Bragging rights at stake
By Matthew Richardson
The Age
March 27, 2005
It wouldn't surprise me if, at some stage today, Richmond's Ray Hall finds himself having to stand his good mate, Geelong's Brad Ottens, at the MCG.
It can be a slightly tricky situation lining up against one of your good friends, although to be honest, it's probably something you give more thought to during the week, rather than in the heat of the game, when everything becomes instinctive and one opposition jumper is the same as any other.
Ray obviously gave it a few moments thought last week: even before any of our match-ups were outlined by coach Terry Wallace, he had asked me what it's like to take on a mate in an AFL match.
There were a few such instances that I could draw upon. I've had to wander down to the goal square and be greeted by my brother-in-law Jade Rawlings. And my best mate, Ben Harrison, a guy I was in grade prep with in Devonport, lined up on me in a match at Telstra Dome a couple of years ago.
Admittedly, it was only for two minutes just before half-time, but that was enough time for a one-on-one contest. I did the right thing and played in front, he lurked behind, and of course a wobbly old punt kick floated over my head, he nudged me under the ball and took the mark. To this day, I still haven't heard the end of it.
I guess the point I'm making is that there are bragging rights at stake, and footballers in these kind of situations might find it even harder to take if they don't win every ball that comes their way.
But if Ray Hall was feeling slightly unsure what to expect today, then you can bet that Brad Ottens was feeling 100 times more uncertain. One thing he can be certain of is that the Richmond fans at the MCG will give him plenty. And them some.
The fact is that Brad did choose to leave Punt Road at the end of last season. In fact, the word on the grapevine - and in our locker room - towards the end of last season was that he was looking to move on. As it turned out, he severed ties while we were all on our end-of-season break. When I heard that he had left, I can't say that it surprised me. Because Brad is such a quiet person, you never really could get a handle on what he was thinking about his future.
Some of us, myself included, haven't seen him or spoken to him since he went down to Geelong. That's not to say we've wiped him. I rate him as a fantastic guy. Very humble, genuine. There wouldn't be a bloke at the club who didn't get along with him. Perhaps we might have had a bit more contact with Brad, but as it turns out, probably two of his better friends among the players - Aaron Fiora and Marc Dragicevic - have also left.
The issue is not so much whether he's a decent bloke or not, it's more so that it is disappointing to lose a quality player to another team. Especially when you've had an ordinary year and you need your best players to stick together and lift you out of the depths.
Brad obviously decided he needed a change of club to get the best out of himself, something he stated a fair few times. It wasn't just a change of scenery because we were going to get that anyway with Terry Wallace and his new broom. But Brad is on the record as saying he didn't think that was going to change the place too much.
I know we've yet to even play a game, but unquestionably the place has changed a fair bit since "Otto" left. A third of the list has changed, the game plan is completely different, players have regained lost confidence, there is renewed optimism, and even little things, such as the changing rooms being revamped, have helped.
We are enjoying the challenge ahead of us, and can't wait to get out onto the 'G this afternoon. I wonder whether Brad will have felt the same during the past week.
I doubt whether he'll be comfortable in the spotlight today. That's not really his go.
No doubt, there'll be the usual banter directed his way out on the ground; the pointed odd comment if he lines up for a goal. I'm tipping Brad will be rapt to get this game out of the way in round one, and put the whole issue behind him.
It's worth remembering the other side of the equation in all of this. One guy that Brad might come face to face with today, at a centre bounce, will be a man lining up in his first match for the Tigers.
Troy Simmonds is a similar sort of player to Brad, and is a more than handy replacement. He's fitted in at Punt Road like he's been around the place for years.
He's going to be an important player at his new club, as I'm sure Brad will be at Geelong.
Let's hope they both have strong seasons at their respective teams, but that only one of them gets a kick today.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/03/26/1111692682264.html
