It is only fitting that this week I begin with some words on my all-time favourite Crows player, Andrew McLeod. He has captured the attention of football fans across the country with his classy skills and is one of the most decorated players in the competition.
On Sunday he played his 300th game against Richmond, and wasn’t it a good one?
My preparation for the game began with a search deep into my wardrobe. I had in mind what I was looking for, something to accommodate both Tom Wills Round and McLeod’s milestone. I was in luck as I retrieved a guernsey which was purchased off the internet about a year ago. It was woollen with a collar and also had the number ‘23’ plastered across the back, so it was perfect.
Ignoring my mother’s pleas before the game I left my umbrella at home, although I came to regret this decision early on.
I walked with an extra spring in my step, hoping everyone would notice my cunning outfit, towards to gate at AAMI Stadium. All of a sudden I noticed the clouds had turned rather dark and my walk rapidly turned into a run as the heavens opened. I made it as far as the bus shelter where I waited several soggy minutes before finally venturing into the open and entering the ground.
Thankfully my seat was mostly spared from the rain as I sat down to get stuck into some reading for school. The following hour was spent getting my head around biomechanics in sport. Force summation anyone? But once I had finally grasped the meaning of some tricky terms I was more than happy to put my text book away and watch pre-match proceedings.
Highlights from McLeod’s illustrious career were shown on the screen before Richmond entered the arena; their cheer squad initially struggling with their banner against the strong wind. The Crows had no such problems down their end of the ground as the banner and crowd rose to pay tribute to McLeod as he led the team onto the field.
Despite a heavy downpour only moments earlier, the rain had finally eased off as the umpire got play under way in the centre.
Just three goals were scored by the Crows in the first quarter as the players came to contend with the laden turf. Tyson Edwards scored early from a set shot, before following up several minutes later by passing off the ball to Scott Stevens, who neatly chipped the ball through goals. Captain Simon Goodwin was the last to score as he neatly roved the ball off a pack to put the Crows 11 points up at the first break.
The second quarter came to life early as the Crows began to establish a lead. Stevens scored after taking a mark right on the goal line, Nick Gill goaled after receiving the ball from some lightning quick play through the centre and was followed by the one and only, Andrew McLeod.
McLeod’s goal wonderfully illustrated his fine finesse. It began with him eagerly awaiting the ball on the wing, watching its every move cunningly from the back of the pack as it was thrown up. As soon as the red Sherrin spilt free he swooped, as a bird would their prey, and collected it with such ease. He then looked to pass before deciding to continue down the ground, cleverly touching the ball on the turf so he could continue his canter into the forward fifty.
The whole crowd was with him, egging him on to finish off, to kick a goal! He then unloaded with a perfect kick, sending the ball spinning through the air. ‘Don’t tell me, don’t tell me!’ It was a goal.
Everyone in the stands celebrated with McLeod as his teammates congratulated him. It was truly vintage McLeod.
The Crows were on a run with Goodwin scoring next. Defender Kris Massie then followed up, running through the centre of the ground with confidence to finish off from forty metres out and didn’t he look happy? Gill then goaled from a set shot and David Mackay was the last contributor of the second term.
A substantial 54 point lead had been amassed by half-time as the Crows left Richmond struggling in their shadows.
The third quarter was much the same as the second as the Crows piled on five goals to their tally. Scott Thompson scored with an easy kick from the goal square, Richard Douglas finally got his first and Nathan van Berlo converted from a standing position.
Brad Moran then reached deep into his bag of tricks to come up with an awkward snap at goal before Bernie Vince finished off with a set shot at goal. The Crows had streamed ahead and held a 66 point lead at three quarter time.
As the rain began to tumble down during the break, the outer were slick in slipping on their ponchos just as the final quarter was beginning.
It was mostly a wet one, as was reflected on the scoreboard with Thompson the only Crow to score, his goal coming late in the term.
At the conclusion of the game, the Crows were 63 point victors, in what seemed like their largest win for some time.
The spotlight belonged to McLeod as he kindly thanked the supporters for coming along before saluting the crowd and making his way off through a guard of honour formed by the Richmond and Crows players. He then graciously acknowledged Richmond’s Joel Bowden who was playing his 250th game before walking up the race.
I hurriedly walked back to the Crows Shed, trying to avoid the mud which had accumulated in nice little patches across Max Basheer Reserve. In the Shed I had time to defrost before seeing McLeod’s presentation of which he spoke humbly of himself again.
Now Crows fans, this weekend’s round of footy sees the boys in blue, red and yellow face off against Essendon across the border, a challenge the club has not been able to accomplish before. The Crows will be looking to put this fact to rest by finally pulling a victory against the Bombers in Melbourne.
