Be prepared

by PAUL DAFFEY

IN recent years it's become common for Victorian country clubs to recruit from Darwin, where our footy season is played in their off-season. It's also become common for country clubs to encourage players to prepare for matches as best as possible, following the lead set by AFL players.

At Berwick, on Melbourne's south-eastern fringe, both these recent conventions have been overturned. While the Wickers have again recruited half a dozen players from Darwin, they've had to find accommodation for only three. The other three fly in from Darwin every week, courtesy of the $140 return flights on Tiger Airways.

One of those three, James Puautjimi, was booked to fly down south last Thursday, only to become stuck on the Tiwi Islands because of a family funeral. The 19-year-old finally managed to get on a flight from the islands to Darwin on Friday and then board a flight from Darwin to Melbourne at 2 o'clock on Saturday morning.

Berwick president Peter Jensen was at the Melbourne Airport to pick up Puautjimi about six hours later. On arrival in Berwick, Puautjimi had one request: McDonald's. By the time he pulled on his boots to play at 2pm, his preparation had entailed an overnight flight on which he'd slept not a wink and a McMuffin Meal Deal, no glucose supplement required.

He then ignited the Berwick crowd just as he had in his first match. He made several scintillating runs, flashed his gleaming teeth, kicked a couple of goals, and then headed back to his island home 60 kilometres north of Darwin.

Berwick's other Darwin recruits include Mark McLean, the son of former Footscray and Brisbane defender Michael, and Ben Ah Mat, the brother of former Sydney forward Robbie. The club is coached by former Geelong forward Ronnie Burns, who is also one of Darwin's favourite sons.

Even with such an array of guns, Berwick has failed to crack it for a win. In the first round, again Beaconsfield, they lost when former Collingwood forward Andrew Williams kicked a goal just before the siren to give his team victory by five points. Last week, Hampton Park's playing coach Josh Taylor took a mark on the siren and then kicked a goal to give his team victory by two points.

Berwick this week plays Narre Warren. They could do worse than buy McMuffin deals for the entire team and see how they go.

Not all northern recruits are from Darwin. Some are from Queensland, such as Robinvale's new playing-coach Tim Moncur.

Moncur's father Danny made a rugged impression in the Sunraysia league as playing-coach at Mildura and Merbein 30 years ago. Tim is a well-spoken teacher, and not particularly renowned as a chip off the old block, but you mightn't have thought that last Saturday.

Tim, a 190-centimetre ruckman, was playing against Mildura when he ran into his cousin, Jarrod Alderton. Alderton emerged from the clash with a black eye while Moncur was reported for striking.

Moncur faced the tribunal and was let off the charge. His cousin probably wishes he'd go back to Queensland.

This article first appeared in The Age on Wednesday, 23 April 2008.

25 April 2008

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