20. Home coming

Jeremy went to watch finals for the local football league at the ground where he played his junior football. Lots of locals were there. Later that day he phoned me to pick him up as he quietly slipped away without a word to anyone. He had had enough. He had avoided the crowded parts of the ground because he said everyone wanted to shake his hand and talk to him. He signed a few autographs. He did take the time to talk at length to the guy who was his junior coach.

His mates still treat him the same way as before and Jeremy is still comfortable in their company which is great to see. Still very much a humble guy he has no desire to big-note himself at all, even if it means getting into the ground free of charge.
Too many questions bore him silly. He has always been a doer and this is perhaps the secret of many footballers. They just love to get out there and do their stuff, which is play football. But don’t expect him to talk about it.

It is nice to have him at home again even if it is for just a little while.

This is the last entry for this blog. It has followed Jeremy’s quest towards becoming an AFL player. It has been a difficult road without surety of success. He has been fortunate to have made it this far, and far quicker than we had anticipated. At present the future looks great for Jeremy, but it is a fickle business, without security, and more difficult than others in that every move is scrutinised by everyone from their own executive and coaching staff, to the public and media.

How do I finish this story with some words of wisdom? I guess the tragic deaths this week of two great Australians - Steve Irwin and Peter Brock – remind us all to live our lives to the fullest and do the things we love to do. There were two men who truly went at high gear in pursuit of their loves and dreams, and remembered all the people around them as they did it. They both displayed such generosity of spirit to everyone they met, by all accounts of the people who knew them. If we all can try to accomplish a tenth of what they have achieved and do it with the same enthusiasm, kindness and sincerity then the world will be a better place.

19. Mild Monday

After the second phone call I turned my phone off. Jeremy had phoned me and proceeded to pass the phone around the group, everyone getting to say a word or two to Jeremy's mum. One high profile player telling me enthusiastically, "I love your son! He's my new main man." And although it was nice to be included in their "Mad Monday" antics it was a difficult conversation to sustain.

John and I went to a local pub to watch the last game on pay TV. The last game of the season saw them defeated by the team I think will win the flag this year. Every pass of the ball was contested. The other team was just too good for them. Jeremy kicked a great goal from about 60 metres out, and another snap went through for a behind. His stats were quite good considering how well the other team played.

Jeremy has been offered a two year contract and he is thrilled to stay on and play for this team. We are happy too and look forward to more interstate trips next year. Hopefully we will get to see him play in our home state.

Tonight he arrives home and will stay for a little while until his pre-season training demands his return. It will be nice to have him around again.

18. Welcome to the Machine

The huge room was filled with hundreds of people sitting at round tables eating, drinking and talking. We were late for this President’s lunch at the stadium. As we sat in our seats our glasses were filled and we were served salmon frittata for an entrée. Giant screens named the many sponsors who filled this room. I looked up and saw the AFL boss preparing for his little talk to this audience. We introduced ourselves to our table mates to find we were amongst an extremely diverse bunch. A football guernsey was auctioned, a player from Jeremy’s team gave a little talk, the main course was hurriedly scoffed as everyone made haste to get to their seats in the stadium to watch The Game. This was the second last match of the season; the showdown round. We traveled interstate to watch this much anticipated clash of rivals.

Earlier in the day we had attended a breakfast at the Clubs function rooms. It was a beautifully prepared breakfast provided by the club for the host families and associated players parents. The facilitator for the day is a wonderful man who remembers everyone’s names without trouble and introduces everyone to each other.

Jeremy, John and I have been well and truly welcomed to the immense machine that is an AFL football club. We have been greeted by The Coach, the President, The CEO, the Team Manager, the off-field Player Development Manager, the on-field Player Development Manager, fitness coaches, the forwards coach, the media liaison person, the events manager, ex-players associated with the club, current star players, new players, host families, and other parents.

These people without exception have been positive, welcoming, hospitable, friendly, enthusiastic and energetic. They form the huge machine that drives an AFL football club. Jeremy is well and truly part of that machine now. They know him, love him and claim him.

The game was a success and a treat to watch. Jeremy did his bit to contribute positively to the victorious win to upset the favourites. He took a few marks, kicked a goal, and I counted three precise goal assists that resulted in a goal.

After the game the jubilant players ran around the boundary hand slapping the spectators and fans. Jeremy told me later that he felt weird at first doing that but joined in the frivolity because all the other players were doing it.

We went into the change rooms, but were too late to hear them sing their song. Jeremy was pedaling on a stationary bike with a smile from ear to ear.

