So this aint gonna be no run of the mill review. Actually it isn’t a round review at all. Its Terry’s round, and to honour the great man, were gonna cast our gaze back on the Mighty franchise that was the Whitsunday Warriors. From humble beginnings and an early penchant for substandard teal players, Terry unearthed this rabble from the ORFFA inaugural draft pool: Chris Judd - Carlton Michael Barlow- Fremantle Grant Birchall - Hawthorn Mathew Lobbe - Port Adelaide Tom Hawkins - Geelon Rory Sloane - Adelaide Jackson Trengove - Port Adelaide Travis Boak - Port Adelaide John Butcher -Port Adelaide Steven Motlop -Geelong Jonathon Patton - GWS Steven Morris - Richmond Alex Johnson - Sydney Jordie McKenzie - Melbourne Jake Carlisle - Essendon Alex Silvagni - Fremantle Zach Tuohy - Carlton Todd Banfield - Brisbane Mitchell Banner - Port Adelaide Jack Crisp - Brisbane Aaron Cornelius - Brisbane Sam Kerridge - Adelaide Nathan Vardy - Geelong Luke Tapscott - Melbourne Mitchell Brown - Geelong Tom Swift - West Coast Now I’m sure there’s a few of you out there, scratching your heads and saying: ‘who the fuck is Luke Tapscott and what the hell happened to Jon Patton?’ but amongst some of these baffling and regrettable selections there are some friggin gems. Hell it must be some kind of ORFFA record to see 5 of these blokes still on AFL lists and playing decent footy some 12 years on (PS - Actually bama holds the record here with 8 inaugural players still running around with Terry and Len tied for second). True stalwarts and AFL legends Trav Boak and Tom Hawkins have both just notched up their 350th games. Some astute drafting alone there, which arguably more than makes up for an occasional John Butcher stain. Now with a solid core of talent assembled, the Warriors had high hopes of breaking into the top 8 and jostling for finals. Unfortunately, this wasn’t to be in 2012 nor for the following…ever. Despite some bristling talent gracing the muggy locker rooms of the Whitsundays over the years, Terry’s mob have probably carried the mediocre baton for a fair chunk of ORFFA history and would no doubt chortle at the moniker “The Whitsunday Wannabees”. Wannabees ladder history 2012 – 15th 2013 – 11th 2014 – 9th 2015 – 15th 2016 – 13th 2017 – 10th 2018 – 12th 2019 – 9th 2020 – 12th 2021 – 13th 2022 – 13th Makes for sobering reading but no wooden spoons is a highlight! That said, it was always clear to many of us that dynasty fame and fortune was never on Terry’s agenda. A true gentleman and a site team player, Terry went out of his way to welcome newcomers to the league (including yours truly) and was a big contributor to weekly admin, team listing, banter and most importantly, these weekly reviews. Anyway to wrap this up before I get all teary, I have had the idea of a perpetual trophy kicking around in my head for some time and now seems like the right moment to bring it to fruition. So, with the leagues’ endorsement, ill create the “Terry Commins Memorial Shield” which will perpetually showcase the annual ORFFA premier! Likely to be fashioned from quality Kangaroo Island MDF embossed with stunning red Crayola crayon, it will be a highly sought after mantle piece show stopper. Raise a glass and cheers to Terry.
Beautifully done mate. And you're right, Terry was never really focused on winning, just having fun and a social outlet.. We sat up one night on the back step of the acccomodation we were staying at in Prachuap Khiri Khan some years ago discussing exactly that until about 4am, how much fun the tsleagues are, and how little winning meant for either of us. That said we also went through three bottles of red and Tracey only had two glasses of it so the wine wasn't so much talking as broadcasting, good times, great man.
Very nice eulogies @That KI Guy and @Len - thank you very much. You got me to thinking, TiB never won anything - it was in his signature - and yet we are considering putting his name on winning something. Does that really make sense. I am not anti the idea, just wondering if we could do better. He was a 9th to 15th kind of guy (never had a 14th, but I wonder if completing the set would have been on his agenda - but, he would have had to be alerted to it). Among his strength were relationships and fun. Just putting it out there, maybe his "cup" should be for contribution(s) to ORFFA that year. I don't know, I can only guess at how much work goes on behind the scenes. Work that most of us are blissfully unaware of - we just take it for granted. Maybe we recognise arranging the FIXture list, or running the drafts, or maintaining the honours board. Recognition for someone who has contributed to our enjoyment of our comp. Rather than the winner of the comp.
Great review, one of the best ever I, for one, do not want to downplay the impact Terry had on this very thing that I am typing into at the moment. We do though however already have the Premiership trophy named the 'The Terry Cummins Trophy' in perpetuity. The irony that he never won anything was not lost on me when we did it.... and I am very comfortable with that. I am more than happy Mike, to have that physically struck as you suggest.