Terry was a nature lover at heart, so I’ve let the quintessential naturalist Sir David Attenborough pen and narrate this weekends proceedings. And so, as the weekend sun cast its golden glow across the sprawling landscape, we find ourselves drawn into a most curious ecosystem—one not of tooth and claw alone, but of leather and will. Here, on the vast plains and rugged coasts of this sporting wilderness, the rituals of Australian rules football unfold. Lovely Banks Lilacs 1090 Defeated by Wagga Wagga Wombats 1213 At Lovely Banks, the Lilacs begin brightly, like wildflowers catching the morning light. But beneath the surface, the Wagga Wagga Wombats are at work. Patient… unrelenting. They burrow into the contest, disrupting the Lilacs’ rhythm. Over time, the flowers fade, and the Wombats emerge—victorious, as they so often do in these slow, grinding battles. Mount Beauty Uglies 939 Defeated by Gariwerd Cockatoos 1249 In the elevated reaches of Mount Beauty, the Uglies attempt to impose themselves. Yet above them, the Gariwerd Cockatoos take flight. With piercing cries and sweeping movements, they dominate the airspace. The Uglies, earthbound and increasingly disorganised, can only watch as the Cockatoos claim the territory with dazzling ease. Cradle Mountain Devils 1080 Defeated by Gundagai Grasshoppers 1265 Far to the south, in the shadow of ancient peaks, the Cradle Mountain Devils bring ferocity to their clash. But the Gundagai Grasshoppers possess a different survival strategy. Light, agile… they leap from contest to contest, evading danger with exquisite timing. The Devils lunge, but the Grasshoppers are always just beyond reach. Nareewillock Nuffers 926 Defeated by Wineglass Bay Packers 1065 Across the open plains of Nareewillock, the Nuffers stand firm—at first. Yet from the distant horizon, the Wineglass Bay Packers arrive like a rising tide. Wave after wave, they press forward. The resistance erodes. And eventually, the Nuffers are swept aside, the shoreline reshaped by the Packers’ persistence. Venus Bay Vultures 939 Defeated by Shark Bay Tigersharks 958 Along the windswept coast of Venus Bay, the Vultures circle, watchful and opportunistic. But beneath the surface, a more formidable predator lurks. The Shark Bay Tigersharks move with sleek precision, striking with intent. The Vultures, masters of the sky, are drawn into deeper waters—where they cannot survive. Junee Jaguars 1080 Defeated Iron Knob Codpieces 950 In Junee, the Jaguars stalk their prey. Silent… focused. The Iron Knob Codpieces struggle to match their intensity. When the moment comes, the Jaguars pounce—swift and decisive. It is a display of pure predatory control, leaving little doubt as to who rules this domain. Birdsville Battlers 1099 Defeated by Larrikin Lagoon Lefties 1139 Out in the harsh, shimmering expanse of Birdsville, the Battlers endure. But endurance alone is not enough. The Larrikin Lagoon Lefties arrive like a sudden desert storm—erratic, unpredictable, and utterly disruptive. The Battlers are caught off guard, their footing lost as the Lefties turn chaos into opportunity. Charlies Opening Spelunkers 1397 Defeated Waikickamoocow Incorrigibles 1368 And finally, beneath the surface—deep within the caverns of Charlies Opening—the Spelunkers navigate with care. In the darkness, where others falter, they find pathways unseen. The Waikickamoocow Incorrigibles wander, unable to adapt. And so it is the Spelunkers who emerge into the light, triumphant. Thus concludes another remarkable chapter in this great sporting wilderness—where survival depends not only on strength, but on adaptation, instinct… and the relentless will to endure.
Awesome work mate, and to reinforce your theme, some years ago Terry took Tracey and I down to the Thai/Burma border for a short stay. While we were there he managed to fill half his ute with orchids for his own and the university gardens! A dear freind and we both miss him, so happy to see the league embrace the quirky bastards memory
Can almost hear the soft, almost breathless, undercurrent of our narrator's voice. But then again I am almost deaf in one ear. Top work amigo. It's the nature of FA, and a fun fact TiB would have enjoyed (though probably never experienced) that when a team records the second highest total for the week, they lose. Cést le guerre.
Love it... and commiserations to my Chelski loving colleague on getting the wrong end of the cactus this week