Then we went back to the clubs function room where hundreds of loyal fans had crowded to welcome and congratulate the team. The Coach gave a short talk. The players arrived one by one and the crowd applauded. We stood in a separate area with the club officials, and friends and family of players. The Club President greeted us warmly, remembering our faces and names after meeting us only once before. We met more people that are a part of this machine.

I wonder where these people get their energy, passion, and drive to do all this week after week. We bid our farewells to Jeremy, feeling glad that he is so well thought of, and cared for. But also sad with the realisation that he is now part of the machine.

17. Bro's

The young man’s face fills the screen. All eyes are focused on him as the zoom lens magnifies his features to abnormal proportions. His concentration is obvious. He is totally focused on his task. He makes his move. The spectators hold their collective breath in anticipation. All eyes move to see the result as he writes the number down at the bottom of this difficult mathematical equation….

Hey! Is this not what you were expecting me to say? Was the answer right or wrong? What was the question? Who can say? Perhaps this is why solving engineering equations is not a spectator sport and football is.

Jeremy’s brother (let’s call him Mathew) is eighteen months older and studying Engineering at University. He was watching Jeremy play his second AFL game on multiple huge television screens in an inner city sports bar with some friends, as Jeremy lined up for a set shot at goals. One can only wonder at the mixed emotions Mathew must feel when he sees his little brothers face enlarged to such huge size on television. There must be pride, but also annoyance that is typical in sibling relationships.

When they were little boys Mathew would always be coming up with ideas and Jeremy would be his reliable and trusting crash test dummy. Now as young adults Mathew is still thinking and coming up with bright ideas and Jeremy is still putting his body on the line.

As parents John and I tried to spend our time and resources with our three children equally. But any parent of a child involved in a high level of sport (or perhaps another demanding activity) will confess to committing far more time, energy and focus on this one child and at the expense of the others. It is a hard call. If the child does not get this necessary parental support the steady improvement and development in their chosen activity will not have the chance to flourish. If there sounds like a little guilt within these words then that is because there is to some extent.

Mathew has always been independent and self-sufficient. His intellectual pursuits required solitary focus for development. Maths is neither a team sport nor a spectator sport. He did play various sports and excelled in athletics but these activities were a secondary priority for him.

When our daughter was young we took her to netball, swimming and dancing. For many years we attended her dance concerts. These activities going by the wayside to make room for her main activity which is a love of writing. Another solitary pursuit.

Jeremy has dominated our time and energy over the last decade as his football commitments required more and more time at venues that were increasingly further afield. Now we plan our weekends around trips interstate to watch him play football at this highest level.

Jeremy started on the ground for his second AFL game. He performed in a steady, strong and reliable manner. He looked as big and as strong as some of the champions he was up against. He lined up for a set shot at goal from the 50 metre line and unfortunately missed, but at least he had a try at it. The commentators said positive things about him. His team was unlucky to lose as the opposition stole the lead in the dying seconds of this close contest.

John and I will travel to see him play next weekend whether he plays for his AFL team or his other designated team. At this point in the season many teams have lots of players out with injuries and for this reason alone it is likely Jeremy will get his third chance to play with the big boys.

16. AFL debut

The halogen lights illuminated the grass making it appear greener as the sky changed from pale blue to lavender, then pale pink, brilliant magenta, violet, then to deep velvety purple.

Our seats in the grand stand provide us with a perfect vantage point to witness this AFL match – our sons AFL debut. We have traveled from cold winter chills down south to warm tropical heat for this momentous occasion.

Earlier in the day we spoke to Jeremy. He seemed calm enough but had gone to the cinema to distract his mind from the match. He told us that the best advice he had received prior to this game was from one of this former under 18 team mates who sent him the text message, “The grass is the same colour and the ball is the same shape.”

Finally the team runs out onto the ground through the banner with Jeremy amongst them. We know he will be starting on the bench, so there is still time for nervous energy to accumulate some more. In this heat the bench will no doubt be rotated continually.

His team begins well scoring the first couple of goals. Then he is on. I see his first footfall onto AFL turf. He is in the forward line – in familiar territory. He has the jitters and fumbles his first touches. He gets the ball, has a bounce and gets caught from behind, just getting the ball off to a team mate in time.

He starts on the bench again for the second quarter. When he does come onto the ground he goes to the back line, but is soon moved forward after some indecisive moves.

There is a scramble in their goal square. Jeremy gets the ball and snaps it onto his left foot, kicking the ball over his shoulder and through for a goal! He celebrated with a cool relieved response – no jumping around or hand gestures.

After this his play is more settled. He has two fantastic tackles that stop the opposition effectively. A photo of one tackle making the major newspapers the next day.

