Australian Footbal Stories
Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:01 pm
I just obtained this 50c book in Vinnies
"Barassi Australian Football Stories" 1981. Foreword by Jack Dyer
Lots of short stories, which I'll relay here from time to time. Feel free to add yours.
P17. In the beginning...
It's often being said that Aussie Rules is a religion. Creation of football might have taken place in Biblical days as:
On the First Day, God created football Presidents
On the Second Day, God created football Coaches
On the Third Day, God created football Players
On the Fourth Day, God created football Supporters
On the Fifth Day, God created football Grounds
On the Sixth Day, God was due to rest - but he couldn't - he had to check with Ron Barassi to see if he'd done everything the right way.
P75. Weiderman's Mistake
Motivation has suddenly become a very fashionable word in football, but coaches were trying to motivate their players long before I was given my first nappy, let alone football boots.
But then, as now, it was possible to over do it and the result was often not quite what the coach had in mind.
Murray Weiderman was Collingwood's all-time glamour player, but he perhaps wasn't quite so successful as their coach. Before one vital game for the Magpies he tried to rev up his players with magnificent promises of what was in store for them should they win.
"Win this one," he said enthusiastically, "and the whole lot of you are on a trip to Fiji."
The players' eyes brightened and they could hardly wait to get on the ground. Weiderman was sure that it was in the bag, but he decided to throw in a bonus for good measure, "And what's more, we'll invite your wives along as well."
The fires died, their feet turned to lead, and they lost dismally.
"Barassi Australian Football Stories" 1981. Foreword by Jack Dyer
Lots of short stories, which I'll relay here from time to time. Feel free to add yours.
P17. In the beginning...
It's often being said that Aussie Rules is a religion. Creation of football might have taken place in Biblical days as:
On the First Day, God created football Presidents
On the Second Day, God created football Coaches
On the Third Day, God created football Players
On the Fourth Day, God created football Supporters
On the Fifth Day, God created football Grounds
On the Sixth Day, God was due to rest - but he couldn't - he had to check with Ron Barassi to see if he'd done everything the right way.
P75. Weiderman's Mistake
Motivation has suddenly become a very fashionable word in football, but coaches were trying to motivate their players long before I was given my first nappy, let alone football boots.
But then, as now, it was possible to over do it and the result was often not quite what the coach had in mind.
Murray Weiderman was Collingwood's all-time glamour player, but he perhaps wasn't quite so successful as their coach. Before one vital game for the Magpies he tried to rev up his players with magnificent promises of what was in store for them should they win.
"Win this one," he said enthusiastically, "and the whole lot of you are on a trip to Fiji."
The players' eyes brightened and they could hardly wait to get on the ground. Weiderman was sure that it was in the bag, but he decided to throw in a bonus for good measure, "And what's more, we'll invite your wives along as well."
The fires died, their feet turned to lead, and they lost dismally.