It was around September that I sat in close quarters with the Chairman as we plotted the playing list for the 2016 Touchers. The roster was at 16 on that cool spring day. We thought then it was too many.
We deliberated over player skill on and off the paddock. Not that anyone was in true danger of losing their accreditation as a Toucher. As our creed stands as 'Once an OverToucher, always and OverToucher'.
The decision had been made minutes after the completion of the 2015 season that shall not be mentioned, that we would return to the fields of glory and bring down the wrath of redemption after 3 years in the wilderness.
If I think hard, I believe that over the years there have been about 30 Toucher's in our squad. To name them all would be superfluous to the needs of this little story, plus how can I remember them all after 7 years.
But the core group has been there for those 7 years and there have been ups and downs. Moments of madness many times and I will share with you all an example of madness; every damn time the VC runs from dummy half. But I digress.....
Last night was a two game challenge with the first game, a semi final, being a re-match of last week against those who choose to wear Red. Seven days ago it was a 7-2 victory of which the detail of the game can be read in last weeks article. Just on that I received some 'haters' on last week story, lead by the Rookie. He trounced up and told me that my story's don't really say much about the game itself. Well as an award winning journalist I have to know that haters gonna hate....arent they Tay Tay?
Finals as we all know are very different to regular season games. Especially when some choose not to show up for varying reasons. Rookie, Jonty and the Sponsor were all withdrawals and they had varying reasons; Rookie wanted to ride his bike up and down some little hills in lycra, Jonty went to Melbourne for the Logies, only to find out they aren't on till next year and The Sponsor was in south western Sydney organising for a 'hit' to be put on the Locksmith.
But in losing those three we welcomed the return of the G.O.A.T in Plummer 2 and a new boy arrived after an invitation from the VC. Now I have been thinking of a nickname over the last 13 hours and I think I have nailed it, 'The Better one' [of the Sinclair brothers]. He played like......well lets just say his decision making was sooooo much better than the VC in reference to dummy half play.
Also the Bulldog turned up. He was strapped like a mummy and determined to play. I'm sure should have things turned sour he would have been out there. However, you 'd have thought he would have worn something more than his hospital gown.
Victory came to the Touchers in the semi final in a score of 4-0. Yeah I did score a try but that's a common event now so I really don't have to go into detail that I followed the Chairman down the right edge as he danced around defenders and looked to his right to see me run into the hole [VC see YouTube training video on how to do that] and latch onto a magical flick pass and cross the stripe to close out the game.
The semi was the usual parry and thrust, abuse back and forth. But the game wouldn't be the same if the Toucher's weren't hurling abuse across to the opposing team. The Grand Final would be no different.
As the teams assembled in front of a capacity crowd, an offer was made to the Grey teams captain that rather than play a 40 minute final that we get the winner from a paper/scissors/rock best of three challenge and we could retire to the bar and think about the warm summer days ahead.
The offer was declined and the game soon began.
Now I didn't see how he found the gap but I turned quickly as I heard the raw from the crowd. It was the Locksmith with ball tucked firmly under his arm and he was running as fast as his little legs allowed him to as he ran half the field to score. He ran so fast you almost thought the Sponsor was standing in front of him again and he wanted to run straight through him....again.
That score of 1-0 would be the final score in the Grand Final after what was described by the Chairman as "a dour affair".
The ref didn't keep a good gap between the two teams which I feel didn't help our opponents as the foundation of 2017 for the Toucher's has been our defence. We made it very hard for any team to score and our For and Against reflected that.
We still have the brilliance to score brilliant tries, two of which this year come to mind [!!!], but the work in defence I know truly upset those against us. It was fun to see the veins in the foreheads of our opponents pop as they tried to break the wall.
The Touchers bathed themselves in glory at the post match awards. After three years away from these fields we have returned to once again take back what is ours and become four time champions.
The Chairman said a few words, you could not really stop him can you? But his words of a lost team mate and friend were spot on. We were a man down with Bernie's passing. Its times like these that I stress that we look after each other, call on each other and just ask each other if we are okay.
After the official proceedings were completed the Touchers got stuck in and partied through till dawn. Well that was the plan anyway.
As fathers, husbands, friends we all have the wheels of reality to return to. But for 8 weeks for 1 hour on a Thursday we are allowed to play Touch Footy. We are allowed to run from dummy half, we are allowed to throw silly long passes, we are allowed to yell at a team mate to number off in defence, we are allowed to get upset at a team mate and soon after apologise.
We are allowed to forget about other things and just play footy. Not so much like we used to but at least try to.
With that here are the players awards for 2016;
Rookie of the year goes to Plummer 2. We have big plans for the youngster and I can see he has potential. Plummer 2 almost lost the award to 'The Better one' after his performance last night. I think the VC had him hidden from site for a reason. Plummer 1 was also a nominee in the category but injury and travel took him from us midway through the season.
