In the last 4 years I have enjoyed writing prose about the fortunes and sometimes failures of a dozen or so guys from Terrey Hills and surrounding suburbs. Describing their ability to play the game known in heaven as Touch Football has been a fun hobby.
In the last 24 hours I debated whether or not to close out the season with the Grand Final edition. In my ever honest nature writing, with a good example of my description of players skills and / or lack thereof on occasion from some, I must admit that I had chosen not to write this story.
After losing 6-5 in our second worst game of the season to a very good team in last nights Grand Final, I didn't feel there would be any good reasons to write this story.
However, my smartphone made that known buzz of a text message at 6.23pm Australian Easter Summer Time this very night. It was the VC reminding me of my contractual arrangement that includes amongst other things a post game rant on the description of the game just finished.
As the 10 Toucher's gathered last evening there was tension in the air. Or was that Harro's aftershave that he had lathered on before work earlier in the day? You read that correctly, the HOF came to the game full of vigour and full of figure. Also joining him last night in support of the Toucher's was our dear friend the KIWI. KIWI as we know flew away last year but I will second his reinstatement to the Toucher's in the next season.
Other Toucher's who could not join the team were Milt and the Bulldog. They were dearly missed throughout the game as some of their skills may have well made the difference the boys needed.
The Toucher's took the field after the HOF was doing his best to rev the boys up. I myself was asked to say a few words via the willingness of the VC. But we haven't done that all year so why start now. The game plan was known, push through the middle and look to the edges for our fast guys.
But that's just not the Touching way. Like the games greats, we play whats in front of us and get in and have a go. Down 3-0 very quickly there were thoughts that maybe we should have a game plan as our old technique was just not clicking on this balmy night.
The efforts from all of us were at 100% with what we had in the tank.
After 3 years in a row of Grand Final victories and a Minor Premiership in their first year in a new competition, the Toucher's last two losses were to a team that just delivered on the night. Even with the tight full time margin the Toucher's would have accepted they would have been lucky to have won...if they did.
I won't hear a word from anyone that across the park the Toucher's didn't have a go. Age stops for no man and with each year we get older, our hamstrings get a little shorter and time marches on.
BUT with all that, at our best, as we have proven before we would have won in a gallop. But that's all yesterdays papers in fish shops now.
I have been asked across a few seasons why I don't write about my own performances good or bad !!!!
Last night was poor from me but let me tell you why I played.
With the HOF I have loved his tenacity and drive. I have also enjoyed his retirement speeches for the last 4 years. Your boots HOF, are still in my garage.
Kiwi, your appearance last night showed you are a true Toucher. Or did you just turn up to play the exhibition game with those young fillies during our game ???
Milt, you may be the only one that knows what a nod and a wave of my hand across my back pointing to the left means, while I take off to the right before veering back to find you again in another gaping hole with the line wide open.
Bulldog you bring youth, fresh legs and the ability to score many many intercept tries when us old guys are gasping for the oxygen that we so desperately need.
Waratah I have enjoyed your presence. I hope BBB you did finally receive his commission for bringing you into the Touching corporation. I also enjoyed the interaction with his kids. That's been a highlight for me.....absolutely hilarious as he runs them into the ground when he reefs the soccer ball ever further and further away.
Chopsy, your enthusiasm when you drift left and right across the park looking for runners and / or making your own holes has been a pleasure to watch. I reckon the VC Chopsy connection has a Cliffy Lyons and Beaver Menzies ring to it in seasons ahead.
Jonty I play as I enjoy looking off to my faaaaaar left hand side and knowing that a short nod of the head sees me compelled to propel a looping long pass that arrives in your hands like an Easter Egg in a toddlers hands on that Sunday morning. To see it land on its mark and see you fly down that left hand side is good enough to bring a tear to an old front rowers eye. But not this one....BBB is worried that I am dead inside :)
I also played this year as I got to watch first hand the career pinnacle season of the SuperCoach. I don't know what he did in the off season but whatever it was, it worked. He delivered in attack, defence and in his encouragement of the performance of the match officials.
