2004 JAFL Grand Final – Tokyo Goannas v Samurais21st November 2004
Radisson Hotel, Narita
 
Final Score: Samurais 14-15 99,  Goannas 15-12  102
Best on Ground: Michito, Dan McGrath, Shane Flanagan.
Umpires: Craig Forster, Gareth Jones, Pete Lawley.
 
Even more than the Narita Cup, the event that all teams strive to win each year is the Grand Final. The Goannas and the Samurais have built up a fierce rivalry over the last couple of years, with the Samurais winning in 2002 and then the Goannas clinching a nail-biter last year. The two teams lining up against each other in the grand finale again this year had spectators hoping for another classic match and ensured a big crowd out at the Radisson Narita ground.
 
The Samurais rocked up first out on the field before chief organisers Smokin Pete and Gareth Jones turned up on the early bus. After losing a final they so desperately wanted to win last year the Samurais were absolutely determined to beat the Goannas this time around.
 
There was a fun game between the Gokongs and Goannas Seniors (ie the 2003 Goannas committee plus one or two others). Apart from a spectacular solo goal from Smokin Pete on the run it was a fairly standard affair. It filled in some time but everyone was there to watch a different match.
 
And so the big game began. With solid victories right throughout the season the Samurais were hot favourites, but a recent victory in the wet and a strong outfit for the final gave the Goannas some hope.
 
The Goannas put the first goal through quite early but the Samurais then controlled the ball for much of the rest of the quarter constantly peppering the goals but struggling to put majors on the board. Both teams appeared determined not to let their opponents run away with it in the first term and despite a slight Goannas fled at quarter time, it had been a fairly even quarter.
 
In the second quarter the Samurais came out firing and succeeded in leaving the Goannas in their wake. Goals no longer eluded them as they had in the first quarter and the points quickly piled on. The Samurais midfield showed the crowd football close to their scintillating best and by the end of the quarter had turned a 10-15 point deficit into a 15-20 point lead.
 
The third quarter was a quiet affair, as both teams held their own. The Goannas lifted their game after a disappointing second quarter but were unable to close the gap on the scoreboard. The boys in red and white were reinvigorated by a solid third quarter performance, however, and looked capable of anything in the final 20 minutes.
 
Trailing by 16 points at the final break, the Goannas had an uphill battle to snatch victory out of the hands of the fitter Samurais. There is something to be said for adrenalin and determination; however, as the Goannas started the quarter looking like the trophy belonged in their hands. A couple of quick Goannas goals and the Samurais started to feel the heat. A midfield that is normally so silky smoothsuddenly started struggling to link handballs down the ground. The Samurais flinched and the Goannas didn’t let the opportunity go past. The Goannas took a ten-point lead halfway through the quarter and the Samurais, try as they might, could not catch up.
 
The Goannas ran out three-point winners, 14-15, 99 points to 15-12, 102.
 
For the Goannas, Shane Flanagan was consistently strong in the midfield while Dan McGrath’s big marks and long kicks up front ensured the midfield’s hard work paid off. Best on Ground, however, was the largely unrecognised Michito for the Samurais. The master of hard-ball-gets sent centimetre-perfect kicks into the chests of his forwards time and time again, and orchestrated magnificent running plays through the centre on more than one occasion. An outstanding talent and a very deserving Peter Wilson Medal winner.

Not rain, sleet, a huge cross-country trek early on a Sunday morning or a bunch of fit, young rampaging Samurai could halt the march of the Tokyo Goannas, 2003 Japan Australian Football Association champions.Capping off a match described as the “best ever seen in Japan,” the Goannas hung on to clinch a thriller against the spirited Samurai 8.17.65 to 8.10.58.It was not only the Goannas who played magnificently at the Radisson Oval in Narita on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003.

