They say when in Japan you should make the trek to Mount Fuji to scale the highest peak this eclectic country has to offer. That may be true if you're talking about peaks that are indigenous to the country. If not, then you'd be mistaken because pure metrics suggest the highest peak in Japan now actually reside on the arms of the man they call.. well, Arms. Also known as one Travis Wilson.
Just like those bicep curls, Arms just keeps on pumping them out and last round racked up his 150th game for the Tokyo Goannas football club. A feat no other player has achieved. Some lately have started calling him Boomer after the North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey who is due to break the AFL all-time games record this year while still playing at an elite level. At 43, and finishing in the top 3 in last years best and fairest, Arms himself shows little signs of decline.
"Game by game, year by year, until there is a better option", has been his mantra when asked how long he could go on for.
Having played forward, back, midfield, and even ruck over the years, a scary thought for his club is that they were almost to miss out on him altogether.
"My first game was in 2003. I first came across the Goannas at The Clubhouse in Shinjuku at the 2000 AFL grand final event. They put me on the email list from then, but I couldn't be bothered going to any of the games."
So what changed?
"In 2003 a friend of mine knew one of the Goannas and finally I made it down to give it a go".
Since then it has been a whirlwind of ups and downs as he spent a moment to reminisce the more memorable moments this week - good and bad.
"The best moments have been the tours over the years. Playing in the Asian Champs. Especially our first one in Manila in 2005."
Indeed, that was the year the Goannas first attended the Asian Champs and with no subs on the bench went all the way to the semi final after a highly contentious 2 point victory over Bali where fellow Goanna player Flanagan touched the ball on the line saving a certain goal. Replays later showed the only thing Flanagan touched was 10 cm of fresh air between him and the Sherrin.
"There were also some tough times too. The toughest when we had trouble getting players and we just scrapped enough together for a game. That's happened a couple of times over the years. One of those years I also fractured my ankle and that kept me out for a few games in 2013".
Perhaps the mother of all disappointments though came off-field. A brutal realization of mortality. Yes, we're talking about his arm wrestle defeats.
Arms had always had the whole football club behind him during these merciless battles against opposition strongmen and so when the losses came, it would hit him hardest. When asked about these moments Arms became quiet for a moment before asking for some space. Minutes later after regathering himself he apologized and gave an effusive answer.
"That loss, that was in Tokyo against a young (Osaka) Dingo. The other one, well, no one remembers the one against a big rugby guy".
Possibly the only other event that could be comparable in pain was the whole Essendon saga that engulfed the AFL world for the past 3 years. His beloved footy club in crisis and reduced to an easybeat, 12 players suspended for alleged doping. At first his teammates would make fun of him with endless Essendon drug jokes. That didn't last for long though and club stalwart Peter Apps remembers those times well.
"He doesn't say much Trav, but when we asked him how Essendon was going, gee we got that look....things we just don't ask Trav".
Much like his football, it was simple for the man himself.
"It was all good the stick they were dishing out until it became personal".
Since I (the author) was probably one of the main perpetrators, a change of subject was in order.
Taking a well-timed segue way, the discussion turned to the good people of the club, the same teammates who have shared many beers and victories with the evergreen utility. Asked who had been the biggest character over the years, it didn't take too long for Arms to pinpoint the perpetrators.
"Two people stand out in particular. For stories and entertainment value Mikey Liddell for sure (stories withheld from publishing for censorship reasons). Also Smoking Pete (Peter Hoskings) who was able to bring everyone together and also led the chants and songs on the bus back from our old ground in Narita. We would then end up at his bar The Clubhouse in Shinjuku".
And the best player?
"Too many to mention, but for consistency over the years I'd say Dan McGrath although there have been some guys with skills above the rest of us mere mortals at times".
If a survey of Goanna all-time greatest players was to be conducted today it would be reasonable to suggest Arms himself would feature quite prominently. Current President Sam Ghiradello tends to agree.
"The Goannas nicest bloke is also easily our most reliable. As long as Trav is around you always know things are going to be ok out there for us. He's a champ".
Even the younger generation are in awe, with Canadian convert Bash Dennier gushing "He's just a machine, Trav. You just kick it in his general direction like 'yup here you go', and he catches it every time. Sorry, I mean he marks it every time".
To further imbed his name into Goanna folklore, this year Arms will be gunning for an incredible 10th premiership. Something that is unlikely to ever be matched again, especially with the strength of the current teams in the league. Asked which one was most memorable, the famous 4 point win over the Osaka Dingoes received a hearty mention,
"The best one was 2012 where it was goal for goal against Osaka at the end until Dan McGrath finally kicked the sealer. At the same time sending an upset Dingo into immediate retirement."
Indeed, it was Arms who laid the assist for the winning goal looping an improbable handball from congestion hard on the boundary over the defender and into the waiting hands of McGrath. Reports the next day hailed it as the 'Handball of God'.
Apart from his football exploits, off-field Arms has had his fare share of moments as well. The most infamous of them in 2007.
"There have been many great times on tour. Personally the stabbing incident would be a memorable one on the Osaka trip in 2007".
That would be the moment he was mistaken for another person and was stabbed by a local who promptly fled the scene. Taken to hospital, it was a badge of honor and a colorful way to end the tour.
He won't be stopping there though hoping the coming years will bring a few more stories yet.
"Looking forward to a few more this year in Vietnam for the Asian Champs. First time to play there".
As salutation for one of the greatest Goannas to have ever pulled on the jumper, the club has asked one his great teammates Luke Eyes to dig into the archives for some dirt on the big fella. Fortunately a few nuggets of gold were found and as we marvel at the man that never stops, we leave you with a few videos found from quite some years ago. Aptly titled: "Travis, the drunk Aussie".