For BBB, he ripped into the season with all the joy of a sprightly 25 year old. Once a mighty RAT he looked to 2013/2014 as his year to shine. Well a damn big Sting Ray had other ideas and tore at the speedsters foot and ripped it almost clean off his leg. Well that's the story he told me on Australia Day. It could have been the 12 cans I had, but hand on my heart that's the way I heard it. BBB is always fun to watch scoot across the scorched earth. However, he seems concerned at my GF performance.....don't worry others are too.
It was a joy to see the Rookie in his third year as a formal Toucher. His game developed in some key areas despite the outside of hours outside defensive drills that the HOF kept sending him links to from his YouTube site. I got to see the Rookie scoot down those edges and last night he scored a ripper.
I have always enjoyed being a fellow Toucher with MR Perpetual-motion the Locksmith. Last night, unlike others, he failed to get sent off in a GF, I am sure he was trying too if I know the madman well enough. However, my highlight of the year on the Locksmith came from his other passion, mountain biking. Further reports have come in on his accident. The Rookie swears he heard the Locksmith cry out as he flew past him when he crashed going in too deep and too fast at dead mans bluff "Tell Parra to win at least one for me this year".
The VC, what can I say....well not a lot but I will try and make something up. You are the rock upon the Toucher's have built upon in the last 4 years. Some might say a franchise player. The VC is a loyal second in charge and delivers week in and week out. I have enjoyed the odd pass off my hip that delivers him into gaps thinner than a ciggy paper. One day a pre-game or half time speech maybe be followed by the Toucher's and I know that day may be one of your happiest.
The Chairman, without our fearless leader the Toucher's would not exist. Taking on the administration and management of the corporation has never been a task too far. Maybe when there are fears of a wash out he may get titchy when we text if the game is on or not. But on most occasions he embraces the male bonding that is in the Toucher's company charter.
We are all grateful as he has gone a long way in helping our weight being kept lower and our blood pressure rating being a little less than if we just sat on the couch on Tuesday nights. I am personally grateful when i stand on the scales post game and see I have lost 1.5kgs. Forget that I put some of that back on in post game celebration.
Boys that's why I play.
To me last night was a celebration of old blokes playing footy together and having a laugh at each others expense. Not many drug free sporting teams anywhere on this great blue planet can state 4 grand finals in a row. I know the Locksmith will be upset with my acceptance in losing but I will deal with that when he bangs on my front door after he reads this.
Yours in Forever Touching
FMJ
Congrats on a great season.
In the last 24 hours I debated whether or not to close out the season with the Grand Final edition. In my ever honest nature writing, with a good example of my description of players skills and / or lack thereof on occasion from some, I must admit that I had chosen not to write this story.
After losing 6-5 in our second worst game of the season to a very good team in last nights Grand Final, I didn't feel there would be any good reasons to write this story.
However, my smartphone made that known buzz of a text message at 6.23pm Australian Easter Summer Time this very night. It was the VC reminding me of my contractual arrangement that includes amongst other things a post game rant on the description of the game just finished.
As the 10 Toucher's gathered last evening there was tension in the air. Or was that Harro's aftershave that he had lathered on before work earlier in the day? You read that correctly, the HOF came to the game full of vigour and full of figure. Also joining him last night in support of the Toucher's was our dear friend the KIWI. KIWI as we know flew away last year but I will second his reinstatement to the Toucher's in the next season.
Other Toucher's who could not join the team were Milt and the Bulldog. They were dearly missed throughout the game as some of their skills may have well made the difference the boys needed.
The Toucher's took the field after the HOF was doing his best to rev the boys up. I myself was asked to say a few words via the willingness of the VC. But we haven't done that all year so why start now. The game plan was known, push through the middle and look to the edges for our fast guys.
But that's just not the Touching way. Like the games greats, we play whats in front of us and get in and have a go. Down 3-0 very quickly there were thoughts that maybe we should have a game plan as our old technique was just not clicking on this balmy night.
The efforts from all of us were at 100% with what we had in the tank.
After 3 years in a row of Grand Final victories and a Minor Premiership in their first year in a new competition, the Toucher's last two losses were to a team that just delivered on the night. Even with the tight full time margin the Toucher's would have accepted they would have been lucky to have won...if they did.
I won't hear a word from anyone that across the park the Toucher's didn't have a go. Age stops for no man and with each year we get older, our hamstrings get a little shorter and time marches on.
BUT with all that, at our best, as we have proven before we would have won in a gallop. But that's all yesterdays papers in fish shops now.
