AFL chief Executive Andrew Demetriou will join hundreds of football supporters in North’s first Chairman’s function for 2010 and hand-over the award to Laurie on stage before the opening bounce.
“I had a phone call from Andrew Demetriou and he just said that he’d just come from a meeting and wanted to tell me that I was a Life Member of the AFL. It was wonderful,” Dwyer told kangaroos.com.au.
But Dwyer admits to thinking the call was too good to be true.
“I was on my mobile and I half thought in a way that it was a bit of a joke…but then I quickly realised that it wasn’t a joke when I identified that it was actually Andrew on the end of the line.”
All supporters are encouraged to get to the game against the Swans early to mark their respect for Laurie during his lap of honour around the ground.
“This will no doubt be one of the greatest moments in Laurie’s time in the AFL/VFL and we want supporters from both clubs to be there to extend their appreciation to Laurie,” North chief executive Eugene Arocca said.
Dwyer was affectionately known as ‘Twinkle-Toes’ - a nickname he obtained from his skills as a ballroom dancer. These smooth quick movements were a trademark of his football career.
“If there was the one thing left in football that I hoped for, it was for Life Membership and I never actually expected that it would happen,” Dwyer continued.
“You don’t look for these things but I suppose it is recognition in a way, of something that you’ve put in to the game over the years. However, whatever I’ve put in, I’ve certainly got more out.”
Dwyer played 201 games for North Melbourne between 1956 and 1970 and was the winner of two best and fairest awards. Since retiring, he has served North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans as a team runner, club director, assistant secretary, development manager, assistant football manager, reserves coach and more recently as a recruiting officer.
“What football has done for me is just amazing. It just nice to think that I’ve done a little bit for football because I don’t think the AFL gives these awards away cheaply.”
