Andrew Kellaway: Richmond Warrior
2:42:48 PM Wed 25 May, 2005
Chris Riches
richmondfc.com.au
More than 19 minutes had elapsed in the last quarter at the Gabba last Saturday night, and the Chris Johnson pass into Brisbane’s forward 50 was pinpoint . . . Ashley McGrath almost certain to take the mark, line up for his sixth goal to put the Lions eight points clear – and deliver the knockout punch to a brave Richmond outfit.
Suddenly, just as McGrath is about to hug the ball to his chest, a Tiger defender’s fist appears from nowhere to punch the ball away. Out of bounds the ball rolls, allowing the Tigers to take a breath and fight another battle.
A short time later, when Nathan Brown swivels onto his right foot and kicks truly to put Richmond in front with just over two minutes to play, that Tiger defender – Andrew Kellaway – probably feels a small sense of satisfaction.
But even if he did, no-one would have known. There’s still two minutes remaining on the clock and that means there’s still work to do; still battles to win; still territory to defend.
Fast-forward to the final siren and a stirring four-point victory. Kellaway can join in a rousing rendition of the Club song, now able to relax a little and celebrate what is not only a vital Richmond win, but also his 150th game, in style.
Fittingly, the hallmarks of that win – courage, bravery and good, old-fashioned guts – so accurately sum up a warrior such as Kellaway himself.
For the 2000 Jack Dyer Medallist and All-Australian, there’s no room for shirking the issue, no thought of backing off for the cheap receive, no consideration of putting personal safety before team success.
The 29-year-old has been playing senior league football since 1998, yet still approaches every contest with the sort of fearlessness you’d expect from a wide-eyed rookie 10 years younger.
Almost eight seasons of backing into packs, standing under high balls as opposition forwards charge out, running with the flight of the ball – and taking the fearful hits that go along with these actions – yet Kellaway continues to do it all without thinking twice.
He simply marks out his territory in his defensive 50 and dares his opponent – or any other opposition player who may “invade” that territory – to beat him. And, for eight seasons, not too many have.
There must be many times over the course of a season when opposition forwards think they have Kellaway’s measure. Bigger forwards would believe they can just outmuscle him in the air, or beat him on the lead, while smaller forwards would feel they‘d have his measure on the ground.
But most quickly find out how badly they’ve misjudged Andrew Kellaway.
Because, for a warrior like Andrew Kellaway, each defensive contest is its own small battle, and each attack repelled marks another small victory. And, in a tight game like Saturday night’s, every one-on-one battle between forward and defender becomes crucial.
Against Brisbane, the main battles for Kellaway and the Richmond defence were coming from unexpected sources.
With the Lions’ tall forwards in Daniel Bradshaw and Jonathon Brown superbly held throughout by Darren Gaspar and Mark Graham, it was crumbers like Ashley McGrath, with four goals to three-quarter time, who had caused the most headaches for the Tigers’ defence.
In addition, youngsters like Anthony Corrie and Justin Sherman had looked ready to pounce on a number of occasions. It was in fact Corrie who kicked the first goal of the last quarter – and his second - to put the Lions eight points up.
By the end of that see-sawing final quarter, however, Brisbane forwards such as McGrath, Sherman, Corrie – even Brown and Bradshaw – had come off second best against Andrew Kellaway.
Five minutes into the final term, and a gutsy Kellaway puts his head over the ball and body on the line to earn a free kick against Sherman – and snuff out a promising Brisbane attack.
Four minutes later, and Kellaway loses his only battle of the last quarter; a fortunate bounce and half-shepherd on the Tiger defender by Bradshaw combine to allow McGrath to run into an open goal for his fifth and re-extend the Lions lead to seven points after a Troy Simmonds goal had narrowed it to one just two minutes earlier.
Those watching the game could almost sense Kellaway’s frustration at losing this battle. But fate would smile on him in his 150th game, and ultimately he would have the final say.
At the centre bounce, following a Nathan Brown goal 13 minutes in to cut the deficit to two points, Brisbane push the ball forward. A stray kick sends it bouncing past Jonathon Brown and his marker Graham and dangerously into Brisbane’s forward 50.
Suddenly, all that stands between a quick ‘dish-off’ to a teammate by Daniel Bradshaw is Andrew Kellaway. And, it is Kellaway who reaches over the bigger Lions’ player, pushes the ball away and helps force it harmlessly over the boundary line.
Another attack stopped, a battle won.
Seconds later, the brave Tiger backman is at it again. Having rotated to cover Brown while Graham is incapacitated with cramp, Kellaway reads the play better than Brisbane’s star centre-half-forward, hurtling headlong towards the Lions’ goal line to rush a Nigel Lappin kick through for a point.
Brown swears in frustration at being beaten. Brisbane by three, and another battle won by Andrew Kellaway.
Five minutes later it is Kellaway again – eyes glued on the ball, watching a speculative Simon Black handball into Brisbane’s forward 50. Head down, the Tiger No. 39 is first to the ball and characteristically wins a free kick when Anthony Corrie pushes him in the back.
The partisan crowd’s frustrations echo those of Corrie, now among the Brisbane forwards who find themselves unable to beat the desperate Kellaway in a one-on-one contest.
While it is another battle won by the Richmond defender, he is once more called into action only seconds later when he makes “that spoil” on McGrath.
“That spoil” is pure Kellaway – no fuss. It’s all about extra effort and playing the percentages to force the ball to the safety of the boundary line.
Another attack is repelled, with time enough for the Tigers to regroup and launch a final assault of their own minutes later.
This is an assault that Kellaway has a hand in as well – dragging his opponent McGrath to the wing before leading back to mark a short pass from Mark Coughlan – and copping a belt in the back of the head for good measure.
Kellaway’s much-improved field kicking finds Matthew Richardson on a lead. Richo’s bomb forward is roved by Troy Simmonds, who ‘dishes’ off to Kane Johnson. The Tiger captain’s quick kick ends up causing a goalmouth panic by the Lions, a rare Michael Voss error, and the opportunity for Nathan Brown to snap truly to put Richmond in front.
Two minutes later . . . battle won, game over.
For true Tigers, there are few better sights and sounds than the boys from Punt Road belting out the theme song after a win like that one last Saturday night.
And, when it comes to a warrior such as Andrew Kellaway, there are few more apt descriptions than that contained in the words of the Richmond theme song –
“In any weather
You will see us with a grin,
Risking head and shin.
If we’re behind,
Then never mind,
We’ll fight and fight and win!”
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