Most Improved goes to Rookie. I hope this award encourages him to improve on his game in the off season. Don't worry son, you'll get there.
Team player goes to Super Coach. Playing the entire season through injury just made him yell at opponents and refs just that little bit more.
Encouragement award has two winners in 2016. Both Muzza and Scotty Mac were warmly welcomed to the Touchers corporation and we see big things ahead from them both in the many years ahead.
Speedsters of the year has been won by two of the....well lets be polite and say the two most mature players in Jonty and BBB. Its awesome to see those guys in full flight.
Gutsiest player goes to Bulldog. Who with surgery pending he still played one more game and some say it was his best game. Here's to more Hernia's in 2017 Bulldog.
Most Injured goes to the Sponsor for the third year in a row. He clinched this award last week after the Locksmith hurled himself like a bullet at the big man. In the Sponsor's absence the Locksmith accepted the award on his behalf.
Come back of the year goes to the Locksmith. Returning as the prodigal son for the last two weeks sure did bring excitement to the field. Nothing like being alongside him when things turn nasty.
Engine room player of the year goes to Smithy. His charges ahead were reminiscent of the days when he was an Eagle on this very ground back in the 80's and 90's. It took us a while to get him to be a Toucher but now that he is, his years of service ahead are something to look forward to.
Most Improved flick passer award goes to the VC. His ongoing persistence to deliver such a pass that is an art you either able to execute naturally or not. He shows consistency to dis-prove that you either can or can't make it work.
Also as the Chairman's 2IC, the VC has shown grit and determination in every game he has turned up late to. I do like the quiet words I get in my deaf left ear "...just keep it simple, just keep it simple...".
I do hope one day I get the nerve to remind him on the ground after he.....well you know, when he does that thing that he does from time to time.
Team Spirit award goes to the Chairman. His ability to bring us all back for one more year for the last 7 years has finally been recognised in this award. Things just don't just magically appear on the afternoon of the first game of a season. Its weeks and months of planning, recruiting, sponsors lunches, speaking engagements and all things administration that get the Touchers onto the park.
On behalf of my fellow Touchers, we thank him for his Chairmanship.
[I think I have got everyone...let me know if I have forgotten anyone as I do have a couple of trophies here in the cardboard box under my desk]
In closing I want to once again than you all for season 2016. It is a chance for us to be kids again and play some footy. Its not a chore to play, its something that gives us a chance to forget a tough day at work and be allowed to throw a silly long pass and of course run from dummy half when you know there will be retribution if you get touched :)
Yours in wishing you a great summer
FMJ
We deliberated over player skill on and off the paddock. Not that anyone was in true danger of losing their accreditation as a Toucher. As our creed stands as 'Once an OverToucher, always and OverToucher'.
The decision had been made minutes after the completion of the 2015 season that shall not be mentioned, that we would return to the fields of glory and bring down the wrath of redemption after 3 years in the wilderness.
If I think hard, I believe that over the years there have been about 30 Toucher's in our squad. To name them all would be superfluous to the needs of this little story, plus how can I remember them all after 7 years.
But the core group has been there for those 7 years and there have been ups and downs. Moments of madness many times and I will share with you all an example of madness; every damn time the VC runs from dummy half. But I digress.....
Last night was a two game challenge with the first game, a semi final, being a re-match of last week against those who choose to wear Red. Seven days ago it was a 7-2 victory of which the detail of the game can be read in last weeks article. Just on that I received some 'haters' on last week story, lead by the Rookie. He trounced up and told me that my story's don't really say much about the game itself. Well as an award winning journalist I have to know that haters gonna hate....arent they Tay Tay?
Finals as we all know are very different to regular season games. Especially when some choose not to show up for varying reasons. Rookie, Jonty and the Sponsor were all withdrawals and they had varying reasons; Rookie wanted to ride his bike up and down some little hills in lycra, Jonty went to Melbourne for the Logies, only to find out they aren't on till next year and The Sponsor was in south western Sydney organising for a 'hit' to be put on the Locksmith.
But in losing those three we welcomed the return of the G.O.A.T in Plummer 2 and a new boy arrived after an invitation from the VC. Now I have been thinking of a nickname over the last 13 hours and I think I have nailed it, 'The Better one' [of the Sinclair brothers]. He played like......well lets just say his decision making was sooooo much better than the VC in reference to dummy half play.
Also the Bulldog turned up. He was strapped like a mummy and determined to play. I'm sure should have things turned sour he would have been out there. However, you 'd have thought he would have worn something more than his hospital gown.
Victory came to the Touchers in the semi final in a score of 4-0. Yeah I did score a try but that's a common event now so I really don't have to go into detail that I followed the Chairman down the right edge as he danced around defenders and looked to his right to see me run into the hole [VC see YouTube training video on how to do that] and latch onto a magical flick pass and cross the stripe to close out the game.
