by Felice Arena
‘I understand it's been a big week for you all, and I would understand if you said no, Simon, but I really would like you to play tomorrow, despite the pressure you're getting from your teammates not to. I do have a good reason for asking.’
‘We'd like him to play, too,’ said Mrs Magee.
Mr Magee nodded his agreement.
Coach Pate continued.
‘Simon is one of the most talented footballers I have ever coached and…’
Specky squirmed in his chair.
‘…it would be a terrible shame to lose him as a player. We still have his number-five jumper for him.
‘It's important for you all to know that the squad for the Victorian Under Fifteen Schoolboys team is being picked at the moment, and that one of the selectors has informed us that he'll be at the game tomorrow. I think it's pretty clear that Simon has a great chance of making that squad and could end up making the actual side.’
The Victorian Under 15 Schoolboys team plays every year in the National Carnival against all the other States and Territories. It is one of the most sought-after and prestigious honours a schoolboy footballer can hope to achieve. Specky knew that some of the greatest players ever to play Aussie Rules football had come through the Victorian Schoolboys team and he had often wondered what it would be like to play on the team. He had never really allowed himself to believe that he might be good enough to make it, though. It was incredible to hear that Coach Pate thought he could be chosen for the squad, at least. But that was just the beginning. Once the squad was announced, several training sessions took place, and the number of players was reduced as the weeks went by. A final trial match would then be played to find out which players would form the actual team. That game, if Specky was fortunate enough to make it, would be the biggest test of his career so far. It would be against the very best schoolboy footballers in the whole of Victoria, and he got nervous just thinking about it.
‘Well, we can't deny the fact that football has lately caused a lot of disruptions in your schooling, Simon,’ said Mrs Magee, as if she were a lawyer giving her final arguments to the jury. ‘But I think it would be good for you to get back into a routine, and that would, of course, include doing what you love most. It sounds like a very exciting opportunity, too. Ultimately the decision is up to you, though. We will never pressure you into doing something that you don't want to do.’
Specky's stomach churned as his dad and Coach Pate turned to hear his response. Whatever his mum said, the pressure was on. What was he going to do? Could he really face his teammates and still play?
‘Well? Don't keep Coach Pate waiting,’ urged Mr Magee. ‘Are you going to play tomorrow or not?’
Specky took a deep breath.
‘Yeah,’ he gulped. ‘Yeah, I am.’
4. kick it to me
Specky couldn't remember the last time he had had a gut full of butterflies like this before a match. Coach Pate had specifically told him to warm up at home and arrive only fifteen minutes before the game. Specky hadn't asked her why. He had guessed that she probably wanted to have a last-minute talk to the team about the fact that he was coming in to play.
As he approached the change rooms, he could see his teammates and their parents already making their way out on to Booyong High's oval.
‘Hey, Specky, man!’
Specky was happy that Johnny was one of the first to greet him.
‘Hey! Back in action again?’ he said.
‘Yep. Y'know, I've been hanging out for this day. I reckon me collarbone is stronger than before,’ smiled Johnny. ‘So, we just had a team meeting.’
‘I thought so,’ said Specky. ‘And?’
‘It's all good. Everyone accepts that you're back in the team. They're all cool about it.’
‘Really?’
Specky wasn't so sure. He caught his mum and dad smiling at him as they joined Johnny's dad and the other parents on the boundary line.
‘Hey!’
‘Hi!’
‘G'day, Speck!’
Some of Specky's teammates, including the Bombay Bullet, Gobba and Einstein said hello as they jogged past.
Maybe everything is cool, thought Specky.
The last boys to come out of the rooms were Danny, Robbo and Screamer—their stares fixed on Specky.
Specky nodded and grunted an uncomfortable, ‘G'day!’
Screamer sped up a little and brushed past, trying to nudge his elbow into Specky—but Specky sidestepped and managed to get out of the way.
‘Welcome back, loser,’ grumbled Screamer over his shoulder.
Specky ignored him as he watched Danny and Robbo approach.
‘Hiya,’ he croaked.
Specky's old mates responded with a cold shrug and jogged away after the rest of the team.
So much for everyone being cool about me being back, Specky thought. This is gonna be interesting.
Coach Pate had put Specky at centre half-forward and Screamer at full-forward. The Booyong High Lions were playing their longtime rivals the Beacon Hill Falcons, and were looking to maintain their two-game winning streak.
As much as Specky was excited about the prospect of playing football again, he couldn't ignore the fact that he was feeling uneasy. The best part about being involved in a sport like football was feeling that you were part of a team, and right now Specky definitely felt like an outsider.
Maybe it's just me, he thought. Maybe I'm overreacting. When the game starts, it'll be okay…I hope.
Specky ran to his position and waited for the bounce of the ball.
The game was competitive and tight right from the start, as it always was against the Falcons. Specky was working harder than ever to try and impress his teammates and let them know that he was determined to make a contribution and help them to victory. But, as hard as he tried, he just couldn't seem to get his hands on the football.
Suddenly, Specky saw Danny break free from the pack at half-back and stream forward, taking a bounce as he looked up the field, searching for a target.
