Brown the magician waves wand over spellbound Roos
9:58:26 AM Tue 13 June, 2006
Chris Riches
richmondfc.com.au
Magicians such as Nathan Brown are few and far between in the AFL.
Brown’s ability to bamboozle opponents makes him a matchwinner – a particularly precious commodity in today’s football.
His shocking injury mid-season last year, extended absence, frustrating comeback and then further time on the sidelines, have all been well-documented, as has his importance to Richmond.
While Tiger fans have enjoyed watching their young side notch five wins from its past seven games, they’ve also kept an expectant eye out for Brown’s “second coming”, keen to see him cast more spells over opposition backmen.
And, at a venue seemingly ideal for a bit of magic – a fog-shrouded MCG – it was 15 minutes of Brown brilliance either side of half-time which played a key role in sparking Richmond to victory over the Kangaroos in their Round 11 clash last Saturday.
After being outplayed during the opening quarter, the Tigers had fought back to snatch a two-point lead with only six minutes remaining in the first half. Less than 15 minutes of playing time later – and after some Brown brilliance – the margin had blown out to 26 points; a gap which the Roos, despite their efforts, were unable to bridge.
Brown casts his first spell over Roo Cameron Thurley with just over five minutes left in the second term. With Brett Deledio ready to kick the Tigers forward, Nathan Brown calls for the ball about 25 metres out from goal.
As the ball comes in, Thurley seems in prime position to spoil, but that’s when Brown’s wizardry kicks in . . .
A quick stutter-step at the start of his lead throws Thurley off-balance and buys Brown a split-second to get free. Eyes intent on the ball’s flight, Brown pauses again, allowing Thurley to catch up, put one forearm in his back and the other around him ready to spoil.
At the last instant, however, Brown launches himself at the ball and simultaneously stoops over slightly, protecting the space the ball is going to drop into. Thurley, seemingly set for a simple spoil, is left punching at air as Brown leans forward and lets the ball fall onto his chest, swivelling to protect the ball as he falls to ground 40 metres from goal.
Kicking the goal from 50 metres out is comparatively easy in comparison . . . Brown is mobbed by teammates, the Tiger fans’ guttural roar clearly jubilant, and the lead is pushed out to eight points.
The goal sparks the Tigers, who pick up the intensity and kick another to extend the lead to 14 points by the long break.
Four minutes into the third quarter and the Tiger defence combines for a clearance – Nathan Foley chipping the ball to Brown in the centre of an increasingly misty MCG.
With nothing further ahead, Brown waits. Seconds tick by before he short passes to Dean Polo a further 15 metres closer to goal. But Brown hasn’t stood still . . . As soon as he’s kicked the ball he’s on the move, and two steps ahead of most others on the ground.
Polo spots Brown now reaching full speed and handballs to him as he runs by. Kangaroos’ opponents are caught on the hop by the move as Brown, realising the need to run the lines and carry the ball forward, motors away.
Now facing the Roos’ Daniel Wells – himself no stranger to magic tricks on the football field – Brown slows a touch, lulling his younger opponent into a trap.
Waiting until the last possible moment, Brown then, like lightning, handballs sideways to Greg Tivendale. Tivendale, now well in the clear, has the chance to bounce, steady and run to 40 metres out before blasting a left-foot goal to push the Tigers’ lead to 20 points.
Fast-forward just a couple of minutes and with the margin cut back to 14 points, it would be Brown, again weaving his magic, to the rescue.
This time it’s Andrew Raines kicking the ball long into the Richmond forward line and to Brown, in a one-out contest with Roo defender Joshua Gibson, only 25 metres from goal. Brown watches the flight and, as he subtly edges his opponent underneath the ball so it travels over both their heads, turns to chase.
But big Greg Stafford comes in and, pursued by his own opponent in Shannon Watt, he gathers and dishes back to Brown.
Now the Tiger conjurer is under pressure – corralled by a couple of Kangaroo defenders and hurtling towards the boundary line.
Yet, instinctively, he knows Stafford is now free of his opponent and in a little space, so, without really even turning and looking, Brown fires a handball back to the Tiger ruckman.
This sleight of hand has wrong-footed his opponents just enough to give Stafford the time to spot Kayne Pettifer unattended near the goalsquare – and it is there that Stafford’s kick lands, with Pettifer kicking truly to re-establish the Tigers’ 20-point lead.
Barely a minute later, and its Brown’s turn to go from goal-provider to goal-kicker.
A chain of handballs through the centre lands with the long-kicking Shane Tuck. Brown is now deep in the forward pocket, opposed to Daniel Pratt.
There’s no real magic to what happens next, although Brown with his clever football brain and vast experience, makes it appear like there is. Knowing Tuck’s raking kicks, Brown doesn’t charge forward – instead moving backwards a little towards goal and a couple of metres behind his younger opponent.
Tuck duly kicks long and it’s Brown, who is now able to run into space behind his opponent, with Pratt only able to watch despairingly as the ball sails over his head and into Brown’s safe hands.
The finish, from a tight angle, is all class.
Due in no small part to some Brown wand-waving, the Tigers have grabbed a tight game by the scruff of the neck and bolted to a comfortable lead.
And, that’s why players like Brown are worth their weight in gold to an AFL side . . .
yellowandblack.info
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