The semi was the usual parry and thrust, abuse back and forth. But the game wouldn't be the same if the Toucher's weren't hurling abuse across to the opposing team. The Grand Final would be no different.
As the teams assembled in front of a capacity crowd, an offer was made to the Grey teams captain that rather than play a 40 minute final that we get the winner from a paper/scissors/rock best of three challenge and we could retire to the bar and think about the warm summer days ahead.
The offer was declined and the game soon began.
Now I didn't see how he found the gap but I turned quickly as I heard the raw from the crowd. It was the Locksmith with ball tucked firmly under his arm and he was running as fast as his little legs allowed him to as he ran half the field to score. He ran so fast you almost thought the Sponsor was standing in front of him again and he wanted to run straight through him....again.
That score of 1-0 would be the final score in the Grand Final after what was described by the Chairman as "a dour affair".
The ref didn't keep a good gap between the two teams which I feel didn't help our opponents as the foundation of 2017 for the Toucher's has been our defence. We made it very hard for any team to score and our For and Against reflected that.
We still have the brilliance to score brilliant tries, two of which this year come to mind [!!!], but the work in defence I know truly upset those against us. It was fun to see the veins in the foreheads of our opponents pop as they tried to break the wall.
The Touchers bathed themselves in glory at the post match awards. After three years away from these fields we have returned to once again take back what is ours and become four time champions.
The Chairman said a few words, you could not really stop him can you? But his words of a lost team mate and friend were spot on. We were a man down with Bernie's passing. Its times like these that I stress that we look after each other, call on each other and just ask each other if we are okay.
After the official proceedings were completed the Touchers got stuck in and partied through till dawn. Well that was the plan anyway.
As fathers, husbands, friends we all have the wheels of reality to return to. But for 8 weeks for 1 hour on a Thursday we are allowed to play Touch Footy. We are allowed to run from dummy half, we are allowed to throw silly long passes, we are allowed to yell at a team mate to number off in defence, we are allowed to get upset at a team mate and soon after apologise.
We are allowed to forget about other things and just play footy. Not so much like we used to but at least try to.
With that here are the players awards for 2016;
Rookie of the year goes to Plummer 2. We have big plans for the youngster and I can see he has potential. Plummer 2 almost lost the award to 'The Better one' after his performance last night. I think the VC had him hidden from site for a reason. Plummer 1 was also a nominee in the category but injury and travel took him from us midway through the season.
Most Improved goes to Rookie. I hope this award encourages him to improve on his game in the off season. Don't worry son, you'll get there.
Team player goes to Super Coach. Playing the entire season through injury just made him yell at opponents and refs just that little bit more.
Encouragement award has two winners in 2016. Both Muzza and Scotty Mac were warmly welcomed to the Touchers corporation and we see big things ahead from them both in the many years ahead.
Speedsters of the year has been won by two of the....well lets be polite and say the two most mature players in Jonty and BBB. Its awesome to see those guys in full flight.
Gutsiest player goes to Bulldog. Who with surgery pending he still played one more game and some say it was his best game. Here's to more Hernia's in 2017 Bulldog.
Most Injured goes to the Sponsor for the third year in a row. He clinched this award last week after the Locksmith hurled himself like a bullet at the big man. In the Sponsor's absence the Locksmith accepted the award on his behalf.
Come back of the year goes to the Locksmith. Returning as the prodigal son for the last two weeks sure did bring excitement to the field. Nothing like being alongside him when things turn nasty.
Engine room player of the year goes to Smithy. His charges ahead were reminiscent of the days when he was an Eagle on this very ground back in the 80's and 90's. It took us a while to get him to be a Toucher but now that he is, his years of service ahead are something to look forward to.
Most Improved flick passer award goes to the VC. His ongoing persistence to deliver such a pass that is an art you either able to execute naturally or not. He shows consistency to dis-prove that you either can or can't make it work.
Also as the Chairman's 2IC, the VC has shown grit and determination in every game he has turned up late to. I do like the quiet words I get in my deaf left ear "...just keep it simple, just keep it simple...".
I do hope one day I get the nerve to remind him on the ground after he.....well you know, when he does that thing that he does from time to time.
Team Spirit award goes to the Chairman. His ability to bring us all back for one more year for the last 7 years has finally been recognised in this award. Things just don't just magically appear on the afternoon of the first game of a season. Its weeks and months of planning, recruiting, sponsors lunches, speaking engagements and all things administration that get the Touchers onto the park.
On behalf of my fellow Touchers, we thank him for his Chairmanship.
[I think I have got everyone...let me know if I have forgotten anyone as I do have a couple of trophies here in the cardboard box under my desk]
In closing I want to once again than you all for season 2016. It is a chance for us to be kids again and play some footy. Its not a chore to play, its something that gives us a chance to forget a tough day at work and be allowed to throw a silly long pass and of course run from dummy half when you know there will be retribution if you get touched :)
Yours in wishing you a great summer
FMJ
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