Mr September
By Tom Harley
www.afl.com.au
LET ME introduce you to Mr September.
You know who he is, the player born to play finals footy. The one who has all the skill in the world coupled with an unrelenting attitude and will to win. He drags his team mates from the jaws of defeat as he senses the occasion and lifts to unprecedented levels. His team mates love him, his coach loves him and the fans adore him.
He has Cyril Rioli’s eyes. A super human ability to pick out a team mate in the forward 50 who is invisible to everyone else. He sees the game in slow motion.
He has Stevie Johnson’s sense of smell. He comes alive with the sweet scent of the big sticks. Not only can he sniff a goal but he can smell the fear of his opponent when he drags him into his forward 50 lair.
He has Buddy Franklin’s ears. When the crowd erupts, so does Buddy. He pins them back and tears apart the game like another famous number 23 from Glenferrie.
He has Matthew Scarlett’s mouth. Short of words off the field but full of voice on it. When he speaks, everyone listens. A sharp wit that can cut down foes in one sentence and marshal his troops with the next.
He has the brain of Chris Judd. A Rhode scholar-like acumen akin to a Carlton Premiership captain of a bygone era. Unfazed by everything yet acutely aware of when to take it up a notch.
He has Dane Swan’s lungs. Never out of breath. The siren is the only thing that stops him running. “If only he suffered from leather poisoning…” his opponents lament.
He has Aaron Sandilands’ right hand to caress the ball at a stoppage and Nick Riewoldt’s left to clunk it close to goal.
He has Lindsay Gilbee’s right foot. He launches the ball from half back into the bread basket of a team-mate 60 metres away. And just in case he needs to go on his opposite side, all is not lost; he has Luke Hodge’s left.
And finally, he has Brett Kirk’s heart. A Zen like approach to battle but once the ball is bounced he becomes a warrior. It beats for his team and never stops. He wears it on his sleeve and bares his emotions for all to see, his will to win unparalled.
What do you think of Mr September? Is he lacking anything on his path to greatness? Could he be strengthened by the powers of other modern day greats? Wouldn’t you just love him on your team!