Clancy getting on air early at 5HBO simply because, like all of you out there, I'm getting a bit toey, and want the home-and-away season to finish on two high notes, and then bring on the finals! So am going to whet your appetites by interviewing a bunch of the very young ones who'll hold our club at the highest for years to come.

So take note, and keep tuning in to find out about our future champs.

First up – Jack Trengove, not yet 17 (will be on September 2), which is as young as they've come to graduate to the Seconds.  Baggy was 15 and ready, but his dad Hartley made him, and us, stick around for another year or two.  Our selectors are showing lots of nous by developing Jack Trenny in the U17s, U19s and the Reserves when he was able to get time off from PAC's

Jack is in Yr11 at Prince Alfred College, where he's been for 3 years since his family moved up to Adelaide from Naracoorte, where Jack was born and where he'd lived all his life until that move resulted in his being one of ours. And incidentally captaining the Sturt U15 team in 2006. Quick recognition of his silky skills, eh?
 
Jack filled me in  (reluctantly when it came to his Awards ) about his U14 days with Kybybolite  - starting with them at age 10. Always liked to be the youngest?  Nah. At the top of the footy skills department.(my comment).  He played in 4 premierships in a row at Kyby from 2002- 2006 . In 2005 he was selected in the Glenelg Country Smartplay team which lost the grand final to Port Adelaide. Wouldn't have gone down too well !

In 2003 he was selected in the U/12 State SAPSASA team which went to Cairns and came second to Victoria.
In 2007 Jack was selected in the State U/16 SANFL team which went to Brisbane. Swapping to Sturt from Glenelg in 2006, Jack played in the U17s finals, with  Port spoiling it all in the grand final once again. Not happy.

In 2008 "Trenny" has played  U/19 and Reserves for Sturt as I mentioned a couple of minutes ago.
College footy? Played for Prince Alfred for all of his 3 years there (to date).

Awards?  Not many, says he. But was best and fairest for his year 9 team, before being promoted beyond his age to the First XV111 last year and this.

Prince Alfred, as you may know , won the Intercollegiates in both years, and were State Knockout winners in 2008.  Jack did OK I guess.  Awarded the Colin Steinert Medal for best on ground, then the 1st XV111 Best and Fairest Medal. And had those games with us at the same time ….
 
So where, if anywhere does Trenny get it from?  Lots of genetics, obviously, when you sneak a peek at Mum, sports coordinator at Annesley College;  Dad – country sheep and cattle vet, sending the lad off to round up his patients.  Could've employed a border collie but Jack was quicker.    Cheaper. .

And  J's eldest sister, Jess,  now a 3rd Year physiotherapy student (book in quick) , but what ground would she have made up on the cattle?  Maybe some. Jess has represented SA in Australia Cross Country Running and plays senior netball for Contax.  Quick I'm told – which she would have to be in those pursuits (Excuse the pun)

Then Jack's other sister Abbie, 19, who is studying first yr Animal Science, and  (genetics?) holds an SASI Scholarship for rowing.  Abbie has also represented SA in our U19 Rowing Team 2008 and the Youth Cup Squad 2008 also.

Stiff luck for border collies and kelpies.

But back to Jack's other "dig-it-out-of-me-if-you-can"  bits and pieces as he calls them .

Captain of Prince Alfred's 1st 11 cricket team. All rounder, as if we wouldn't have twigged.

State cross Country "a couple of times".  State Athletics when he was younger for the U14 high jump.  Up there, Cazaly!!
 
Jack's best mates at HBO are too many to list here, but he has spent a lot of time on our turf with Matt Thompson, Alex Wilson and Paul Cahill, future DoubleBlue champs all.

And his footy heroes (other than everyone in the Senior side), are Gary Ablett  jnr  and Chris Judd.  Hence his love of centre, centre-wing and half forward.

News for Jack though. He will be in the engine room any time from next year on, methinks.  Unless he decides to train border collies and my pomeranian, Chester, to take over as runners for his dad, Colin.
 
Clancy   5HBO  Interviewing Jack Trengove  27 August 2008

Clancy at Alberton, watching the guys setting up the audio transmission for 5HBO, taking in the panoramic view of enthusiastic, happy blue and blue, and across the oval, to the east, the hazy prison bars (what recidivist landed the contract to make that woeful gear to match the expressions of the Port Adelaide faithful, I wonder), and do those about-to-be-towelled realize that their hallowed turf has been filched, along with their long and celebrated history, by another club of a similar name? 