I have been asked across a few seasons why I don't write about my own performances good or bad !!!!
Last night was poor from me but let me tell you why I played.
With the HOF I have loved his tenacity and drive. I have also enjoyed his retirement speeches for the last 4 years. Your boots HOF, are still in my garage.
Kiwi, your appearance last night showed you are a true Toucher. Or did you just turn up to play the exhibition game with those young fillies during our game ???
Milt, you may be the only one that knows what a nod and a wave of my hand across my back pointing to the left means, while I take off to the right before veering back to find you again in another gaping hole with the line wide open.
Bulldog you bring youth, fresh legs and the ability to score many many intercept tries when us old guys are gasping for the oxygen that we so desperately need.
Waratah I have enjoyed your presence. I hope BBB you did finally receive his commission for bringing you into the Touching corporation. I also enjoyed the interaction with his kids. That's been a highlight for me.....absolutely hilarious as he runs them into the ground when he reefs the soccer ball ever further and further away.
Chopsy, your enthusiasm when you drift left and right across the park looking for runners and / or making your own holes has been a pleasure to watch. I reckon the VC Chopsy connection has a Cliffy Lyons and Beaver Menzies ring to it in seasons ahead.
Jonty I play as I enjoy looking off to my faaaaaar left hand side and knowing that a short nod of the head sees me compelled to propel a looping long pass that arrives in your hands like an Easter Egg in a toddlers hands on that Sunday morning. To see it land on its mark and see you fly down that left hand side is good enough to bring a tear to an old front rowers eye. But not this one....BBB is worried that I am dead inside :)
I also played this year as I got to watch first hand the career pinnacle season of the SuperCoach. I don't know what he did in the off season but whatever it was, it worked. He delivered in attack, defence and in his encouragement of the performance of the match officials.
For BBB, he ripped into the season with all the joy of a sprightly 25 year old. Once a mighty RAT he looked to 2013/2014 as his year to shine. Well a damn big Sting Ray had other ideas and tore at the speedsters foot and ripped it almost clean off his leg. Well that's the story he told me on Australia Day. It could have been the 12 cans I had, but hand on my heart that's the way I heard it. BBB is always fun to watch scoot across the scorched earth. However, he seems concerned at my GF performance.....don't worry others are too.
It was a joy to see the Rookie in his third year as a formal Toucher. His game developed in some key areas despite the outside of hours outside defensive drills that the HOF kept sending him links to from his YouTube site. I got to see the Rookie scoot down those edges and last night he scored a ripper.
I have always enjoyed being a fellow Toucher with MR Perpetual-motion the Locksmith. Last night, unlike others, he failed to get sent off in a GF, I am sure he was trying too if I know the madman well enough. However, my highlight of the year on the Locksmith came from his other passion, mountain biking. Further reports have come in on his accident. The Rookie swears he heard the Locksmith cry out as he flew past him when he crashed going in too deep and too fast at dead mans bluff "Tell Parra to win at least one for me this year".
The VC, what can I say....well not a lot but I will try and make something up. You are the rock upon the Toucher's have built upon in the last 4 years. Some might say a franchise player. The VC is a loyal second in charge and delivers week in and week out. I have enjoyed the odd pass off my hip that delivers him into gaps thinner than a ciggy paper. One day a pre-game or half time speech maybe be followed by the Toucher's and I know that day may be one of your happiest.
The Chairman, without our fearless leader the Toucher's would not exist. Taking on the administration and management of the corporation has never been a task too far. Maybe when there are fears of a wash out he may get titchy when we text if the game is on or not. But on most occasions he embraces the male bonding that is in the Toucher's company charter.
We are all grateful as he has gone a long way in helping our weight being kept lower and our blood pressure rating being a little less than if we just sat on the couch on Tuesday nights. I am personally grateful when i stand on the scales post game and see I have lost 1.5kgs. Forget that I put some of that back on in post game celebration.
Boys that's why I play.
To me last night was a celebration of old blokes playing footy together and having a laugh at each others expense. Not many drug free sporting teams anywhere on this great blue planet can state 4 grand finals in a row. I know the Locksmith will be upset with my acceptance in losing but I will deal with that when he bangs on my front door after he reads this.
Yours in Forever Touching
FMJ
Congrats on a great season.
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