It was a familiar scene for Specky—it had played itself out on the football field since he and Danny were ten years old.
A smile crept over Specky's face as he watched the little Italian dynamo run with the ball. Specky waited patiently before making his lead. He knew Danny's game so well that he could anticipate, perfectly, when he would look to pass the ball.
At exactly the right moment, Specky doubled back behind his opponent and made a perfect lead into the open spaces of the forward line. There was no one within twenty metres of him.
‘DANNY!’
Danny looked at Specky and for a split second it appeared as though he was going to pass the ball right onto his chest.
Then, at the final moment, Danny ignored Specky and decided to have another bounce. The Falcons rover who had been chasing Danny couldn't believe his luck, and with an extra effort, lunged at him and tackled him to the ground.
The Booyong crowd groaned as the Falcons player was awarded a free kick, and the ball rebounded to the other end of the ground for a Falcons goal.
Specky stood there with his hands on his hips, not believing what had just happened.
‘Mate, I was in the clear!’ he yelled to Danny. ‘Why didn't you pass it to me?’
Danny guiltily looked the other way.
‘Don't worry about it, Castellino,’ Screamer butted in. ‘Magee will just have to realise that he can't walk out on this team and come back expecting us to give him an armchair ride. Get your own kicks, superstar!’
And that was the pattern for the rest of the quarter.
No matter how well Specky led, or how good a position he was in, his teammates ignored him—all except for Johnny, who was playing a blinder.
When the half-time siren sounded, Specky found himself walking into the change rooms a dispirited figure. Normally he would be one of the first to jog in, encouraging his fellow players as he went, but right there and then he felt like a total loner.
‘Right, sit
down quickly!’ Coach Pate snapped as she entered the rooms. ‘I don't know what's going on out there, but I have never seen you boys play such selfish football. Danny, what were you thinking? You know we always pass the ball to a player in a better position and if you couldn't see Simon out there on his own, then you must have had your eyes closed.’
Specky caught Danny lowering his head, trying desperately to avoid eye contact with him or the coach.
Coach Pate was as mad as anyone had seen her. She never normally shouted, but even when the team ran out onto the ground for the second half, their ears were still ringing.
Specky remembered that at least one State selector was watching this game so he prepared himself for a big half of football.
The ball was knocked out of the centre and he was the first player to get there as he charged in off the square. Specky gathered the ball just as Danny came running past.
Normally Specky would have given the ball off instinctively to Danny, but this time he decided to try and do it all on his own.
Specky faked the handball to Danny and swung around onto his right boot, only to be confronted by the Falcons ruckman. He baulked around him, then dodged and blind-turned another two players—all the while electing not to pass the ball to his teammates in much better positions.
Specky broke clear of the pack and, from fifty metres out, went for goal with a torpedo punt.
To his horror, he watched the ball fly off the side of his boot and sail out on the full—landing on the windscreen of a shiny, new Mercedes Benz, cracking the windscreen in the process.
‘Good on ya, hero!’ Screamer shouted, so everyone could hear. ‘Are you playing for us or just trying to get noticed by the State selectors?’
Specky wanted the ground to swallow him up. He realised immediately that there was some truth in what Screamer had said. He was disappointed in himself and struggled to get another possession for the rest of the quarter.
Coach Pate decided to start Specky on the interchange bench for the last quarter. It was the first time he could remember being dragged during a game for playing poorly.
To add insult to injury, Screamer took over the game and single-handedly put the Lions back in front. It seemed as though Specky might have to sit out the rest of the game, but with only a couple of minutes to go, Coach Pate put him back on, into the forward pocket alongside his rival.
The game was in the balance, with the Lions leading by three points, when Robbo booted the ball forward. Specky set his eyes on the ball and was determined to at last do something right for the day.
As he launched himself into the air, a big knee thumped him in the back of his head.
Specky fell face first into the ground.
When he turned to find out who had used him as a launching pad, he couldn't believe what he saw. There stood Screamer with the footy firmly in his hands.
The crowd roared at the top of their lungs.
‘Geez, I don't think I've ever seen someone get up as high as that in my whole life! That was awesome!’ Specky heard the Falcons full-back say to his teammate.
‘Yeah, I know what you mean. That's the best mark I've ever laid eyes on,’ came the reply.
Screamer went back and coolly slotted the footy through the goal as the siren sounded to end the game. Specky's teammates rushed past him to Screamer's side, mobbing him in jubilation. Even the Falcons players seemed keen to shake the hand of the player who had just taken the mark of the year.
As the crowd broke up and the players headed for the change rooms, Specky cut a lonely figure at the back of the pack.
‘Well, brother,’ said Johnny, waiting to walk off with Specky. ‘Of all the car windows you could've smashed, you picked the one that belongs to the Coach of the Victorian Schoolboys.’
Specky's faced dropped. He looked back at the Mercedes to see, standing in front of the car, two men in navy polo shirts with a Big V embroidered on the sleeves. They were chatting to Screamer's father.
Specky recognised one of the men as Jay ‘Grub’ Gordan.