The game is agonisingly close with the lead see-sawing a point either way.

In the final quarter Jeremy leads out from the goals, marks the ball well at about 45 metres out on an angle. He quickly runs around his opponent to pass across to a team mate who misses and the ball is knocked out of bounds near the goals. It was too close and too near to the end of the game for Jeremy to line up for a difficult set shot, despite the cries from the people in the grand-stand to “Kick a goal!”

His team ends up winning by a couple of goals and they are jubilant as the underdogs. The crowd goes wild as the team song plays. It is great for Jeremy to experience a win for his first game of AFL footy, and even more satisfying for him knowing that he made his contribution to the score.

The team stretches, photos are taken, text messages arrive thick and fast from family and friends, and strangers in the crowd shake our hands and wish our son well.

We are invited to go with the team on the bus to the after-match function at a local supporters club. The view from the bus is a real eye-opener as real fans flock about for a close-up glimpse of their super stars.

We meet some of the team support staff and have a few words with The Coach. Everyone seems happy with Jeremy’s first effort as an AFL player. We stay only a short while and soon leave for our red-eye special southwards. The team will stay overnight, have a sleep, maybe a swim, and then return to their home state.

Jeremy will front the media for the first time on Monday but I doubt it will be shown on the television stations in our home state.

It occurs to me that although the risks are high for players competing in sport at this elite level, the rewards are just as great. They love what they do. The challenges met, reap a sense of satisfaction beyond the norm of everyday lives. It can be the best fun, especially when the outcome is a win. And if they are good enough (and lucky enough) they get to do it all again next week.

15. Milestones

Every day is a milestone when you think philosophically. Life can be a celebration of tiny little victories and occurrences.

This weekend Chris Grant reached a significant AFL milestone by attaining the record for the most number of games played by anyone for the Western Bulldogs (Footscray). An undeniable championship milestone. The club made an appropriate fuss that motivated the team to a win.

My father (Jeremy’s grandfather) turned 70 years of age. Another significant milestone and one we celebrated in Jeremy’s absence. The rest of the family and close friends gathered at my parents home to mark the occasion. Jeremy phoned to send his best wishes.

Meanwhile Jeremy’s AFL team played. We had thought we may have been faced with a clash of major milestones; my Dad’s 70th birthday party and Jeremy’s AFL debut. Luckily (or unluckily) that did not happen. There would have been no other choice for John and I – we would have gone along to see Jeremy play football. As John said, “There are Milestones and there are milestones.”

Jeremy had received a lot of attention from the media in his home away from home over the past three weeks. His face had been seen on TV and in the major newspapers with speculation that his time had come. So there was a chance but it was not to be this week. The media can speculate as much as they want, but ultimately they are not the ones to pick the team and are not privy to the pros and cons for any given week. Jeremy is told to be ready but there is no feedback to him about why he doesn’t get chosen. So he just has to keep doing what he’s doing. The possibility remains strong that his AFL debut may happen in one of these last four matches for this season. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

He played in the firsts of his designated team. This team was beaten by a huge margin. Jeremy did what he could from the forward line despite the fact that most of the play was at the other end of the ground. He was named as one of the top four players.

14. Crunch time

It’s crunch time! Teams jostle for finals positions. Numerous injuries sideline important players. Coaches struggle to outsmart opponents with on-field tactics. The media take desperate measures to get that unique story line. New players get their first games. All players try to cement their places for the next season. This is the defining point in the AFL season.

A couple of the young men from Jeremy’s under 18 team have recently had their first games. Jeremy shares the joy in their success and phones them to tell them so.

We had thought that Jeremy may have been chosen to play this last weekend. He was invited to attend all the relevant meetings. His name was suggested. We were ready to take off interstate at the last moment. Alas it was not to be. Maybe next week?

This time of year clubs know if they are in finals contention. Clubs begin to assess the team performances and try to work out their needs for the future. New players are put to the test to see if they have what it takes. Many players have their seasons put to a premature end due to serious injury. Trade of players, impending retirements, delisting, and draft choices are all bandied around by media speculation. It is an edgy time for everyone in the game.

Jeremy’s designated team had a week off this last weekend so this meant another week on the sidelines for Jeremy who is in-form, injury free, and raring to go. He had to do some training to keep up his match fitness. Jeremy was tempted to come home for a visit, but instead went along to watch and support his AFL team.

Crunch time for Jeremy means he may just be selected to play his first AFL game in the next week or so. Otherwise he will have to wait until next year hoping his chance will be kept alive by his club choosing to keep him around for another year.