Six teams took to the field over the course of the day, each playing well above its abilities. Fear simply didn’t exist for any team member, with notable mudlarks on all teams led by the Goannas’ Kim Bebbington Medal winner Matt Jacobs and Callum McAree in his farewell performance.
A day marked by spirited performances could have been a disaster with Tokyo turning on its best impression of Melbourne as rain pounded the capital for the umpteenth day in succession.
Fortunately for JAFA’s schedulers, they rode by car to the Radisson and not in the cramped bus the bulk of fans and players squeezed into for the seemingly endless odyssey from Tokyo Station – a trip made worse because it was being made early on a wet Sunday morning while most sensible people were still in bed.
Naturally, on a day wetter than a Shane Crawford groupie’s panties on AFL Calendar sale day, the Radisson Oval wasn’t in its most pristine shape. In fact, the mudheap lower side of the ground made Moorabin look like a pool table.
One of the flanks brought back memories of the old South Melbourne playing at Lakeside Oval. Where that ground earned its name for being located beside the Albert Park Lake, the waterlogged flank meant Sunday’s players were lucky enough to get the ground and the lake in the same place.
Prospects of high quality football weren’t too hot, with the super-soppers nowhere to be seen. What a surprise we were in for.
Opening with a blitzkrieg on the goals, the Gokongs stung the heavily favored Osaka Dingoes in the first quarter of their third-place playoff in a sensational display of football.
With conditions favoring them, the Gokongs held the Dingoes at bay as the wet ball and boggy field nullified Osaka’s height advantage.
But the Dingoes played like wild dogs, getting a running game going that allowed them to first overhaul their valiant foes and then established a comfortable winning margin, though the game was only truly decided just before the death.
Even the birds flew high, turning the women’s game into what has until now been a spectacle more noteworthy for its busts than for players busting through packs as they did on Grand Final day.
And then came the big one. Bolstered by the return to the team of star trio Travis Wilson, Nick Howes and Kristian Vandemeer after missing the previous clash with the Samurais, the Goannas were brim full of confidence.
But, even with the glitter guys back in the team, the condition of the ground worked almost entirely in the favor of the local lads, who used their lightning speed to good advantage.
Early on, the Goannas had the better of the game, peppering the goals, but with dismal conversion, keeping the Samurais in the game with an ordinary 1.6 to 0.5 in the first term.
When the students started running riot in the second quarter, the Goannas started to look tired. The writing appeared to be on the wall as the Samurais hammered four goals to two and went into the long break with a four-point lead.
Cameron “Barassi” Brooker must have given the lizards a revving during the interval as they came back looking like new men.
Once again, they got the better of the scoreboard, but continued to stray sideward, scoring twice as many behinds as goals and still trailing the Samurais as the season entered its final stanza.
Heading to the scoring end and blessed with fresher, younger, fitter legs, all indicators suggested the Samurais would probably hold onto their lead and claim the premiership.
But, showing the greatest display of guts since the Fukuoka Grand Sumo Tournament, the Goannas drew on their reserves of energy and unleashed their most effective offensive moves of the day. There was nothing offensive about the style the Goannas displayed, their final quarter effort of 3.4 being the best any team could boast of for the day.
Even more laudable for the lizards, the Samurais hit the lead twice in the last stanza, only for the Goannas to reply in quick order and clinch a well-deserved premiership victory.
Though the Goannas take out the cup, Smokin’ Pete “McGuire” Hosking couldn’t have put it any better when he said the events of the day meant “the bigger winner was Australian football.”

