• <28th June 2008>
• Season 2008 Review
• <September 2008>

Season 2008 in review

This was a season of malcontent. There comes a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the full etc etc. Well we picked the wrong tide and got swamped. You could sniff something was wrong right at the beginning of the season at the first game when Box Hill was the only team of the eight at Endeavour Hills who had a full side. Masters President Chris in his wisdom decided that all games would be declared draws. Eltham was unable to field a full side ever until the day the Unquenchables played them at their home ground. Unfortunately their thirds had a bye so that is who we played. Eltham had stacks of reserves. We put up a sterling performance and only just got beaten. That was the day Ian Saunders looked as though he had severely damaged his neck. It just wasn’t our day. The following week Eltham folded and didn’t turn up for the rest of the season. Moorabbin usually turned up with 15 jerseys and two players. Whenever we played University, Moorabbin, Melton.or Eltham we ended up playing the Allstars from Endeavour Hills, Maroondah, Southern District and Boroondara.

When you looked around at other sides it is obvious they recruit young and we recruit old. Our recruitment staff needs some counseling. It wasn’t all bad news as we struck gold with Paul Ramage and his brother Karl. Knowing this wasn’t going to be our season Karl soon succumbed to injury only just made it back to run on in the last game after an absence of many weeks. Jamie Meyers when he wasn’t breast feeding his newborn daughter blew a calf at sprint training during one lunch time at work (why was he training??????) so he only had a few games with us. Birdy played a cameo game and Pommie Paul played but a mere handful of games. These blokes sniff the wind and if it isn’t in their favour the old injuries begin to play up. Still it’s understandable as they are Poms. Speaking of Poms, Lance didn’t play at all this year as he had a major back problem. Andy Munroe looked promising as a breakaway to be partnered with Neil Hughes but Neil pissed off to the US to trial with the American Eagles while Andy was yet another who saw a bleak season if front of him and fell to injury. Even Dennis got disheartened and that caused his gout to flare up rendering him unavailable for selection. When that excuse wore thin he was another who pissed off overseas for several weeks. It must however be noted that Dennis scored a magnificent try in the last game.

Greg Joubert turned up to the match against Eltham thirds for his first game and claimed he was a full back. This was a case of delusions of grandeur. His one and only full back appearance resulted in a display of his dubious kicking skills. A desperate kick for touch went 5 meters forward after hitting the ground at 2 meters from Greg’s leg with the gammy ankle. Greg was thereafter banished to the wing. Fast Eddie started the ball rolling with injuries to wingers. A minor finger injury which would keep Dennis off the field for a week troubled Eddie for at least two months. Francois was yet another who saw injury as a way out of playing. He didn’t even take the field for the last game but at least he turned up which is more than can be said for Tony Traralgon. He was a one gamer who left the propping duties to Nathan and Rod. Rod is getting better season by season and Nathan is just getting angrier and angrier, particularly with the referees.

Terry, Stuart and Heathie played with the thirds, seconds and in the lightening premiership team. None of this did anything to improve their skills for playing in our competition. In fact they all went off their games trying to switch to the more leisurely pace of the Unquenchables. In fact at times they were a disruptive influence.

Jiff and Ric played a handful of games and it has to be admitted performed with distinction. Jiff apparently is involved in negotiations with Hori Bop to bring him back on board as official match reporter. Ric needs to increase his match attendance record otherwise he may be in danger of confiscation of his Unquenchables tie. Alex Tautau left for Western Australia and we sorely missed his hard running at centre.

Andy Thompson, one of our more classy backs from last year could only manage the first two games of the season with us before decamping to QLD. Perhaps he knew this wasn't going to be our best season.

Kevin Sandells probably kicked the worst kick of the season when propelled the ball back behind our backline and over the try line we were attempting to defend. He claimed he was trying to emulate some of the skills demonstrated by Super 14 players. Jim Halls as usual came off most games bruised and bloodied but always put in a brilliant game. Hilly when not backing up for University also played well.

We had cameo performances from Teko and George. George still makes a difference when he jumps in the lineout. Jason played his best season this year and scored a try for his efforts. He is still a worry though when he runs with the ball in one hand and he is not a good look when he wears tights on the rugby field. Slammin Sammy was a welcome addition to our team and his strong rampaging runs in the forwards inspired our other forwards to stand back and applaud. Wilf didn’t even get to the start of the season as he got injured in Adelaide playing for the Silverbacks. Laurence Webb now at 150 kilos or thereabouts (slight exaggeration) managed to pull on his boots for us once or twice. Reece Brehaut was seen briefly and disappeared into the twilight. Looks the goods as a winger. Hopefully we will see him at the start of next season. Ant Balocca played a handful of games and was always dangerous when he was on the field. Marty spent the season in Sydney but we did manage to see him once or twice during the season. Mikey also played a few games but is getting soft in his old age.

The undoubted stars of the team were Pete Collins and Rob Deans. Rob used to play for Box Hill thirds 10m years ago and has now returned to the club. At breakaway or half back he was in top form. Both he and Pete were devastating defenders and always dangerous in attack.

Pete Fuller, our major sponsor, was yet another who was injured for most of the season. He is another who seems to get better with age. The same can’t be said for Bryan Burdett. Someone please take up a collection or get a petition up and running and encourage him to retire. He is a disruptive, divisive influence in the team which he readily admits to.

Kevin Walsh won a couple of man of the match awards but that is only because he is a friend of Dennis and we wanted to get rid of a few spare Krua Thai 2 dinner vouchers.

Clive played at full back, fly half or centre and always seemed to get his head in the way of an opposition swinging arm. The same thing happens to him when he is on tour. Chris Peugot played either centre or wing during the season and one day will learn how to drive into an opposition tackle. He got thumped against Maroondah in our second game against them but still managed to get up with a smile and battle on. We are also hoping that Scott will one day learn how to pass a ball. Even he was shocked when he managed to throw a decent pass. Trouble is so was the receiver who immediately dropped the ball.

Phil Hand was always a force to be reckoned with when he played. Had we had all our good forwards available each week the season’s story may have had a different ending. Alan Harmes was a surprise returnee to the field and always put in a respectable performance. Ziggy showed as all how much you can go down hill when you are unfit. Ziggy blames it on his duties as Unquenchable representative on the club committee.

Now a word on team management. Doug Hughes was a pain in the arse each week collecting $2. If it wasn’t him it was Brownie. Brownie took on the roles of major team reporter, team selector and medical kit manager. Carl, as well as having a couple of stints on the rugby field was another team selector, team sheet filler in and water bottle coordinator. If it wasn’t for these guys we would be a rabble and have to put up with Bryan as a replacement. Well done guys! Doug even played in our last game. Everyone was expecting him to fall over dead but his heart survived the game and so did Dougie. He even played a reasonable game.

Stay tuned for more bartalk on the season that was.

See you at the bar.

• <28th June 2008>
• Season 2008 Review
• <September 2008>