Its not only the Buddy and Fev show that thrilled crowds at the weekend. In the Kyabram District Football League, there were enough full-forward plot-lines to fill a novel, or at least the notes section in one of the more eccentric country footy programs.
The Kyabram District competition has had a record of colourful full-forwards over the past decade, players like burly Danny Irwin and former Geelong forward Gavin Exell, whose left-foot shots at goal were as straight as an arrow.
Then theres been the extremely colourful ones like Shane Loveless (more than 2000 goals in country footy, a good proportion in the Kyabram District league; once marched off by police at half-time for belting a spectator during a Goulburn Valley league game); Perry Meka (almost 3000 goals in country footy; last year suspended for two games for slapping a teenaged Avenel fan after a match); and Aaron James (averages about 10 goals a game in his short country career; suspended for three matches, and later deregistered, early this season for striking a spectator after a game at Undera).
As indicated, full-forwards can tire of being heckled. This year several Kyabram District people had a measure of sympathy for James, who at the time of his indiscretion had personal issues. The issue of declining spearhead relations was ascribed to spectators bringing their own drink into the ground. During a crisis meeting at the Murchison oval, club officials decided to band together to solve the problem.
No longer was it the responsibility of just the home club to monitor crowd behaviour. If spectators were drunk and playing up, officials from both clubs would approach the offenders together. The result was fewer full-forwards up before the tribunal.
James, who played at Collingwood, Richmond and Western Bulldogs before embarking on his local footy odyssey, last month successfully appealed against his deregistration during an AFL Victoria hearing at the MCG. The following Saturday, in the Kyabram District leagues final round, he returned to the field for Stanhope and kicked 12 goals, bringing his season tally to 72 from seven games.
Stanhope, as the top team, earned a weeks break after that the game. The winner of the qualifying final between Ardmona and Lancaster would earn the right to challenge the Lions in the second semi-final.
The big attractions of last Saturdays qualifying final were on Ardmonas full-forward line, where Adrian Meka was gunning for his hundred goals and his cousin Perry Meka was playing in yet another finals series.
Last year Perry became a nationwide identity after playing in the AFL Legends match. Early this year, the 42-year-old was taken from the field in an ambulance after collapsing in the final minute of a match at Girgarre. A suspected heart attack was later revealed to be an old chest muscle problem that had impacted on his heart. After two matches out, Perry (again) came out of retirement.
On Saturday, Adrian Meka kicked the first three goals of the game to bring up his ton, inspiring spectators to leave their Eskies behind the boundary and stream on to the ground. Some of those on the ground were Mekas family members. The next day, about 40 family members were at the MCG to see the last game of Adem Yze, who is a cousin of the Meka family.
Adrian ended up kicking six goals, bringing his tally to 103, while Perry kicked two to give him 79. At the other end, Lancaster full-forward Troy Mitchell kicked four goals to give him 94 for the season.
The game was a tight, tough affair that was punctuated by a fierce downpour during the third quarter. Ardmona just held out their fast-finishing opponents to win by three points, the same margin that separated the teams in Ardmonas favour during their only match during the home-and-away rounds.
This weekend, Ardmona takes on Stanhope in the second semi-final at Nagambie on Saturday. Lancasters Mitchell gets his chance to notch his hundred when the Wombats play Undera in the first semi-final at Tallygaroopna on Sunday.
Full-forwards are sure to feature prominently in both matches, and spectators will never be far away.
By Paul Daffey
Article first appeared The Age. September 3rd, 2008
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