Grub was renowned as the most successful under-age coach in Australia. His knowledge of football and his ability to recognise and develop young football talent was legendary, and his opinion and assessment of junior players had an enormous influence on those charged with the responsibility of recruiting players to the AFL.
He also had a reputation for being a tough taskmaster who demanded a lot from his players. Football people often referred to him as a ‘colourful’ character and he carried the nickname ‘Grub’ from his days playing cricket as an elite wicketkeeper in Victorian and national teams.
Specky had once read that Grub could be very confronting and for young players, who were used to being the best in their teams and had rarely been criticised, his honest and blunt assessment of their performances often took some getting used to. He would not stand for any nonsense and let players know very quickly if they were not playing to the team rules or working hard enough at their game. No one prepared young footballers better than ‘Grub’ Gordan, and there were hundreds of players that went on to have fantastic careers at AFL level who were very quick to point out that he had been the biggest influence on their football lives.
‘I gotta hand it to you, Speck,’ Johnny chuckled. ‘When you stuff up, you stuff up big-time. Don't worry about it. I like BMWs more anyway.’
Specky tried to see the humour in Johnny's comment, but couldn't.
‘Hey, Magee!’ smirked Screamer, standing in the doorway of the change rooms. ‘Think the State selectors have learnt a lot today?’
‘Yeah, whatever,’ Specky grunted in reply.
‘Well, at least I was right when I told your girlfriend we didn't need you back in the team. You should go back to Gosmore. Oh, but that's right, you can't—'cause you got expelled.’
Specky let the comment slide—he was distracted by Screamer's mention of Christina. ‘What are ya talking about? When did you talk to Christina?’
‘The other night.’
‘What?’
‘Yeah, she called me and said I better convince your mates to let you back in the team. Not likely!’ Screamer laughed, and Johnny gave him a disgusted look.
Specky desperately didn't want to believe it. Why would Christina talk to Screamer about him? She and Screamer were still friends—although Specky could never figure out what she saw in him. She knew how much they hated each other, though, and he was sure Screamer was lying.
‘Yeah, as if,’ said Specky.
‘Say what ya want,’ Screamer sneered. ‘But trust you, Magee, to get your girlfriend to fight your battles for ya. Ya wimp!’
Specky had no comeback.
5. questions
‘Hey! Gotta talk to you!’
Alice barged into Specky's bedroom.
‘What are you doing in the dark?’ she asked, switching on the light.
Specky had spent the entire afternoon in his bedroom stewing over the rotten morning he'd had. He just felt like hiding away and listening to AFL matches live on the radio.
‘Get out! I'm listening to Rexy,’ he snapped at Alice.
‘That dude that says Yabbada, Yabbada, Yibiddy or whatever it is? What is it with him, anyway? I can't understand a word he says. He doesn't even know the proper names of the players.’
‘That's what I'd expect from you, Alice,’ said Specky. ‘That's what makes it so much fun to listen to him. He knows all the players, but he gives them their own special nicknames. If you had any idea about footy you'd know what I mean.’
‘I know who's hot and who's not, and that's all that matters. Hello? Remember I met Shane Crawford once.’
Specky shook his head, recalling the day his sister and her best friend, Rachel, had gone gaga while waiting for the Hawthorn champion after training one night to get his autograph.
‘Yeah, well, he wouldn't know you if you turned up in his bowl of Weeties. You're such a pain.’
‘As if I care! I'm over him now. Give me Ben Cou
sins or Gary Ablett Jnr or Brodie Holland any day—they're seriously hot! Anyway, I gotta tell you something.’
‘No, I wanna hear the post-match comments. Now, get lost!’
But Alice wasn't budging.
‘But I think you might wanna hear this.’
‘I don't wanna know…Mum! Alice is bugging me!'
‘All right, all right! I'll leave then. Can't interrupt His Royal Highness when the precious footy is on.’
‘Yeah, whatever, stuff footy!’ Specky mumbled under his breath.
Alice stopped abruptly halfway out the door and whipped around with a shocked look on her face.
‘Did you just say “stuff footy”?’
‘Yeah,’ Specky grunted.
‘Are you my brother or an imposter?’
Alice tried to make light of Specky's comment, but he could tell it had really thrown her. He couldn't believe what he had just said himself.
‘Are you okay?’ she asked, sounding more serious now.
Specky nodded, but wondered if he was. For the first time in his life he had bagged the game he had always been so passionate about, and this scared him a little.
‘Don't you like footy anymore?’
Specky's mind was racing a million miles an hour. He was silent for a second, then he shrugged.
‘Is footy really for me? Look where it's got me. Expelled. No mates. Is it worth it if I'm not having any fun? Maybe I should play something else.’
‘You're not serious, are ya?’ Alice kept on at him. ‘Or are you?’
Specky turned his back on Alice. ‘I don't want to talk about it.’
‘Well, if you give up footy, then at least you'll have more time for dancing,’ Alice teased.
‘I didn't say I was gonna give up footy, I was just saying—hang on, dancing? What do you mean, dancing?’
‘You'll find out,’ smirked Alice. ‘Let's just say I know something you don't. And it's got to do with dancing.’
As Alice shot a wicked smile in his direction, the phone rang.