The Terrace

We lost in ’67
And we took it pretty hard
But for my 19th birthday
I got a Michael Turner Scanlan’s footy card
I took it to school and swapped it
For a Scratcher Neal card, but then
Someone beat me up and flogged it
And I never got it back again
From ‘Down to kardinia’, by Greg Champion
 
There is little doubt that the GFC has provided a sanctuary for the oft-maligned red head. In a tribute to the much-loved Rangas we are dedicating a special Tuesday feature to those fiery-follicled members who have represented the GFC with distinction. Appropriately, our first featured member in the Rangtheon of Geelong is none other than…Robert ‘Scratcher’ Neal.  Welcome to the  prestigious club, Scratcher.

Scratcher's scanlon...the jersey seems to bring out the blue in his eyes.

Another fine Scratcher portrait...the hair stylist has done a fine job.

Scratcher’s Profile

Name: Robert Neal

Number: 35

Nickname: Scratcher

Nickname derived from: an arch reference to his background as a potato farmer

Recruited from: Wynyard, Tasmania

Games: 200 with Geelong (20 with St Kilda)

Goals: 51 with Geelong, (1 with St Kilda)

Played between: 1974 and 1986 with Geelong (1987-88 with St Kilda)

Position: Wing(ish)

Known for: flamin’ red hair, cult status, boasting explosive pace coupled with elusiveness, smooth ball handling skills, excellent defensive qualities and fine temperament.

Playing distinctions: Wynyard Official ‘All Star Team 1965 – 1995‘
 
Submit a red head!
Have a red-headed favourite? Here at The Terrace we would welcome any Red-headed Tuesday requests…

‘Start me up!’ is obviously the title to one of the The Stone’s epic tracks, and most of The Terrace’s loyal readers (then again, does anyone actually read this blog?) will be aware Cameron ‘Moondog’ Mooney has a son called Jagger. I’m not sure if he’s named after the potent big-lipped man, but either way the Moondog has awoken from his hibernation and start me up he has!

Jagger #1 in a weird pair of tights with knee pads.

Jagger #2 relaxes at home on a stylish mohair rug with the Moondog and Seona

For those who may think Jagger is bad form in the baby names stakes, for the record Nathan Buckley has a son called Ayce. Ayce? I mean, really Nathan. What were you and Tanya thinking? Where I come from Ayce is a good name for a cheap bistro and stands for ‘All you can eat‘.

Anyway, I digress. The Moondog’s trademark flying chest grabs, his unselfish assists, his powerful body play and wind-affected locks were on display in an emphatic demolition of Brisbane. There were so many contributors to this potent performance, but when the spiritual leader is presenting with belief, the congregation lifts.

Each quarter in four words or less:

1st: It is very wet!

2nd: Gazza has 27 possessions.

3rd: Wet weather football revolution.

4th: Glorious goal Gary, unbelievable!

The Terrace Soap Box

The Terrace was in a characteristically cynical mood as we pored over the sports section this morning. Mick Malthouse’s saying “Unfortunately, I reckon we let the ANZACs down” incensed us. Firstly, Collingwood are a bunch of prawns and don’t deserve to be compared with our war heroes. To involve the memory of our fallen soldiers in describing his emotion and teams performance is out of place. Secondly, they let themselves down with their insipid fade out in yesterday’s match.  The misappropriation of the ANZAC memory happens enough in preparing for this match, let alone describing the wash up. Take that, Mick!

This week: Our inagural Red-head Tuesday and 2nd past-player profile! How very exciting.

Whilst we’re not still avenging the disallowed mark to Leigh Colbert in the 1997 2nd Semi-Final, here at The Terrace we can’t get our head around the fact Geelong went out in straight sets and Adelaide went on to win the flag. So it’s always sweet to return from the city of churches having read the lesson. Whilst Bock had attracted the majority of incense, Gazza (on his 150th) dropped by for the collection, to deliver the sermon and give us a blessing.

Seldom can opponents walk away from an eight-goal defeat and hold their head high. Adelaide persisted all night and kept reeling in margins established at the start of the first and second quarters, but Geelong was able to deliver the last rites with a seven-goal final quarter.

Each quarter in four words or less:
1st: Congratulations Gazza. Great start!
2nd: Good early, keep working
3rd: Blake has been dominant
4th: Geelong is on fire!

NB.
On the 18th June, 1999, Wayne Gretzky (New York Rangers) played his final game in the NHL. He retired as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer and holder of 61 individual records. He was known as ‘The Great One’.