Seemingly so, for Magpie attendees look swamped by the Double Blue turnout, and they aren't carrying banners demanding their pride back. Oh well.

Actually I'm more interested in the seconds, and when Jack Trengove and yet another of the Bartlett line homeward plod their weary way up to the stand graced by various rellies, I'll try to coax them into interviews before the bye. Keep tuned. If they are as good with words as they are with the ball they'll impress. Along with a whole batch of others they are the bright future of our Club. Regardless of the changed junior SAFL (yep) structures coming up.

And to use this quiet time before I'm with you in the Blue Waves, let me reminisce on the U17s game on Saturday at HB Oval. Where Mitch Curnow (199cm) of Mitcham, and Scott Lycett (198 but add on a couple) of Ceduna had an intriguing ruck duel that kept the scores in touch for the whole game. Two number 18s, four parents I believe all Sturt fans. Hiccup – Scott Lycett lives with his Ceduna Hotel manager parents and currently is tied to Port magpies. Mum and dad are long time Blues. So here's a riddle to be solved!
Maybe the Crows have to get off their butts and sign both of them. But Sturt gets 'em first. Get ready to donate some of that "lazy money" that Don of Stonyfell talks about.

Anyway, the seconds have just won well. Award selectors got it right – check it elsewhere on the Club site - and get ready for the rebirth of Tom Hurley folks!!

Now, as the main gladiatorial event gets under way I'm making notes. The whole caboodle of our lads are relishing the absence of Coopers Clay or was it Redleg Rash?

Feasty's 200th.  Oh boy. One of our greatest champions this bloke. And who's out there displaying wonderful rucking skills so that Simon doesn't have to run himself ragged? Big Fab Deluca, helping Feasty celebrate.  Thanks Choco. Many, many thanks Big Fab.

OK Let's roll. First up Heidi of Prospect.  HiDiHi?

Pete, I'm donating some blue to the prison bars over in the Magpie Nest. And I'm constantly raving, looking backwards, about that Danny Wicks of ours. So good. So cool. So quick!!! And his work rate! Tell me where you'd place him before the game ends, eh?

Goodonya Heidi.  Most perceptive. I bet he got to your sense of classy choreography in every game he's played this season. I've slotted him into the first 2 in almost every game. I'll let you know. It's all yours the good Rev Humphries of Woodcroft. Fire away.

Actually, Clance, Heidi stole my thunder, as you did when you nicked Fabian Big Fab! Which seems to be your wont of late – like renicking Big Fish Herring to Big Marlin.  But appropriate, I admit. So I'd better get my two bob's worth in before some ecstatic supporter in Swaziland beats me to the assegai as it were.  Cubillo.  I didn't think I'd live to see anyone emulate Madness Whiteman's courage at the scrimmages. But I'm seeing it now. Marvellous gutsy, effective stuff. Kicking spot on now too. Top deliveries. He's comfortable with our extreme pace now I reckon. But who'll keep up with him apart from Brodie and Danny and Paddy (Fittock) and Gummy? Do you agree Pete?

Mmm my revered mate – when did this begin? 1966 at Plympton? You've sorted 'em out again old son. First Heidi and then thee! Why doth thou not theek thilenth? Bugger. I lapth into lipth every tho often when in the company of the good.

Well, so far I'm talking to the right people. Wicks, DeLuca, Cubillo. Who's this in my ear? Ah-hah. Glenda of Mitcham, arguing with Neville about who gets the backline nod – McGlone or Fittock.

Pete, I go back to 1971 before you became the best 5HBO star the Club has ever had!

(Aw gee, Glenda!) And Nev thinks McGlone for his cool precision and brilliant reading of the play.  I think Fittock for his Kamikazeand  potentially calamitous attacks on the ball when he effects his snazzy spoils. Together with a punch like Jersey Joe's (look him up under Walcott, Clancy).

