A little footy exposure

by LES EVERETT
LAST Saturday's A-grade amateurs grand final at East Fremantle was, unfortunately, a bit of a drab affair and with the local hope CBC unable to find a way to the goals the game was over a long way from home.

Things livened up for a few moments in last quarter when a couple of streakers took to the field and went for a polite bounce through the centre square before precariously leaping the fence at the northern end and making for their clothes behind an unoccupied kiosk.

Luckily we had security men to protect us. They chased a now fully-clothed offender, nabbed him and marched him back over the fence and paraded him past the crowd in the Merv Cowan stand and the interchange benches before escorting from the ground.

Who knows what they do with such unwanted types - maybe he was deported to some far away place like North Beach.

At the end of the game as Bill Duckworth's team from the beach and its supporters celebrated a second successive premiership we again had reason to feel safe.

"Please do not take alcohol onto the ground." boomed the ground announcer, "Those people with cans of VB and cans of bourbon and coke are breaking the law."

Now I'm as nanny as they come - always wear a helmet when riding my bike; wear a hat in the sun; love the smoking ban in restaurants and look forward to its extension into public bars and am happy to see a security presence on the trains. But last Saturday in sleepy East Freo I began to wonder whether sometimes we could just turn a blind eye.

In contrast to the WAAFL grand final the WAFL finale at Subiaco Oval on Sunday was a beauty. A big crowd saw tough, disciplined and skilful football in difficult conditions.

However, perhaps next year the WAFL could consider inviting two teams along for the game. Sure it would be more expensive but it is worth considering.

On Monday there was a another triumph for the Bullcreek-Leeming JFC when Simon Black won the Brownlow. There were no votes to be gained at the Gabba in last Saturday night's AFL preliminary final but Black's statistics in that game tell a story - 12 kicks, 13 handballs, a goal and 11 tackles - not even Troy Cook lays 11 tackles in a game. Simon Black has it all.

This weekend Collingwood will play in a grand final and Fremantle supporters could do a little pondering:

1. Both Brisbane (1998) and Collingwood (1999) are recent wooden spooners.

2. The Magpies have proved you don't have to be that good to make a grand final but you do have to make the finals first.

3. James Clement is a good player and those who peddled the myth that he was soft should admit their mistake.

Fremantle Oval last week. We've altered the photograph to take out the offensive bits for your protection.

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