Just like those bicep curls, Arms just keeps on pumping them out and last round racked up his 150th game for the Tokyo Goannas football club. A feat no other player has achieved. Some lately have started calling him Boomer after the North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey who is due to break the AFL all-time games record this year while still playing at an elite level. At 43, and finishing in the top 3 in last years best and fairest, Arms himself shows little signs of decline.
"Game by game, year by year, until there is a better option", has been his mantra when asked how long he could go on for.
Having played forward, back, midfield, and even ruck over the years, a scary thought for his club is that they were almost to miss out on him altogether.
"My first game was in 2003. I first came across the Goannas at The Clubhouse in Shinjuku at the 2000 AFL grand final event. They put me on the email list from then, but I couldn't be bothered going to any of the games."
So what changed?
"In 2003 a friend of mine knew one of the Goannas and finally I made it down to give it a go".
Since then it has been a whirlwind of ups and downs as he spent a moment to reminisce the more memorable moments this week - good and bad.
"The best moments have been the tours over the years. Playing in the Asian Champs. Especially our first one in Manila in 2005."
Indeed, that was the year the Goannas first attended the Asian Champs and with no subs on the bench went all the way to the semi final after a highly contentious 2 point victory over Bali where fellow Goanna player Flanagan touched the ball on the line saving a certain goal. Replays later showed the only thing Flanagan touched was 10 cm of fresh air between him and the Sherrin.
"There were also some tough times too. The toughest when we had trouble getting players and we just scrapped enough together for a game. That's happened a couple of times over the years. One of those years I also fractured my ankle and that kept me out for a few games in 2013".
Perhaps the mother of all disappointments though came off-field. A brutal realization of mortality. Yes, we're talking about his arm wrestle defeats.
Arms had always had the whole football club behind him during these merciless battles against opposition strongmen and so when the losses came, it would hit him hardest. When asked about these moments Arms became quiet for a moment before asking for some space. Minutes later after regathering himself he apologized and gave an effusive answer.
"That loss, that was in Tokyo against a young (Osaka) Dingo. The other one, well, no one remembers the one against a big rugby guy".
Possibly the only other event that could be comparable in pain was the whole Essendon saga that engulfed the AFL world for the past 3 years. His beloved footy club in crisis and reduced to an easybeat, 12 players suspended for alleged doping. At first his teammates would make fun of him with endless Essendon drug jokes. That didn't last for long though and club stalwart Peter Apps remembers those times well.
"He doesn't say much Trav, but when we asked him how Essendon was going, gee we got that look....things we just don't ask Trav".
Much like his football, it was simple for the man himself.
"It was all good the stick they were dishing out until it became personal".
Since I (the author) was probably one of the main perpetrators, a change of subject was in order.
Taking a well-timed segue way, the discussion turned to the good people of the club, the same teammates who have shared many beers and victories with the evergreen utility. Asked who had been the biggest character over the years, it didn't take too long for Arms to pinpoint the perpetrators.
"Two people stand out in particular. For stories and entertainment value Mikey Liddell for sure (stories withheld from publishing for censorship reasons). Also Smoking Pete (Peter Hoskings) who was able to bring everyone together and also led the chants and songs on the bus back from our old ground in Narita. We would then end up at his bar The Clubhouse in Shinjuku".
And the best player?
"Too many to mention, but for consistency over the years I'd say Dan McGrath although there have been some guys with skills above the rest of us mere mortals at times".
If a survey of Goanna all-time greatest players was to be conducted today it would be reasonable to suggest Arms himself would feature quite prominently. Current President Sam Ghiradello tends to agree.
"The Goannas nicest bloke is also easily our most reliable. As long as Trav is around you always know things are going to be ok out there for us. He's a champ".
Even the younger generation are in awe, with Canadian convert Bash Dennier gushing "He's just a machine, Trav. You just kick it in his general direction like 'yup here you go', and he catches it every time. Sorry, I mean he marks it every time".
To further imbed his name into Goanna folklore, this year Arms will be gunning for an incredible 10th premiership. Something that is unlikely to ever be matched again, especially with the strength of the current teams in the league. Asked which one was most memorable, the famous 4 point win over the Osaka Dingoes received a hearty mention,
"The best one was 2012 where it was goal for goal against Osaka at the end until Dan McGrath finally kicked the sealer. At the same time sending an upset Dingo into immediate retirement."
Indeed, it was Arms who laid the assist for the winning goal looping an improbable handball from congestion hard on the boundary over the defender and into the waiting hands of McGrath. Reports the next day hailed it as the 'Handball of God'.
Apart from his football exploits, off-field Arms has had his fare share of moments as well. The most infamous of them in 2007.
"There have been many great times on tour. Personally the stabbing incident would be a memorable one on the Osaka trip in 2007".
That would be the moment he was mistaken for another person and was stabbed by a local who promptly fled the scene. Taken to hospital, it was a badge of honor and a colorful way to end the tour.
He won't be stopping there though hoping the coming years will bring a few more stories yet.
"Looking forward to a few more this year in Vietnam for the Asian Champs. First time to play there".
As salutation for one of the greatest Goannas to have ever pulled on the jumper, the club has asked one his great teammates Luke Eyes to dig into the archives for some dirt on the big fella. Fortunately a few nuggets of gold were found and as we marvel at the man that never stops, we leave you with a few videos found from quite some years ago. Aptly titled: "Travis, the drunk Aussie".
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