Too hard to separate Glenda.  In a way Paddy gets a more demanding role, being given a very tall to cut down to size, but McGlonny covers as much territory and is beautiful to watch also. Smooth chaps. Unsplittable. ?? Complementing the overhead certain miserliness of a couple of Jims back there, and the odd Nigel with 'em.

You're in, Reg of Panorama. Impressed with whom (like that final"m" folks?) Reg?

George Thring Peter.  Beautifully balanced, really quick, guilty of one miskick to a spot he'll never go to again as long as he lives, but a kick of brave positiveness. So that one has to be deleted from your memory George – just feel very satisfied with your team play, and your punishing passes and your tireless effort.
Now come off it Reg. You grab a measly one of his kicks and the whole passel of praise I was going to lavish on him! Give us a break old mate!  P.S You did him proud.

Now it's David to whom generations of young players are grateful for finding jobs and homes and the odd wife or two. Maybe just the one.

Clancy, all your callers, and you too, speak as if the backs and the rucks and the ultra quicks were the only ones helping us to yet another stoushing of the friends of the Yatala-garbed on yon high eastward hill. Thanks William S. of Stratford-on Avon.

Oh boy Dave. Next you'll be be describing the "dawn, in russet mantle clad" strolling "o'er the dew on that same blasted high eastern side of the Power-once-the Magpie oval".

Yeah Will!!   Oh. Yes, Dave, we were coming to the grace of Jade and HIS work rate.  And that of Ben times two.  And the far-roaming pace and delivery and balance of Tristan. And the power and presence of the enforcers up front.   Perrie immovable.   Chambo awesome. And add all the rest. Seb's lightning hands. Yes. A great side.

But now I'm getting the wind down signal so our air time is sunk. Fitting way to describe the dinghy that floated for a while here at Alberton, prison bars prominent, and then foundered on the the rocks of Unley. Pity. Today's dinghy was yesterday's battle cruiser. Shakespeare probably had a gobsmacking way of describing such a catastrophe as that too.

And Heidi - Wicks, Deluca, Fittock, Cubillo, McGlone, Sheedy …

Clancy  August 21st 2008

Clancy  -  having escaped from comatose companions at Coopers mud flats, and thinking it unwise if not downright stupid to listen to your rav, er, offerings, this week. So no calls thanks folks.

So what transpired out there?  You'd think you were in Sicily, with Barbero to quaff from the cantina sociale d'Asti, south of Milano in Tuscany, from whence Giovanni Penna ships his wondrous nectar to all parts of the globe (if you see it, hoard it). But back to thoughts of Sicily, to remind us of the family and the barbaros, no relation to Giovanni's bottled heaven, and of our own cantina sociale di Coopero. In the mud. And the gale. And the sleet spelt with an aitch.  

So I'm not going to allow you, dear people, to have your finer appreciation of our great game sullied by the moanings, groanings and tearings out of hair and callings for sackings and abductions and, yes, you can be certain, executions.   No.

Let's face the facts. We have teams at all levels who have been trained to play the game that will win finals footy. The skilful, flowing, running , handballing game that has set us apart, this season, from the rest. September football. When there is no mud or - but you know the rest if you were at Norwood.

Fact one.  Loud and frantic screamings of "Kick it!!"  "Kick the bloody ball!!!!" Every time one of our lads scooped up the ball from the mud only to find a wall of red legs but actually all black with the Parade's heavy clay worn with pride by all of the victorious. They played better given the conditions. We played dry weather because most of us couldn't adjust to the submarine style, and the physical onslaught.  Why, several of our team had white sock bands at the end of the game. And some shorts wouldn't have needed cleaning before the next squally one at Alberton.  But it's sandy down there, and our usual skills are bound to get us over the line because we are the runners.

Oh. Forgot to mention the other part of our grandstand choir hitting the high notes with "Kick it off the ground!!  Off the ground!!  ... and then miraculously expect our forwards to mark grubbers which as every schoolboy knows just can't be did!   But whatever floats their boat I guess. 

I will mention that  Norwood had 6 of the 9 best players in my opinion. But the best was Daniel Wicks. Beautiful pickups, skimmed over the pugholes, delivered marvellously 98% of the time. In those conditions. Then a mixed bunch of guys from the two teams, including Fittock and Sheedy. Then down the list a little way, McGlone, Nelson and Thomson.  And Reilly didn't let us down in any way.

