Marvellous day for romance
TO HELL with neutrality and objectivity, I’m barracking this afternoon. Barracking for the story, and the story is the Swans.
Yeah, yeah, I know, people true to their role in the media should be neutral and objective, and I like to think most of us are most of the time.
Occasionally, though, the romance of a particular story is irresistible. It dwarfs everything else, as romance can do.
Like 1990, when, for the first and perhaps only time in my life, I adopted Collingwood in the Grand Final.
Watching the outpouring of emotion on the ground immediately after the final siren when the Magpies beat Essendon was a lifelong experience.
Mixing with the Roses and the Richards on the sacred turf, seeing their tears, sensing their relief, understanding just a little of the heartache that had built over 32 years was the meaning of sport in its rawest form.
Yet, the South Melbourne/Sydney journey offers even more.
A foundation member of the Victorian Football League has only three premierships from 108 years. If West Coast wins this afternoon, it also will have three flags. From 19 years. It is 72 years since the Bloods won a flag.
Bob Skilton wasn’t even born then and he has been a Swan for 50 years.
Imagine the joy for Skilts and Barry Round if the Swans get up this afternoon. For other greats such as “Moppsy” Rantall and “Wheels” Bedford. For benefactors and former officials Craig Kimberley and Graeme John, and the families of late presidents Jack Marks, George Camakaris and Bill Collins.
For that unique and disparate group that orchestrated and carried out the chaotic transfer of the Swans to Sydney in the early 1980s.
Rick Quade, Tony Franklin, Greg Miller, Dean Moore, Ray Ball, Barry Rogers, Barry Lyons and others.
Quade remains with the Swans as a board member, Franklin works for Lindsay Fox in Sydney, Miller is the director of football at Richmond, the others have gone their separate ways.
Moore works at the AFL and still barracks for the Swannies, Ball is the father of Luke (St Kilda) and Matt (Hawthorn).