Written by Gareth Jones 
The Fosters Narita Cup began in Sugadaira, Nagano far from its current location here in Narita. The original event made use of the many perfectly manicured rugby grounds in the mountains of Nagano and offered jaded Tokyo city dwellers a pleasant weekend with mountains, nature and excellent playing conditions. The brainchild of Troy Beard, the original Sugadaira Cup began in 1996. 
The early days featured the Go-Kong, the Samurai and the Tokyo Goannas in a round robin on the Saturday and an Australia vs Japan match as a special feature on the Sunday. The Goannas even kept a lodge in the mountains which they also used as both a ski lodge and football headquarters. This happy arrangement continued for many years and reached its peak in 2002, when Box Hill North from Melbourne entered the competition for the first time. In 2002, we had four teams. The addition of a team from outside Japan spiced up the competition immeasurably. The local teams couldn’t wait to have a go at the new boys. And didn’t they love it!! Box Hill North was beaten by the Goannas in the round robin series on the Saturday, but when Box Hill North met the Goannas again on Sunday in the 2002 Sugadaira Cup Final, Box Hill North won comprehensively.
Japan AFL Wins War on SARSIn 2003, the event was hit by the SARS crisis. With Box Hill North scheduled to make their second appearance and commitments from newcomers such as the Osaka Dingoes and two teams from Singapore, we were looking at the most exciting event in Japan’s history. Then the dark cloud of SARS spread across Asia. From soccer to rugby, the SARS crisis destroyed nearly every other Asian sporting event in 2003. But thanks to the tireless efforts of the organizers of the Japan AFL, we successfully moved the competition to Narita and skillfully negotiated the bureaucratic minefield put up against SARS. This proved we could not only organize a great event but we could overcome any crisis. The new location next to Narita International Airport made organizing international events easier. Despite SARS, the 2003 Narita Cup was a raging success. The 5 star Radisson Hotel adding an element of luxury never before seen by those who remember camping in the mountains of Sugadaira. And the result, Tokyo Goannas bridesmaids again, thumped by the Singapore Wombats.
In 2004, the Fosters Narita Cup was again held in luxury at the Radisson Hotel, and we have to love this hotel, they give us a beautiful ground, let us add Australian Football goal posts (a first for Japan and a rarity in Asia) and they have the best breakfast a footy player could ever hope for.
The 2004 Fosters Narita Cup comprised both men’s and women’s teams. Informal women’s football began in 2000 in Tokyo but in 2002 the Osaka Bilbies were formed and began serious training and regular games. Thus, Osaka took the lead in women’s football through the formation of a formal team and challenged Tokyo to follow and create their own women’s teams. This led to the hastily formed Tokyo Geckos and the participation by the Irish women who eagerly seek strong competition to sharpen their skills as a team. The Irish are a formidable team and are the Asian champions in the GAA. The 2004 Narita Cup provided the Tokyo Geckos and the Osaka Bilbies with a good benchmark to measure how far they have improved over the last year. And the result was tremendous footy proving that women’s footy has definitely arrived in Japan and that the Irish women will always be tough competitors.
In the 2004 Narita Cup the Samurais were sensational, winning the event and showing the rest of Asia how strong Japanese footy is. Since 2003 till  2008 the Games were played for the Narita Cup but in 2009 the name of the Cup was called the Japan Cup..
Men’s Teams Winners

• Singapore Wombats
• Jakarta Bintangs
• India
• Box Hill North (from Melbourne)
• Bali Geckos
• Tokyo Goannas
• Samurais
• Tokyo Go-Kongs
• Irish Galahs
• Osaka Dingoes
• Kansai Kangaroos

Narita Cup Winners and Runners-up

• 2009 Box Hill North( Runners up Tokyo Goannas)
• 2008 Tokyo Goannas (Runners up Eastern Hawks)
• 2007 Box Hill North (Runners up Tokyo Goannas)
• 2006 Goannas (Runners up Box Hill North)
• 2005 Samurais (Runners up Box Hill North)
• 2004 Samurais (Runners up Box Hill North/Irish)
• 2003 Singapore Wombats (Runners up Goannas)
• 2002 Box Hill North (Runners up Goannas)

Narita Cup Women’s Winners

• 2005 Osaka Bilbies
• 2004 Tokyo Geckos
• 2003 Tokyo Irish

This year is expected to be one of the most exciting and event filled years the J.A.F.A has seen since its development some 10 years ago. With the World Cup coming up in August and the I.A.F.C cup in June there are some great opportunities to promote our game all over the world. On the local scene we have put into place a schedule for this year pitting the Goannas, Samurais and Gokonsagainst each other throughout the year in a series of matches once again culminating in the J.A.F.A Grand Final. There will be a ladder and voting system in place to determine the G.F and B&F for the JAFA competition. As well we are fortunate to have Melbourne fs Box Hill North Football Club joining us in Sugidaira for an action packed weekend.


The Sugidaira Cup will be a memorable one this year with a round robin competition in place, I suggest we get in some training soon.Recruiting for the Samurais begins in April and this is the most important time of the year for the Samurais to get some fresh meat on their team. If you are willing and able to help out please call Yasu 09060428414. If you can spare a half day at one of theUniversities (checking out the chicks) helping to promote the game that will bemost appreciated. Please give it some consideration as it is very important that we get new players involved in the game. Hoshi (Samurais new Captain no.23) will be having some trainingsessions in April and would like some of the Goannas to come along.
Plans at this stage are:

• April 7 : Training session (ground to be decided)
• April 14: Training session followed by drinks at the Club House
• April 21: BBQ
• April 28 Training session followed by drinks at the Club House.

