I love North

by ANNABEL MOUNSEY

I LOVE

North Melbourne.

I love Arden Street even though the grandstand that my father - may he rest-in-peace - saw built has been left to rack and ruin and the social club that he helped found is a tabaret.

I love long blue socks pulled up to the knees but I love the striped ones better especially paired with the striped guernsey. I love Spider Burton even though I wish he'd put his shoulders back and stand straight and proud.

I loved Peter Bell almost as much as Barry Cable and now I love Byron Pickett. I love Micky Martin 'cos he has that extra muscle in the front of his thigh that no-one else seems to have and he can pull really ugly faces to scare off the opposition.

I loved Wayne Carey not just for his magnificent playing skills but because I empathised with him for having a long body and short legs and acting like a bit of a dickhead sometimes.

I loved Big Mick Nolan because he used to have a Mars Bar and a cigarette at quarter time and anyone who is compared to a gasometer has got to be huge.

I loved Ron Barassi even if he did call Keith Greig a "shit plumber". He apologised later and it was great to watch him through the binoculars at a match at quarter time and try to lip-read his abuse.

I loved my Dad and he died on a Saturday in June 2001 while North were playing on the telly which was 20 years almost to the day when he had major heart surgery on a Saturday and nearly died and North were playing on the telly. He brought me up to barrack for North even though we lived in Essendon so I've hated Essendon ever since even though I try not to.

Wally Carter died last year. He was a great player and coach for North and I met him at my uncle's funeral a few years ago and he must have been 90 not out and didn't appear to remember my dad and uncle breaking his window 70 odd years ago. He tottered when he walked but he stood straight as a bean pole and I reckon if you placed a pigskin in front of his foot he would have demonstrated at least a straight kick if not a long one as he was renowned for.

North have had it tough this year. But hey, when hasn't it been tough for North? When others would have limped away nursing their aches and egos, North have proved once again that they never give in. Chewed and gnarled and spat upon that old shinbone might be, but by God it's got some guts left inside. They didn't get to the Big One but I don't care. They're great and I love them.

I would like to dedicate this, albeit a little late, to "Tricky" Dickie Mounsey - born and bred in and fanatical supporter of North Melbourne, businessman, husband, father, grandfather, raconteur and generous, funny, bloke. A gentleman and a scholar. Go the shinboners.

Annabel loves Byron. True

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