Couldn't name forwards, or rather the icicles trying to coax some warmth into their frozen souls, wearing our gear, who waited in vain for somebody, anybody, to get the pill down their way. In the air. Chest height. Lace out.

Believe it, then.  Norwood were very, very good. And if you happen to be a Crows' fan as well as a true blue, you'll know that Walker probably won't be playing in the glue at Coopers next year, and Jericho, who has more courage than two young white headed / feathered Crows lumped together, shouldn't be either.

Hey!  Let's ruffle some magpie feathers next week.

Where did I cellar those bottles of Penna's Barbero?  Aaaaaaaaaaah.  Bellissimo!

That helps.

Clancy  12 August 2008

G'day from himself..  Clancy at 5HBO for a shortened session while this top radio spot gears up for not bringing you ANYTHING from the Olympics.

You're on, Don of Bridgewater..  Favourite song (still) "Blowin in the Wind" , nice guy folks. Very cluey about the game and a premiership player a cuppla years back.

I MISSED him, Don? Sure? What can I say? Back in the 50s you'd have been hard pressed to find 6 top players on any one day, and now you can't even miss just one!

"True, Pete. But anyway I'm going to give you mine against the Eagles. (Doves, Don. Doves).  Forget about the flooding struggle. No team's likely to let us play the game we like. But Gum ignored all that and his brilliance kept our front line functional. Corey Jones all over again.

McGlone for his sureness. Great play reader. Fittock for his phenomenal courage. Cubillo for being ready to be buried in it, in Whiteman's absence. Plant and McLeay for their aerial judgment and classy clearances.  Wark in there too.  Kurtze for taking on two much bigger ops- and winning. Nelson for providing the odd brick wall for the toughest of the Eagles to run into. Wicks for oozing class from one end to the other all day.

Thomson, who is due to knock on Craigy's door any day now. ALL the rest. But a special mention to Ben Eckermann, given the mighty job of smothering Treeby- the ops' best player usually- and as Agent 99 would have it : "And loving it". Treeby, now nicked Twiggy after Ben's feather plucking".

Don old son, you're stealing me thunder. But I dips me lid to you for your keen eye and brain, and I dips it reverently to the Sarge, who copped an awful blow below the ribs et cetera. Glad to hear that the bruising probably won't stop him from putting it on the line again v. the Redlegs next Saturday.

Then there was the Big Fish, who will now be known as Big Marlin.  Hero of all the herrings, and of the rest of us, and his mate Trawlin Chambo. And, like you say, you can't leave a single one of our men out.
So thanks Don. And you did get the airwaves to yourself, as promised.

Gotta rush to buy my Opening tickets online (sez he). Looking forward to the various Coopers next game, eh?

Clancy   5HBO   August 5  2008

Post Centrals at Unley

Clancy getting ready here for all of the enthusiasm and glee from you folks lining up to get on the waves from 5HBO, House Brothers Oval

OK. Let's get tuned in to our first  celebrity for the moment. Hi Davo from Port Neill? Crop looking bonza? Whitin bitin?  Remember to ring old cuz Steve in Cleve?

Clancy, needed two 18 footers, not one, to bring in the fish out from Tumby. Wanted to ask you. Heaps of supporters in the members' area of the stand against the Doggies kept calling out "Manup! Manup" – what were they on about? Thought that died a natural death in these times of deep flooding and space creating! Maybe you can de-confuse em?

Don't think so Davo. Let's see if Paul in Tokyo can spell it out. Hi Paul. How's your Ingrish teaching going?

You can't teach an old sow new grunts, Clancy, as they used to say up Carrapie Hill way, where your grandparents Turley had the first farm halfway up in the 1870s, as you once told me.. And most footy fans have been subjected to years of keeping it simple.  Simply illogical that is. Stand your man (yelled out at the forwards when we're in attack).  Kick it, it's  foot ball not hand ball. Go straight down the centre baby
Trouble is, the game isn't the same. Never was the same actually – only barracking has remained static. Coaching tactics aka game plans and fallbacks involve going cross-eyed working out how to defend against oppo floods in our forward line (denying Chambo, Perrie, Herring and Coad space… space to lead into).  So "manup" on their flooders is a NoN generally.  Our men mopping up more space in front of our talls?  Hardly! Just don't bomb it in. Use handball to create short pass opportunities. Don't turn it over.
Then, if their defence clears, where do we want to be? Ideally in a block of 5 or more players out from their 50-metre line and across centre. Manning up, yes, on their attack. And having an extra one or more to force short chips and to feed on the fumbles.

