SO WHAT are footy players really like? You know, the actual stars of Geelong – Bartel, Ablett, Ling, Harley. If I got five bucks for each time someone asked me that question I’d be rich enough to buy every seat at this year’s grand final. Okay, maybe not every seat but at least a row or three. To sum it up in two words: nice blokes. But let me digress…
Before I met Tom, I could reel off approximately five AFL players from the likes of Gary Ablett Snr to Warwick Capper (it was the mullet and porn-star status that did it). Embarrassing to admit but I blame my un-sporting Sydney upbringing.
I actually think many New South Wales boys envied the football-mad Victorian kids, and for fashion conscious 12-year-olds (yes, that was me) it was the scarves. The NRL ones just didn’t do it. So, when I was thrust into the world of AFL after hooking up with Geelong’s No.2, his fellow players meant as much to me as the Bondi ping-pong team. Men playing with a ball – yes; sporting stars – no.
I first met the Geelong group at a barbie at Steven King’s house a few Australia Days ago. It was a casual affair of 20 blokes and a few of their girlfriends.
Just like any other meat and beer gathering I’ve been to; the women fossicked in the kitchen while the men proved their manliness around the barbie.
I chatted to many of the down-to-earth guys like Joel Corey, Matthew Scarlett and Matthew Egan – they may as well have been my old schoolmates for all I cared.
Today, when I think back to my nonchalance, or perhaps naivety, I cheekily smile to myself. To many, these guys are huge stars. And to be honest, my respect for them has grown tenfold: their skills, sporting talent, their unforgiving drive to win, their competitive mindset and above all, their knack for entertaining and bringing so much happiness – and heartache – to many Aussies.
Supporter case in point: at 10.30am on Saturday, Tom and I were in Port Melbourne crossing the road to the beach (recovery in nine degree temperatures – thank Geelong it wasn‘t me!), when a lady screeched her car to a halt. In the middle of the road. Kid you not. “Tommy,” she hollered. “You made my day last night, thank you!”
The people in the car behind them pointed and the next ones waved. It was mayhem central, albeit a nice one. With only four games until the finals and as the Cats stardom rises, the supporters are flocking with force.
In fact, when I think back to that Australia Day barbie I should count my cooked sausage blessings.
You see, on Saturday night Geelong held its annual fundraising event, the Glitz and Glamour ball, at the Sofitel. Stellar night, and not just because Tom and I won the Sale of the Century quiz against Gary Ablett and his gorgeous girlfriend Lauren and Josh Hunt and his lady Ellie.
One of the auction items to go-off was a home-style BBQ cooked by Cameron Mooney, Steve Johnson and James Kelly. Not a bad gift, huh? Well, it went for a staggering $10k. Last year it went for $5k. Further proof that a serious level of fame has set in, but to me the Geelong footy players will always be nice blokes.
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Felicity Percival is the editor of Women's Health magazine, and Geelong captain Tom Harley's fiancée. More Side by Side.
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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
