform her it was on again, just really as a bit of a joke! Fifteen minutes later I was copied on an email she had sent to Dale Weightman with my entry details an payment!!!!! After picking myself up off the ground I rang my wife, “what are you doing women” I said. “Well, you’ve always wanted to play in it, your not getting any younger AND the Swans are playing after you” she replied. Holy cow, this is actually going to happen.
After a couple of months of physio appointments to get my troublesome right calf in good working order, I rocked up on Thursday the 1st to the Punt Road Training evening. Into the room we go, lining up to hand in our signed indemnity forms and collect our playing kit. The majority of the current day players were gradually filing out to the car park, some stopping for a quick chat and to wish us luck. I was quite amazed at the size of some of our boys!
We head into the changing room to get stripped for the training session. I begin to feel a little overwhelmed simply running onto the Punt Road oval, what is it going to be like to run onto the MCG! A number of the “legends” are running around with us during the session. People like Tony Free, Des Ryan, Chris Naish just to name a few are running around giving off handballs and yelling encouragement – great fun. The session goes for about an hour, I come through un-scathed. We all gather back in the gym after showering and changing. Mike Perry has a bit of a chat to us (President of the “Past Players and Officials Association”) about the importance of the game and how the funds will help former players, then Flea gives us some final important information for the big day ahead.
Sunday morning, skies were clear, it was a bit cool, but it was going to be an awesome day.
We arrived at the ground at 10am and headed straight into the changing rooms deep beneath the great southern stand, there were people everywhere. We headed to the far end room which was where we were getting stripped.
I joined the queue to get strapped up, ankles, thumbs and shoulder (I am 45 after all). I have to keep pinching myself, this is fantastic. I take my seat back in the rooms to finish getting prepared. Sitting just up from me is Michael Roach, Jimmy Jess and Jeff Hogg. All say gidday and introduce themselves to me (as if I didn’t know who they were). There are people stretching, getting rub downs, getting changed all around. I grab myself a corner, start doing some stretching myself and simply took in the atmosphere!
Soon we were all called into a room so we could be addressed by our coach, 1980 Premiership coach Tony Jewel. This was hilarious! We were instructed to play unsociable football and to hit your opponent hard. Disco Roach was then instructed to “take-out” Basher Williams. The crowd roared with laughter.
Group photos were taken, both teas together. Then we were all addressed by the superstar himself Matthew Richardson. This was also great. He was quick to let us all now that if we called for the ball from our teammate and they didn’t give it to us – we should give them an almighty spray – the crowd erupted – hilarious!!
It was time to make our way out onto the mighty MCG. Walking up the ramp filled with excitement we turned and there it was, the MCG Members Stand, I had to take a deep breath and compose myself, could this day get any better? A banner had been prepared for us to run through, these small things just add to the experience. We all did some run-throughs and kicking drills to warm up. It was soon time for the team photos with the members stand in the background.
Toss and then siren, we were off, playing a game of footy on the “G”. That troublesome right calf was feeling great. We had a very quick qtr time break, changed ends and were ready to get back into it. Paul Roos walked past me and asked what was going on, he said he wished he was playing, I told him he wouldn’t get a kick . After gathering a couple of touches, my left calf (the good one) started to tighten up, I thought I would just take it easy and keep stretching, unfortunately when the ball is there to be won, you cant help but go at it – POP that was the feeling I suddenly got in my good calf. Did I mention that I am 45! Yep, the old mans injury had struck me again. I hobbled my way to the bench for some ice and medical attention. This really just helped complete the experience. None of my mates can talk of the day they got injured playing footy on the MCG!!
The game was unfortunately shortened to 3 quarters due to the MCG insistence that we be off the ground by 1pm, originally it was to be 1:30pm. By the end of the game 26 players from each team were running around on the ground together, it was amazing. Both teams gathered in a big circle in the middle of the ground and belted out the Richmond theme song – WOW!
We all made our way back to the rooms to get showered and changed and then headed to the Harrison room for refreshments and to cheer on the mighty tigers. We got to witness our clubs best win of the season, much to the disgust of my wife, but it help round out a truly magnificent day.
Some of the Legends that played:
Auslab Tiger Richmond Tigers
Dale Weightman Peter “Basher” Williams
Michael Roach Phil Egan
Jimmy Jess Trevor Poole
Jeff Hogg Bruce Tempany
Mark Coughlan Greg Stafford
Benny Gale Mark Chaffey
Andrew Kellaway Mark Graham
Craig Smith Des Ryan
Allan McKellar Tony Free
Big big thank you to Dale Weightman and the Richmond Football Club for organize such an amazing experience, if you have an opportunity in the future to be involved please do so, you wont be disappointed.
Carn the Mighty Tigers!