You said it in an outboard splutter, Davo. Yeah. Tokyo's a beaut place Pete.
Well that's a neat summary, eh Davo?  Will cost you some hooks and bait when I come over after the grand final. Warning ya.
Here's Murray from Clapham.  How pal? 

Clancy, the papers want to name best players.  But who didn't play extremely well against the once mighty Bulldogs? The game starts in ruck, and Angus Kurtze did more than almost single footedly fill the boots of Simon and Fabian – he allowed Crane, Gum, Nelson, Sheedy, Cubillo, Martin, Jaensch, Farmer and Eckermann first grab of the ball. Helping to make them a formidable midfield that Centrals could not overcome.Chambers, Perrie and Herring were all great and unfazed by the Dog's defence, and when it got down the wrong end, McGlone and Whiteman led the backlines -  comprising 6 fine players for us. Am I right or am I right Pete?

So absolutely right Murray.  And Benet Copping did excellent things in the short time he had on the ground. Our ruck stocks are being well coached for the bigger time in the next few years. Or more.  More.  Kurtze, Copping and Davey for starters.

The fish Davo.  The fish!!

House Brothers signaling I'm overstaying my spot …

Tune in next week – it gets even tougher from now on!

Clancy  28 July 2008

Clancy back at 5HBO House Brothers' radio desk.
Getting right into the cornflakes.  First up?

Darryl of Woodcroft – all yours.

Well Pete, you didn't tell us your number one at Murray Bridge. Come clean. There was the Brodie Martin and the Scott McGlone, the Jade Sheedy and the Andrew Whiteman and Michael Coad and Chambo Shows.  They gobsmacked you, sure, but who was your best?

Very perceptive Darryl.  Ian Perrie, who is right up there every week. In a nutshell, workrate.
Now, who's on line?  Still in contact eh Darryl?  Versus West he gives the nod , folks, to Sheedy, McGlone, Gum, Evans, Herring, Chambo with 10, Perrie, Cubillo and Farmer. What do I say to that?  Bang on Darryl. Now clear off and give some other cluey supporter a chance to make the headlines.
Now are you still there Scotty of Tea Tree Canyon?

Clancy, what do you think will happen when Reilly and Thurstans come back after injury to gain some form in the SANFL?  Who, if any, will we relegate to the seconds to give those AFL guys a nice easy jog to get fit?
Hey, you like stirring the pot Scotty?  Oh well, whatever punches your ticket. But I think you're getting close and personal to the selectors' headache. History would seem to indicate that the two unplayed at HBO this year have to be given a game. Where is the conundrum.  Both the Crows (if they had any sense) and the Power will be busy this week sending injured players off to the RAH.  Craig and Williams will also want to fill the vacancies with their younger, unblooded boys to get a glimpse or two before summer training. Therefore I think that no shells will explode on HBO if our wise heads decide to leave the A's as intact as possible.  However, the Power boys who've racked up their 3 home-and-away games could be certainties if they are made available. And we'd get to enjoy again the great skills of Thomson, Bentley and DeLuca.
Roy of McLaren vale – you have the air …

Clancy, if Reilly, Thurstans, Thomson, Bentley and DeLuca are all made available, could our League side look like this? In your faulty opinion that is.
COAD    CHAMBERS    FARMER
HERRING    PERRIE    GUM
WICKS    SHEEDY    MARTIN
WHITEMAN    McLEAY    McGLONE
NELSON      THURSTANS     FITTOCK

FEAST  THOMSON  CRANE // DE LUCA BENTLEY CUBILLO…WARK ECKERMANN                                                     
Sharples  Reilly  Anderson Avery  Kay    Jaensch Kay
                                                            E and OE !!!!

Roy, fortunately none of us has any idea of the recovery status of Reilly and Thurstans, but if they're due for a return, they will almost certainly be with us.  In the Seconds to prove their fitness and commitment – as long as that takes – then they join the queue for finals selection.
Judi of North Adelaide – yer next and last.