Let give him as much support as we can on these days and get some training in ourselves. Our first hit out will be the Ned Kelly Cup on March 16, this is always a great day and we need to redeem ourselves and get the Cup back on our shelf. I know it’s a Saturday but let’s try and do our best to start the year off on a winning note. This will also be my last event as president so I wanna go out with a win. Let’s go guys, givem heaps.
The first official game of the season will be in May followed by the Sugidaira Cup in June. That will immediately be followed by the I.A.F.C Cup (June 21~ 28) in Darwin. Please if you want to attend these events, begin making preparations for time off etc NOW. One game in July as well as a fund raising event (yet to be decided, open to suggestions) for the Japanese boys going to Aus in August.


The International Cup will be held in August (15~23) and the JAFA will be represented by a combined Samurais/Gokons team, if you would like to be involved in this event please start making preparations
now. It will be a great opportunity for us to get some exposure etc. We are looking for sponsors for the boys as well, so if you have any ideas please let us know.

The AFL Grand Final day will be held once again at the Club House and is one of the biggest events on our calendar so tell your friends about it when the time comes.


The Bali 9s will be held in October and would be a great chance to have a kick, get a suntan and do some cheap shopping. So once again if you are into that start planning. 2 more games for us in October and possibly November with the Grand Final being played on the last Sunday in November or the first Sunday
in December.
As you can see it is going to be a jam packed year for us so we are going to need a lot of help around the club. The annual general meeting will be held in April so please make a point of attending and putting in your two bobs worth. All positions once again will be up for grabs so if you have a nomination be there. If you just want to help out during the year but cannot commit to a committee position that is also very much appreciated so please voice that to us at the meeting.


The Club House is back into full swing on Thursday nights again so get down and have a drink with the boys/girls and be a chance to win the Lucky Draw (members only) remember you have to be there to win
it.

Finally I would like to thank all the people that helped me out this year. I thoroughly enjoyed my reign as Pres and look forward to being involved in some capacity this year. There were many people who went
out of their way to make 2001 a successful year and I was pleased with the results for the Club. Thank you to the ladies who got behind the club this year, I hope that trend will continue again this year.


A special thanks to Garna for all his efforts and support throughout the year, thanks to his support the Goannas really felt like a Club this year. Thanks to the committee and especially Coach Chuck who must be commended on his efforts throughout the season, especially towards the end, rumour has it that he is Still Fresh.


The Club is looking good and the joint efforts with the Japanese boys really made last year a success. Rememberits OUR game so lets once again be Proud Aussies and have a great year.


Peter Hosking
President (until April)
Goannas Football Club

​After a long season, which saw us traveling to Saitama, Ibaraki,Chiba and Nagano to play the regular season games the JapanAustralian Football Association playing year, concluded with theGrand Final played at the NTT ground in Chiba last Sunday 25thNovember. The concept of the league changed a little this year with a round robin system implemented to decide which 2 teams would play off for the Big One. The regular season saw some memorable matches played, with the Goannas once again taking out the Sugidaira Cup quite comfortably from the combined Japanese team. This was to be Ryanifs sayonara game and he left some big boots to be filled. A great clubman and he and Yukeswere sadly missed. We also lost Pretty Boy Jeff who was one of our regular stars on the field and in Roppongi. Our playing stocks were looking depleted, however, we managed to getnumbers at every game. A game played at Urawa showed us the determination of the Samurais when they came back from a 5 goal deficit at three quarter time to kick 7 goals in a desperate last quarter to overhaul the stunnedGoannas. We played games in the searing heat and we sloshed around in poisoned waterholes all for the love of our great game. The J.A.F.A sent a representative team to play in the Arafura Cup and the boys were a huge hit with the media. Although unsuccessful on the field, the young kids were learning more about our game. Another trip to Australia in August (with Tour Guide Beard showing them all the gwondersh of Our Home Land) really had the Samurais grasping the finer points of our game and they lifted their performance to another level in the latter half of the season. After their trip to Australia, the Samurais went undefeated in all their games, handing outthumpings to the Goannas and Gokons to the tune of 105 and 80 points respectively. Luckily enough for the Aussieteam we defeated the Gokons to book a Grand Final berth in November. It was from this point on that the build up for the grand final began. The Samurais training 4 days a week and believe it or not the Goannas had 4 full training sessions on the Sundays preceding the game (not including the regular Thursday night sessions at the Club House). The Goannas had a team get together at an Izakaya on the Friday prior to the GF and announced the team, although, I dont think we will be doing that again. The build up and enthusiasm shown by everyone around the club was phenomenal. It was decided to make this years Grand Final a big event and the JAFA president MrIida pulled out all stops to make it a big day.

