For Victorian TV Viewers

[Black_White]

Friday 21st June
7:30 pm
ABC TV
Program; Statewide
Report; Magpies in NT

Don't know if the other states are showing this.

-Craig

[molloymagic]

Did anyone happen to tape this???????


Jarrod Molloy RULES!!!!
*2002 Joint V.C*

[Foreverpies]

What was it and what about!!??

[MargOZ]

Fortunately I saw Craig's message at 7.28pm and made a mad dash for the TV and the ABC!

The story started with: "Collingwood fan Nick Johnston joined a group of players spreading the black and white gospel on the Tiwi Islands. The remote community of Bathurst Island literally came to a stand still this week but this wasn’t any ordinary visit by a politician or local dignitary, no, this was something far more important, Collingwood Football Club had come to town."

We saw a few players step out of a small plane and they briefly spoke to Clement and Wakelin. Burnsy was also signing autographs. The story then mentioned some of the racial incidents involving the CFC (Nicky Winmar at Vic Park, Monkey's racial comments to Michael Long, McAlister's infamous remarks and the Aborginal curse placed on the Club) and how much things have improved in football these days. Mick also mentioned how any racial comments are frowned upon, even just comments in the change rooms and how attitudes towards indigenous players have changed since he started in football 30 years ago.

Local officials in the NT are hoping that Collingwood's visit will further their bid to host AFL games in the top end, although the AFL have said the climate is the biggest obstacle.

They spoke to Richard Cole who said it was great to go back and see all the kids out running around and kicking the footy. Leon Davis played the didgeridoo and the boys held a footy clinic for the local kids. And that was about it (it only went for around 6 minutes).

I did see the boys on the news (can't remember which channel) and they showed a few of them out fishing and Licuria was laughing saying a couple of the boys were sea-sick. Dids was lying down in the boat and didn't look well at all, and he said Richo hadn't been too well either!

Sounds like they enjoyed the break and the sunshine. (And I like the photo of Bucks and Clokey and their catches!).

GO PIES!
Marg

[Dale61]

Excellent review MargOz. Having lived in Darwin for 20+ years, what was said and shown was nothing new to me.

The problem the N.T. has in getting an official AFL game up there is not just the weather, but the fact the season up there is during the southern summer. A much hotter time of the year, but as the Dry Season - now - has very little, if any, rain, it is difficult to find a ground with enough 'give' in it for such a high impact sport. My understanding was that the Wet Season is the best time to play footy up there as the grounds are 'softer' due to all the rain. Doesn't explain why Rugby League is played up there in the Dry as they would experience the same 'hard' grounds.

It has been proven in the past that Darwin is capable of conducting an elite AFL game - Collingwood v Aboriginal All Stars come to mind, as does numerous pre-season games - so lack of facilities is not an excuse.

Distance? That's crap as well, as already we have Fremantle having to fly to Hobart, Brisbane having to play in Perth, etc.

Heat? No hotter up there at this time of year than when they have the pre-season comp. Recent temps up there have been shown as being in the high 20's. Rather cool, if you ask me.

In fact, some of the info was incorrect, especially when it was mentioned that Richard Cole was from Alice Springs. Try Tennant Creek. OK, he may have played in Alice, but he doesn't come from there.

IMO, all the ABC did was drag out old footage of the problems we already know about, and trying to forget. There was nothing new in anything that was said. Maybe they should have gone more with how the players, especially the younger ones, interacted with the locals in the communities, rather than remind us of how bad things once were.

Let's keep the good times rolling...

"Racetracks are for racing, roads are for getting there."