SUPER VICTORY PROMPTS REFLECTION
The emphatic demolition of a competitive Fitzroy on Sunday, despite fielding just 15 players, led Hills’ Superules team members to reflect on their future.
With an ageing playing list mirroring society’s workforce, how long can this dynasty stay together, delivering unbeatable performances season after season?
In a year that saw a number of new faces expand the current squad to its limit, senior players reflected on what it would take for some players to retire.
Will players be eligible for pension cards if they are still playing football?
History suggests it requires a life changing event to end a Superules career. John O’Dea was a key member of the defensive unit until his Mr. December pose in the team’s racy calendar resulted in a major career change. Jim McLean, famous for his bizarre pre match warm up involving a brick, some string and a blow up doll, was forced out by the increasing cost pavers and Ron Hanson was blitzed by technology. Delighted to be filmed while playing, Ron asked why they always replayed him in slow motion. Upon being told that it was normal speed, Ron immediately retired. Stalwart Scott Cameron played happily for years until being mistaken for Ron Berry’s twin brother.
Recent retirements have been few and far between. Only the infamous Marotta brothers have left due to the need to “Take care of business”.
The “group think” of the senior playing list was indicative of their “Baby Boomer” status. None would even contemplate retirement, exhibiting classic denial of the ageing process. Short term memory loss, where none could remember moments of ineptitude or slowness of response, aided this state of mind. A generation which has been accused of “Living to work” is also “Living to play”. Rob McGregor took out his false tooth to play and rebounded superbly from defence while Chris Hill strapped on the knee brace and Dale Wylie his back brace. Hill kicked two goals and so thoughts of retirement have been waylaid for another twelve months. Paul Zoontjens regularly kicked forty metres into the breeze and so the painkillers have kept him going nicely.
The concept of dying on the football field holds no fear for these warriors. Kim Pearce plays on three hours sleep and Alex Tucker almost wills himself into contests in which his fate is to be brutally crunched time after time.
However, despite the Baby Boomers stamping their indelible footprint on the culture of the club, the Generation Xers are beginning to emerge from their shadow.
The younger team members, who were reared on a diet of MTV and Grunge, rather than Countdown and Disco, are beginning to assert themselves. It is a fascinating social study to observe how a group who gained their music appreciation from Richard Wilkins can co-exist with those who worshipped Molly Meldrum.
Their ability to work together is critical for the future of the Supertigers. So far the two have found harmony.
Dick Kleemann, Simon Kemp and Matt Ormsby have been happy to share the ball with their more aged compatriots. Mark Jaensch will dish out a handball to anyone, regardless of age, and Wayne Seymour will win the hardball and help out any team mate.
This group had impacted on the style of play.
For years, The Boomers, have worked off the blueprint of lateral movement and communal football where everybody gets to touch the ball. Any time they were heading directly towards goal they would redirect the ball to a flank or pocket and happily double the handling required to get within range.
This new generation is more comfortable challenging and changing team strategies. It is not uncommon for them to transmit the ball directly down the ground, and when necessary kick the long goal themselves.
Fortunately, while there appears to be significant differences in philosophy and practice, both are linked by the same forward strategy. In the ageless tradition of Superules, neither generation will pass to the full forward.
The critical, and so far unrecognised group in this equation, is those who live on the cusp.
Aleks Bojanic, Tommy Hancock, Gary Magee, Neil Thomson and David Wuttke represent that gaggle who are born in the mid 60s and exhibit traits of both categories.
Free spirits who believe in safe sex; people who can find pleasure in both Get Smart and Neighbours; players who believe in team loyalty and those who want to know what the team can do for them.
This group bridge the gap by adapting to both sets of values and styles of play. All can be accused of being goal hungry as well as adhering to the indirect play ethos. They can show sensitivity and yet view their position in the team as “the special one”.
Dedicated and selfless defender Wuttke joined the goal kickers as he wandered closer and closer to the scoring zone and finally tasted the elixir of conversion. Hancock made the wing his own and still managed to slot four goals, causing Magee at full forward to turn green with envy and strove desperately to out do him.
One major generational variance was the inter relations between players.
“Boomer”, Rob McGregor refused to leave his opponent’s side, not because he was a threat to the team but because he was a “Fascinating bloke to chat to”. “Gen Xer” Sean Watt refused to let go of his opponent because he wanted to establish clear boundaries of acceptable on field behaviour.
The “Love” generation compared to the “Outcome Focussed” generation.
The end result was a hard fought win by an undermanned team.
The generations continue to co-exist in tempered harmony and battle for mutual understanding and acceptance as they debate the merits of Star Wars versus Alien and The Village People as opposed to Wham.
There are still no signs of any imminent retirements and the headache of extra numbers will be back to haunt coach Dave Piro next match.
HILLS 16 – 13 FITZROY 8 – 7
Best: Hancock, Seymour, Wuttke, Kemp, Zoontjens, Geraghty, Watt
Goals: Hancock 4, Magee 3, Hill 2, Watt, Wuttke, Seymour, Kemp 1 (unknown 3)
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