November 25 Grand Final Day.
All the preparations were done, the medals to be presented to each player, the entertainment, the banners to run through, the video cameras set up all around the ground and the beer donated by The Club House was in place and the good lord shone rays of sunshine on the ground for the day. The tension was certainly building with everybody at the ground stretching up and looking determined. By 11:30 the Samurais were going through their paces as the Goannas wondered around less boisterous than would normally be expected having a quiet kick to kick. Happy Steve went back to the station to beg for some grub and was given a couple of pieces on left over onigiri by some generous Obachan. Big Dave White called in sick and Cameron pulled an ankle, they were replaced in the side byCallum and Denny. Donovan was at the Tokyo Race course trying to come to grips with the Japanese form guide for the Japan Cup.
Brian Clarke, the President of the IAFC and Ralph Mchenry (both professional umpires) gave up their time to help out this year. Ralph also donated two prizes for the best on ground from the VAFA and
Brian donated his mobile phone number to any number of young girls that were at the ground. A mini game between the Gokons and Goannas B side was played before the main game and Rachel and Jenny donned the red and white for the first time and proved that (regardless of what Ryan says) they were
capable of putting in stellar performances, with Rach bagging a goal in the first half and creating havoc with her handballing skill in the second. Happy Steves mate Trev and Jarrod dominated the center
before big Jarrod went down with a twisted ankle and the Gokons out manned them in the second half. Young Dillon aquitted himself well again for his final appearance for the Goannas, we wish him well back
home.
The final scores were:
Gokons 1.2 6.6 (42) defeated Goannas B 2.1 5.5 (35)

The main game was half an hour away but both teams were changed andgoing through their warm ups. The Samurais using the vast expanse of the Ground and the Goannas sitting in a huddle behind the goals as Coach Jones went through his theories, Pythagorus has nothing on our coach.Both teams tore through their respective banners as Mick Millet playing his final game for the Goannas led the side onto the ground. The bagpipes came out with Waltzing Matilda and then both National Anthems were played.
Yasu won the toss for the Samurais and elected to kick with the sun, one minute later and the game was on. From the first bounce the Goannas showed they were not here just for a kick and had the ball down to smoking Pete at full forward in a matter of seconds. A quick chip to Mick Millet and the first goal was on the board. From then it was a procession. Goal after goal as the Goannas showing a desperation never seen before at this club completely shut out the disbelieving Samurais with fierce tackling and team play. Happy Steve and Tim were dominating in the ruck and Paul was a brick wall in defence. James precise kicking out had any attack by the Samurais shoved straight back at them as he found Chuck lurking around the center line time after time. The scores at quarter time Goannas 9.1 to Samurais 0.6. A more determined Samurai team came out after a blast by captain coach Yasu and they managed to kick 3 goals in the second quarter, however, the Goannas were still running on adrenalin with little Jimmy running rings around their so called quicks combining with a tireless Tim in the ruck relentlessly sent the ball forward where Chuck, Mick and Happy were finishing off brilliantly. Mick Millet flew so high to take a mark in the forward pocket that he could have piloted a drone recon plane. Our club stalwart Kim, Travers andCallum came off the bench to supply some fresh legs and their desperation halted a number of Sams moves into their forward line. The scores at half time Goannas 14.7 to Samurais 3.10. The Goannas were well aware at half time that the Samurais always put in a big second half against the tiring old expats, but coach Jones gave a rousing speech and made a few positional changes to keep the
Sams at bay. The boys were keen to get back out onto the ground before they started seizing up and the Prez even refused the offer of a half time ciggy, the application on this day was unprecedented.
The third quarter saw the continuing dominance of our center line again and Callum and Bags came on to the back line to rip off some ears and provide some run respectively. I think the call from Shiba was gnani kangaeteruomae?oh (what the f#$%k are you thinking) when Cal nearly took his head off as he went for a mark. MillitaryMatt was giving us some good run through the center and Denny was as solid as always keeping the Sams down to only 3 goals. Chuck was getting stuck into the umpires and gave away the only 15 meter penalties of the game (3 in fact) and appropriately drew laughter during his three quarter time speech when he told us to forget about the umpires, just concentrate on the game. Three quarter time scores Goannas 20.12 to Samurais 6.14. Jones again made a positional change putting the body Ando up
forward and the prez (on his last legs and no smokes since 1pm) into the guts. Well the last quarter could have been called the Happy 20 minutes as Steves best friend (the Sams full back) kept finding him on every kick out.Steves reply was to send the ball soaring back over his head for a goal. Amazingly the Goannas just refused to let up and I believe there was even a shepherd put on in the final term. The final siren rang and finally put the Samurais out of their misery. The champagne flowed and the boys headed down to have some photos taken. The final scores Goannas 27.19 (181) def Samurais 8.18
(66) 


Best players for Samurais Hoshi, Fukun
Best players for Goannas Whole Team Effort.


