It was an amazing turnout of absolute footballing royalty last night at the Emerald Hotel in South Melbourne. The benefit for Terry Smith kicked off around 7:30 pm and by the time I walked into the pub with my wife there was already a great number of Richmond legends mingling together and sharing the first of many beers for the evening.
It was a very strange feeling walking up to the bar and ordering a couple of pots standing next to Kevin Bartlett, Francis Bourke and David Cloke who seemed to be already in glory day’s mode. It seriously sent a shiver down the spine when you realized the caliber of people that had gathered to pay tribute to a mate in trouble.
I also met up with mk33 as well so hopefully anything I leave out he’ll pick me up on, it was great to once again catch up for a beer mate.
I’ll give you a run down of the events and try to remember all the names, great or otherwise that attended on the night.
Michael Roach seemed to have put most of the night together and we managed to have a quick chat to him early on and he told us that Terry had been in hospital that morning and had also attended chemotherapy that afternoon. The 1980 boys had banded together and got Terry some ‘luxury’ items, such as a new big TV, Foxtel and some work done on the family home. He said that Terry didn’t want anything and was a little embarrassed by the fuss and that’s why the raffles and auctions wouldn’t happen as such. Just a discreet collection from those who wanted to donate what they could. After all that, Disco then said he was expecting Terry to show up to the pub at some stage! I found it hard to believe, but about 8:30 in walked Terry looking much better than I would have envisaged for all he’s going through but had lost a lot of weight all the same.
They then had a small presentation for Terry where club historian Bill Meaklin got up and gave a run down of Terry’s footballing achievements from his VFL, VFA and country footy days. They then played a DVD of highlights from Terry’s career throughout the years with the usual soundtrack that gets the lump in throat going, it was very moving stuff. Jimmy Jess then got up with the Flea to tell a few tales about their playing days and generally do what mates do…..put sh!t on each other. Terry himself then got up and spoke for a few minutes and you could see that he was genuinely touched by the turn out of old teammates, friends and people like me who just wanted to pay their respects. He said he had a big fight on his hands but that nights like last night would give him as massive boost and that he would give it all he had to get over his illness.
After that it was just time for old mates to get together and reminisce. We just sat back and watched guys we’d idolized over the years having a great time and I must admit I felt a little envious as I’ll never know what it’s like to share that sort of bond with people who have tasted the ultimate success. It must feel amazing.
Finally, here’s a few names that I can recall turning up on the night.
Tony Jewell, Francis Bourke, Dale Weightman, Merv Keane, Kevin Bartlett, David Cloke, Bryan Wood, Barry Richardson, Geoff Raines, Neil Balme, Benny & Michael Gale, Emmett Dunne, Michael Roberts, Michael Roach, Peter Welsh, Bruce Monteath, Justin Pickering, Stephen James, Stephen Mount, Barry Rowlings, Brian Taylor and probably more that I just can’t recall right now.
There were even foes from old playing days such as David Rhys-Jones, Dennis Banks, and Richard Osborne and so on. I managed to have a quick chat with a few of our champs such as St Francis, Geoff Raines and Clokey.
I must make special mention that it was fantastic to see Michael Malthouse there for an hour or so, Roachy was hoping he would show and seemed to be genuinely pleased that Mick was able to get there.
Hopefully I haven’t bored anyone too much but it was such a special night just illustrated how important ‘mateship’ is in sport regardless of what level you play at, I was honored to be there even as a spectator. I just hope that our young guys running around today have that same level of camaraderie and support that these guys have 25 years after they last won a flag.
Good luck Terry our thoughts are with you.
It was a very strange feeling walking up to the bar and ordering a couple of pots standing next to Kevin Bartlett, Francis Bourke and David Cloke who seemed to be already in glory day’s mode. It seriously sent a shiver down the spine when you realized the caliber of people that had gathered to pay tribute to a mate in trouble.
I also met up with mk33 as well so hopefully anything I leave out he’ll pick me up on, it was great to once again catch up for a beer mate.
I’ll give you a run down of the events and try to remember all the names, great or otherwise that attended on the night.
Michael Roach seemed to have put most of the night together and we managed to have a quick chat to him early on and he told us that Terry had been in hospital that morning and had also attended chemotherapy that afternoon. The 1980 boys had banded together and got Terry some ‘luxury’ items, such as a new big TV, Foxtel and some work done on the family home. He said that Terry didn’t want anything and was a little embarrassed by the fuss and that’s why the raffles and auctions wouldn’t happen as such. Just a discreet collection from those who wanted to donate what they could. After all that, Disco then said he was expecting Terry to show up to the pub at some stage! I found it hard to believe, but about 8:30 in walked Terry looking much better than I would have envisaged for all he’s going through but had lost a lot of weight all the same.
They then had a small presentation for Terry where club historian Bill Meaklin got up and gave a run down of Terry’s footballing achievements from his VFL, VFA and country footy days. They then played a DVD of highlights from Terry’s career throughout the years with the usual soundtrack that gets the lump in throat going, it was very moving stuff. Jimmy Jess then got up with the Flea to tell a few tales about their playing days and generally do what mates do…..put sh!t on each other. Terry himself then got up and spoke for a few minutes and you could see that he was genuinely touched by the turn out of old teammates, friends and people like me who just wanted to pay their respects. He said he had a big fight on his hands but that nights like last night would give him as massive boost and that he would give it all he had to get over his illness.
After that it was just time for old mates to get together and reminisce. We just sat back and watched guys we’d idolized over the years having a great time and I must admit I felt a little envious as I’ll never know what it’s like to share that sort of bond with people who have tasted the ultimate success. It must feel amazing.
Finally, here’s a few names that I can recall turning up on the night.
Tony Jewell, Francis Bourke, Dale Weightman, Merv Keane, Kevin Bartlett, David Cloke, Bryan Wood, Barry Richardson, Geoff Raines, Neil Balme, Benny & Michael Gale, Emmett Dunne, Michael Roberts, Michael Roach, Peter Welsh, Bruce Monteath, Justin Pickering, Stephen James, Stephen Mount, Barry Rowlings, Brian Taylor and probably more that I just can’t recall right now.
There were even foes from old playing days such as David Rhys-Jones, Dennis Banks, and Richard Osborne and so on. I managed to have a quick chat with a few of our champs such as St Francis, Geoff Raines and Clokey.
I must make special mention that it was fantastic to see Michael Malthouse there for an hour or so, Roachy was hoping he would show and seemed to be genuinely pleased that Mick was able to get there.
Hopefully I haven’t bored anyone too much but it was such a special night just illustrated how important ‘mateship’ is in sport regardless of what level you play at, I was honored to be there even as a spectator. I just hope that our young guys running around today have that same level of camaraderie and support that these guys have 25 years after they last won a flag.
Good luck Terry our thoughts are with you.