The Great One

Jump forward a decade (and across the globe) and the son of ‘God’ was celebrating his 150th game with a career high 46 possession, best-on-ground/best-game-ever performance. His game has spawned a plethora of complimentary articles to say the least. Now the debate is on: who was/is better, Gary Jnr or Snr? Whichever way we look at it, it’s a great debate, the Garys are great and for that we should be enternally…ahhh…greatful!?

The Great One...Junior

It is almost time that an honorific nickname is given. Like our anthem, the current versions fall short of the possibilities: Gazza, Ablett Junior, Baby Jesus, Lil’ Gaz, Son of God.

Send us your thoughts…

Main entry: mensch
Pronunciation: \’men(t)sh\
Function: noun
Definition: a person of integrity and honor
— menschy \’men(t)-shē\ adjective

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

I’m not really sure if David Mensch was indeed a mensch in the true sense of the word. I mean, he was definitely no David Dench, which makes him more of a mensch than Dench, but that doesn’t necessarily indicate he was a mench through and through – if you know what i mean. Anyway, the point is, just because a footballer has a noun as a surname hardly means his attributes reflect that; I mean, it’s not as though Jarryd Roughhead has a rough pill. OK, that’s a poor example. But I think you get the message.

Either way, what a great honour for The Terrace to kick off our past player post with the big man from Grovedale with an awkward number . ‘Menschy’ played 158 serviceable games for the Catters between ’92 and ’02, hauling his axe-splitting shoulders around the half-forward line.  He averaged 1.1 goals, 7.3 kicks, 5 handballs and 4 marks per game.  He was the joint-leading Geelong goal scorer in 2000 with…errr…the grand total of 39 goals. Oh, he also played in two losing grandfinals in ’94 and ’95, but which Geelong  player didn’t player in a couple of losing GF’s in the ’90′s?

Menschy then...

Menschy was lured up North-East in ’03 to play for the Mansfield Eagles (and cut some wood in his downtime), where he coached the club to a premiership in ’04. After a three-year hiatus back in the ‘grove, Menschy has returned to throw his weight around the Goulburn Valley once more, still wearing the famous number 31.

Unfortunatley, The Terrace couldn’t locate any video content of Menschy to complement this post, so that’s best left to the imagination. But, whichever way you look at ithe big man, Menschy was a loyal and dedicated servant to the club, which probably makes him something of a mensch, at least in a football sense. Menschy, The Terrace salutes you!

Menschy now!

On Thursday night, a supporter behind me constantly referred to a player as Whitney Houston. “I will always love you” sounded like a fitting tribute song for one of our many gallant (and capable) players. When I turned around I noticed this supporter was wearing Black and White and looked one Joffa short of a cheer squad.

After confusing and incessant screaming I span around and asked, “why Whitney?” He replied “Rocca always protects Medhurst, he is like a bodyguard. You know like Kevin Costner to Whitney Houston in that movie.” Brilliant!

Ummm...is that you Paul?

Like The Sphinx at the golfview, sometimes the unlikely just works (the nickname and the human in this case).

Thus Collingwood returned to their role as headline fodder for the tabloids while we wrapped ourselves in a weekend special of the Ablettiser. Order is restored.

Each quarter in four words or less:
1st: I really hate Collingwood
2nd: 8 unanswered, we’re back!
3rd: We’re toying with them
4th: Tomahawk, enjoy your eggs

I’m tipping the walk back to the Lexus centre seemed further than those destined for the City of Dreams.

Next post: The Terrace’s inaugural past-player profile!

For The Terrace, last Saturday saw an unfortunate clash between a wedding and the overly-hyped game (will every game that features Richmond this year be a ‘big game’, despite their track record for mediocrity?) down at KP. Resisting the urge to wear a clip-on transistor radio earpiece thingy, I braved the ceremony and pre-reception drinks armed with nothing more than a mid second-quarter score. In that time I received multiple reports of Brad Otten’s season-career-life (depending on who you spoke to) ending knee injury. Is it wrong that, as a result of this information, most of The Terrace’s time during the ceremony and pre-wedding drinks were focused not on the beatiful settings and wonders of matrimony, but on Blakey’s ability to cope in Otto’s absence? No? Good.

Anyway, it’s a bit hard to do a match review when you a. didn’t go to the game; b. didn’t watch or listen to the game; and, c. were too hung to read the match reports in the Sunday papers. Suffice to say The Terrace’s two observations were:

1. Stevie J. was the difference, is in career-best form and will share the Brownlow with Gazza Jnr. Just imagine, for one second, how painful it would have been if we had traded Johnson to Collingwood or Essendon, only to watch him in this rich vein of form. It almost happened…
2. Terry Wallace spends too much time in his personal solarium at the expense of Richmond’s ability to play football.

Enough said. Bring on the ‘Pies!