Clancy, you never mention opposition players.  Aren't you allowed to do that?

Judi, how can you think thataway?  I'm free!!

Other players?  Linger in your head back to Richmond last Saturday.  A phenomenally talented #17  who will be in the first fistful of draftees at the end of the year. Hartnell I think.  Lovely to watch.

That's it for this week TrueBlues.  Prepare your best selves for the Titanic Tribute to Aussie Rules at home – HBO - next Saturday v. the Pretenders from Elizabeth.
Clancy  22nd July signing off.

Clancy July 3  08   Contemplating loss to the Bays

Thursday  5HBO  Thursday?  Why so late?  Residual semi-depression.  And hey!  I'm forgetting … G'day trueblues. This morning I'm getting John of some numerical Road in Belair (an even number between  Second and Sixth he tells me) to open her up. Hi John? I'm ready in my darkest shades, surrounded by piles of sack cloth, shuffling through a tonne or so of ashes, head filled with wailings, images of mortality – that's been the norm for 5HBO throughout the week. So deepen my mourning John, extinguish any errant ray  of hope that might try to steal into my breast. What do you have to say that could possibly do that?

What are you saying?  (Hear this folks. This guy sounds happy!  But he normally is, I must admit.  My idea of the ideal supporter.  Forgives errors because  even the greatest make 'em, and well, it's a game involving two teams, not one.  Anyway, let's hear him out).

You maintain, John, that the game we played was the highlight of the season so far?  Mmmmm. No other side could lose 8 of the best to the Power and to injuries, the other side losing one, making a deficit of talent and experience an unimaginable seven?

I'll go along with that for the time being John.  Next?  That desperate times call for desperate measures?  (What's this guy talking about?)  Oh, I see. That we wanted to blame Wicksy for that short pass in the back pocket that hit an oppo's hands, without our getting into Danny's head, and seeing, as he did, the movable defensive zone wall 40 metres back towards his wing slot, and stretching right across the oval manned by 4 defenders, that he had no choice, other than to do a deliberate out-of-bounds, and in any case the pass was near perfect, threading its way between about 14 legs, and his target slipping in his halt.
OK  OK  You're right John.  Daniel did the desperate and different. Not his fault.  No. Deserves our unstinting praise, I agree now, as my visual images summon up, gladly, his moves at that moment.
Didn't quite get your next comment John … And Wicksy's sprint from the wing when he realized that Chambo wouldn't be able to run down that gale driven ball, and overtaking his mate on the kickoff line and sinking the boot for a goal, waved a point. So close ?

All right John. I'm half way to seeing things as your gentle intelligence does.  (Folks, he's going to try to find positives in Joel Fitzy's letting that chest mark go!!)

Yes, John. Joel F?? You've watched his every game, and he is the epitome of team play.  Yeah. I go along with that. And every move he makes is to assist our other forwards to gain possession, and to take shots?  Yes John.  I acknowledge. That's Joel.  And his outstanding forwardplay head allowed him to leave it to either Big Fish or Chambo, who were a couple of metres behind him? Du hast recht Johannes. (I lapse into my native Deutsch every so often, sorry). Oder – you're right John.  I'm feeling a bit ashamed.

And strangely enough, the gentleman Fitzgerald has the most powerful kick in the side, his short passes unsurpassed if you'll forgive me, and a lovely pair of hands to boot (as it were).

So bring him in Rick, but make his training an unabashed series of selfish play so that he'll hunt the ball, and ignore, for the time being, the seasoned and famous, and become the champion he's physically equipped to be. The mentally bit comes with the hunting. Jaegerhund.

(Now guys, John's chada chadaring about the other 6 reinforcements, all of whom did us proud, all of whom would be automatic choices in every team except those of the two combatants of last week, and at least one of whom stood so tall as to be in our best three.  Yep John. We'll be chorusing "Dane! Dane! For years to come if he's not in the AFL.  Goodonya Mildura-Bendigo U20 State member. Then Plant of the exquisite aerial judgment, rivaling James McLeay's, and Fittock's, Coad's, and Wark's.  Not quite Feast's for any of them, but he is one of a kind.

