The day Mal lived his dream

[ScottH]

The day Mal lived his dream

His mentor Michael O'Loughlin has a quiet word to the youngster before the game while the captain Barry Hall told him to play the way he has been and that he deserved his spot "which got my adrenalin up a bit".

"I remember my first contest, I came off the line and got hit in the head but it was good to get in there and try and get the ball.

"Then I got my first kick, a kick for goal (midway through first quarter) and I was pretty nervous. My legs were a bit shaky but I just thought I have to kick through the ball and hopefully it will go straight.

"I was lucky it went through the middle and it was like this huge rush. Jude (Bolton) was the first one to come up to me and gave me a pat on the head.

"It was a really good moment and I will remember the time I kicked my first goal. All the boys came over to congratulate me and it will stay in my mind for a very, very long time."

So his nick name is Mal!

[j s]

Nice pic from the Herald-Sun...

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5014294,00.jpg

[Thunder Shaker]

I was at the game and I paid some attention to Mal to see how he went. I noticed him starting the game in the forward line. When he took the mark in the first quarter and kicked the goal I noticed that he got a lot of attention from our boys, as one would when kicking one's first goal.

I haven't seen anyone else remark on this, but early in the last quarter I saw him playing in the centre at the bounce. Considering the evenly-poised nature of the game at that time, that is a huge vote of confidence in him.

Well done Mal, and I hope you play 200 games in the red and white.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by j s
Nice pic from the Herald-Sun...

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/com...5014294,00.jpg

Did anyone else think 'Mark Bayes' when looking at that picture?

[satchmopugdog]

Mark Bayes... now we're talking laconic left footers. Yes That picture brought him to mind but not live... "Mal" is a bit zippier in his movements. That is a revolting nickname.

[Ablett_20]

What a great game for 'Mal'! First kick....Goal!

[Tuesday]

Originally posted by satchmopugdog
"Mal" is a bit zippier in his movements. That is a revolting nickname.

'Mal' is so predictable, though I cannot talk, considering mine falls in to the same category! From now on, I shall call him 'Eski'

[satchmopugdog]

Eski or Cooler

[Tooth Fairy]

Originally posted by Charlie
Did anyone else think 'Mark Bayes' when looking at that picture?

To be honest Charlie I looked and thought... "geez, put dark hair on him and he'd remind me of roosy."

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Tooth Fairy
To be honest Charlie I looked and thought... "geez, put dark hair on him and he'd remind me of roosy."

In the face, yes, so do I... but I'm more focused on the kick. Graceful left foot... if his boot wasn't turned inwards just that little bit (and it could just the angle on that count), his kicking style would be a clone of Bayes.

Hey, he can be a mix of both, with the 'zippy' run of Paul Williams if he likes.

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by satchmopugdog
Eski or Cooler

But whose Esky is it?

Mal's Esky.

[BonBon]

Are we going to call him Mal, now?

[Charlie]

Originally posted by BonBon
Are we going to call him Mal, now?

I like Esky better.

[Ablett_20]

Originally posted by Charlie
I like Esky better.

Yeah same, it's more unusual.

[BonBon]

Originally posted by Charlie
I like Esky better.

Well, I like Cooler better.