The Grand Final Cup was presented to Mick Millet and then each player was presented a GF medal by Brian Clarke. The Best on Ground went to Happy Steve with runner up Paul Quirk and Hoshi received the 3rd best award voted by the umpires. Apsy, the first President of the Goannas was on hand to witness the
spectacle and was totally blown away by the commitment of this years team. An excellent turn up for the after match dinner at the Ginza Lion (about 50) capped off a magnificent day. Well done to everybody who participated this year and thank you to everyone that helped out with the preparations that made this years grand final a memorable event. Also a special thank you to Iida san and the Gokons who supported this event and to Garner and the Club House for sponsoring the Club.


FANTASTIC!
GO THE GOANNAS!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter Hosking
President
Goannas Football Club 2001.

I went up to Fuchu to umpire the match played between the Japanese boys yesterday and I must say, the Samurais are looking good. A resounding victory to the tune of 99 points, has set the scene for what I expect to be a memorable grand final. The skill and stamina of these guys and even their ability to read the game has improved dramatically since their trip to Melbourne. Coach Beard has instilled a confidence into this team which is really showing and perhaps the visit to the finer establishments has made these boys believe they are MEN. Shiba bagged 8 goals 8 behinds in an excellent display in his first game back since his “hatsu gaijin”, however, the danger men were around the center with Kase dominating the ruck, Mos running lose everywhere and Fukkun (great name) gathering a million possessions playing some kind of wing roll. In the second quarter  Yasu went down with an ankle injury and had to be taken to hospital. They say a 4 week recovery and I hope he can make it back for the GF. Yasu is a tireless worker promoting our game here in Tokyo among the Uni students and it would be a tragedy if he was not able to play in the Granny, so good luck for a speedy recovery.
Grand Final Information:
The game is scheduled for the 25th of November, however, it is dependant on the weather therefore the ground has been booked for the 2nd of December as well. It will be played at the NTT ground in Chiba, details how to get there will be sent out later. We have the ground from 12:00 to 4:00 and there will be a mini game played by the Gokons to preview the BIG ONE. Pre-game entertainment includes Jimmy Barnes, AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and Cameron Gordon so it should be a good warmup. At this stage only the last guy is confirmed, but we are working on it. The Grand Final this year will be played with 9 players on the ground and 6 reserves. Therefore if you want to play, I suggest you try to impress Coach Jones by turning up to a couple of training sessions he is planning. At last count we have 23 players so it means 8 guys wont be playing, however, there will be jobs for everyone on the day so please, if you don’t make the cut, do the right thing by the club and volunteer your services in some other area. We will be videoing this years granny, so we may be looking for some commentators. The game will be 4 x 20 minute quarters. The idea of time on was not passed this year. There will be an after match ceremony, details to follow. I am calling on all players to try to get into some form of training for the next six weeks, a bit of a jog wont hurt. Try to attend the organized training sessions, so as we may be able to plan some kind of attack on the Sams, without going in blind. We were defeated by a much better prepared team last year and we WILL NOT lose 2 years in a row. Show some Aussie Pride and let’s kick arse. A few personal calls: Donovan: marital bliss can only last so long son, it’s time to get your arse back on the ground. Travers: if you survived your last overseas trip, we need ya bud! Big Dave Brown: haven’t seen ya since you won the lucky draw, bring your family and Dave May down with you. Denny: I know the Cats had a shit year, make amends, come on down. Peter Daicos: if you are listening, we can squeeze you on the bench.
OK guys this is the Grand Final. It is time for you to start bringing friends, family, students, whoever. Build the atmosphere. Also you people on the mailing list (there are 250 of ya) that don’t come to any games, how about making an effort to get down to this one, the skills aren’t quite AFL standard but we put on a good show, so how about it?
That’s it guys, you know what needs to be done, let’s do it.
Smokin Pete