Now he wants me to name my best.  Clearly, our gift from the Panthers, the supercool, supersmooth  McSuperGlone.  What a game!! Closely followed by Kurtze (danke schon Angus, nos compliments, vous etais magnifique!!  Et cetera  and formidable pronounced arbla). Avery as in Dane, Sheeds as in always, Crane as in courageous and quick, Coad as in colossal, Wicks as in quicks, and Farmer as in farewell any time soon. (Can't acknowledge #50 too often or Choco will nab him, never to be seen out House Brothers' Oval way again, except in recovery times)  And Josh Cubillo.  Now we know, Josh.

And Gum as in consummate skills… and Herring as in hell's bells what a player. Madness of course.
Perrie's tandem with Angus K kept us in front until near the end, when their zone defence and shepherding gave them a deserved victory. Great side, the Bays.

John? You say that this game was the Season Defining one? Now that I've listened to and appreciated totally your wise reflections, I must agree.  How can the Tigers beat us again this year??

Well folks, I thank John on your behalf (I'll shout him a beer next time I'm with him), and I leave you from 5HBO with the headaches you're going to be blighted with if you even think about trying to select the next side before you read about it.

We all dips our lid boys. Proud of all of you! And of you Nick Tomlinson for heeding the call for reinforcements …

Oh. And I've already cleared out the sack cloths and ashes!!
Clancy  July 3  2008

Radio 5 HBO with your host Clancy.

Calls have been coming in thick and fast in an atmosphere of jubilation, elation and some fabrication and self-delusionation.

It seems that our lads insist on surpassing their previous best every week.

Okay Regina of Bedford Park – open it up … " Who were our best three v the Chicken Hawks?" 

Now fair go Regina. One win in the last 15 or is it 20 meets is hardly an excuse to denigrate the Eagles' side. But to your question : there wasn't a best three.  More likely a best 18, with Feast, Gregory and Sharples all sidelined through no fault of their own. Winning  in an avalanche with no interchanges until halfway into the third stanza was an extraordinary effort, yes.  To be sure.  As Paddy said twice when asked how he kept his trewsers up, by belt or brairces?   By both.  Both? To be sure, to be sure.

I guess the point I'm fumbling around to make is that every player was a culprit in the Eagles' defeathering, and you're asking who plucked the most fluffy bits? The main preparers for the feast would be in the midfield, and they had to get the ball forward to the high markers and accurate kickers.  And they had to receive it per favore Fabiano with Simono in the field hospital.The said de Luca nearly choked on the feathers he ruffled and plucked for the unearthly time of 100 minutes. And they had to position themselves to accept the precision deliveries from our demonic defenders (who couldn't tote up more than a few possessions each even if they'd wanted to, what with no ball anywhere near their chicken coop, and their minds all totally focused on thwarting the birdies' efforts to scratch up a crumb or two every now and then).

So far we have Jadino and Luciano and Ivano and Danielo in particular but only by a beak from the rest of the hunters in the middle.  But we had to keep scoring because, well, that's what you do, and there at half forward, pulling down a frightening number of turkey-hunting marks was Ryano.  Hells bells. With Mitchelino and Sargio and Chambo and Tommo and Seberino running the chicks ragged.  And all over the ground Gregorio Benito shepherding the squawkers away from any tucker.

Nah Regina.  Take your pick from the above, and add anyone else you're particularly appreciative of!  And don't denigrate the Eagles' flight.

Hey! Sorry to be so long winded. Puffed actually.  Thanks for hanging in there Dario of Woodcroft, and Mimi of Prospect.  You have the same question, albeit worded in a gentlemanly fashion by one of you, and bitc er unladylikely(??) by t'other. Who next week to replace Simon and Gregs and maybe Ben?  Try Kurtze whose field play improvement has been sensational, and Plant and Wark, and Gum should be at peak fitness, and Martin who was unlucky not to be gathering eggs last Saturday with his hen scattering mates.
Hang on.  Producer cackling in the background.  OK  OK   I'll sign off.  Next week eh?

Clancy 23 June 2008 House Brothers  5HBO 

12 June 08

Clancy …  recovering from the ultra-powerful win against the Roosters last Monday.
It doesn't come any better, although it must be said that North were significantly undermanned, with Alleway and Ladhams unable to play.

Do you read the Advertiser stats charts?  Most supporters do. So I'll start with a cautionary tale about how they should be read.  And then some reflections on the North game, and a response to the racial vilification charge against a Sturt player, and its significance.

What you see when you look at "stats" sheets is a collection of data.  From data,  statistics can be harvested, but you have to do a lot more work to make performance pronouncements.  Various AFL sites produce actual statistics, such as the effectiveness of flooding, the conversion rates inside the 50 arc for club comparison etc. You can't just  convert data to statistics by gazing at the charts.
As you may remember, I did the "stats" for Jack Oatey during his 11 years at Unley, and for three more years after that, and throughout Jack's reign  he and I had many discussions on what actions of our players should be recorded, and given due praise for, and which ones should, for the sake of charity, be left unmentioned.

Some examples.  Schwarz , Short, Nelson, Adcock, Cunningham, Jarrett, to name a few, being defenders had the primary task of first limiting the number of marks their ops had, and second, turning the play to advantage. Spoiling one point, to advantage meaning the ops didn't get another sniff of that one, 2 points.  Spoiling and giving away a goal, zero and so on. So it became a reflex action for me to credit a positive spoil with something, but as the Advertiser, and Alf Gard's footy paper, didn't allow space for spoils, I wrote them as handballs.  Which is true enough, don't you agree?  Not a kick. But an action on the ball.  Therefore a handball.

Now consider our defenders last Monday.  All those very effective spoils on the last line, per favor McGlone, Fittock and Wark.  North had no hope.  Then further out, Whiteman, McLeay, Bentley and Papa and others.  Do you think our data gatherers gave credit where it's due?  I have a feeling, no.
So my best, the longer I think about it, were Thomson, Gum, Sheedy, Fittock, Wark, McGlone, Whiteman,  and, equally, onballers and wingmen Evans, Wicks, Bentley. Especially Coad and Chambo. Feast for his positioning, coordination and plain delivery brilliance.  Like Thomson's. DeLuca for a massive rucking display. And the rest …  Great team.

Finally, may I congratulate Dane Avery and Peter Weir on their selection in the State Under-20 squad.  They will do us proud, and I dips me lid!!

Clancy   

May 28  2008

Hi.  Your Columnist Clancy back on the blue airwaves at 5HBO ... House Brothers Oval..

As someone asked my old man : What have ya bin doin this last six months?  Six months..
So you could call this a parole.

Five callers tell me that they thought we were a monte for the big one in September.  Have to admit I'm digesting fingernails about a certain twenty bucks myself.

So what's the problem?  Not the forward line, even without the best CHF in the comp last year who is gaining experience as a tall crumber in the Bs. And on each side of Ian P (the best this year) we need crumbers, and we have them, great ones..

I'll take this call ... Don from Stonyfell says we are being beaten for pace in the midfield.  You have a point Don.  But is it lack of pace?  Sheedy?  Crane?  Wicks?  And McDonald and Anderson are waiting in the wings.
Judith from Prospect - you're next ... Praying for greater height and fast freight in defence?  You suspect that Fittock, as fast and tough and defence minded as he is, isn't tall enough to beat, not just make life uncomfrotable for, tall FFs?  Not sure about that Judith.  The only tall to beat him was Paul Cahill last Saturday (State U18 FF), and he's one of ours!

You're next Reg of Panorama ... Are youu serious??  We should prevail upon the mothers of Wark, Fittock, Plant and Gregory and Jones to raise taller sons without losing anything in superb brains and skills to go with the altitude??  There goes my $20.

Hello Darryl of  Reynella... Farmer and McGlone have to be tried in the midfield.  There's run to burn in those two fairheads?? Let's see where Mitch gets slotted in in 3 weeks time Darryl. 

Murray of Lower Mitcham - hi Murray.  You say we're OK as is, and with DeLuca and Kurtze teaming professionally with Feast our midfield will more than match it with the onballers of Glenelg and WWT.  Who are the ones we have to whittle down to size.  Not any others.

Peg and Reg?  Bring Jack Trengove down from the sticks, and promote Tom Fotheringham (b.o.g. for Sturt against the State U18s??)

We all probably wish Peg and Reg.
Time for the commercials and I'm off to solitary.
Back on air after our next game.