Specky Magee and the Season of Champions
Page 3
Specky felt as though he had been hit by a Mack Truck. For a second or so, he felt his heart stop beating. Had he heard Dr Bisdale correctly? NOT play football?
‘For how long, Doctor?’ asked Specky’s mum, shooting a sympathetic look at Specky.
‘About seven weeks. That should give his body, especially his knees, a chance to grow and recover. But, in the meantime, Simon could apply ice to reduce the swelling and pain. Try to do this about three times a day and remember to elevate the leg. I also have a list of suggested exercises he can do to strengthen the quadriceps and hamstrings. You should come back and see me at the end of seven weeks, and we’ll assess where he goes from there.’
Specky hadn’t heard the last few words the doctor had said.
‘Seven weeks! Seven weeks!’ rang over and over in his head. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t want to believe it.
‘No footy for seven weeks?’ he croaked, looking up at Dr Bisdale and his parents. ‘This is the end of the world!’
4. to play or not to play?
The following morning, Specky packed his sports bag as usual, ready to play Saturday footy.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Specky’s dad, surprised to see him wearing his Booyong High Lions jumper. They were all at the kitchen table having breakfast.
‘We’re playing the Latona Sharks, today,’ Specky answered casually, taking in a mouthful of cornflakes.
‘Simon, we’re not going to go through this again. No sport, no football, for seven weeks. And that’s final.’
Specky could feel himself becoming agitated. He had spent the whole night pleading with his parents to ignore what Dr Bisdale had said or to come up with some compromise that would let him play occasionally. But it was no use. His mum and dad weren’t budging. There was no way they were going to allow him to play football. Specky couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so miserable.
‘It isn’t fair! You can’t do this!’ he said, raising his voice and throwing his unfinished bowl of cornflakes into the sink.
Mr Magee wasn’t the type of man that yelled at his children. But Specky could see by the way he was squinting his eyes and pursing his lips that he could blow his top any second.
‘You have to understand, there’s no short way to fix this,’ Specky’s dad said, keeping his cool. ‘I’m sorry, Simon. I truly am. I know this is extremely difficult for you. But I’m not going to let you jeopardise your health.’
Specky and his dad glared at each other for a moment. Specky knew, there and then, that there was nothing he could say to change his father’s mind. And what made it even more frustrating was that deep down he knew his dad was right – he only wanted what was best for him.
‘Fine. But I gotta at least go and support my team-mates,’ he said.
‘That I can let you do. I’ll take you there, but since you’re not playing, I won’t stay – if that’s okay.’
And Mr Magee made sure that Specky left his footy gear, including his jumper, at home.
‘Good, you made it! For a moment there we thought you weren’t coming,’ shouted Danny, running toward Specky. Robbo was only a few steps behind.
Specky wasn’t sure how he was going to tell his mates the bad news.
‘This is gonna be a tough game,’ continued Danny. ‘The Sharks are here already. I can’t believe they’re on top of the ladder. Last year, they didn’t even make it to the finals.’
‘That’s because they have those really good players on their side now. You know, the “Bumfluff Twins”,’ added Robbo.
Specky and Danny snickered. They had heard from other players in their league that they would be playing against these twin brothers, Tyler and Taylor Jones, who had recently moved from the country to the city. They had not only quickly gained a reputation around the traps as awesome footballers, but also as the teen boys who already had facial hair – not fully grown beards, but patchy tufts of bumfluff.
While Specky and his friends made their way to the change rooms, it was Robbo who was first to notice that Specky had come without his gear.
‘Hey, where’s your stuff? Aren’t you playing?’
Specky stopped walking and looked directly at Danny and Robbo – I have to play! he thought. It can’t hurt me, just this once.
‘Um, when I got up this morning, I couldn’t find any of my gear. My boots, jumper, nothing! They’ve disappeared. They have to be somewhere in the house. But we can’t find them, so I don’t know what to do,’ he said.
Specky knew he was crazy to go against his parents and disobey Doctor Bisdale’s orders. Deep down, he knew not only could he cause himself more pain, but he could put his knees at further risk and even jeopardise his future football career. But there was no way he could miss out on today’s important game.
I have to play against the top team. Just this once. I’ll stop playing from next week on, he thought, justifying it to himself.
‘I’ve got a pair of shorts you can borrow,’ said Danny.
‘And I think Coach Pate has a couple of spare jumpers in her car, and I s’pose you’ll just have to play in your runners,’ added Robbo.
Before he knew it, Specky was in the change rooms and kitted out in his alternative playing gear – not quite the style he was used to. Danny was one of the shortest boys in the team, which was perfect for being a rover, but his shorts were two sizes too small for Specky. Nevertheless, Specky squeezed into them.
‘Nice look, Magee! Who do you think you are? Warwick Capper?’
It was Screamer, referring to the former Sydney Swans full-forward who was as famous for his tight shorts as he was for kicking more than a hundred goals in one season. Screamer was back from suspension and as smug as ever.
‘Thanks for the compliment, Johnson, Capper took some great marks when he was playing,’ replied Specky. ‘But the only problem is, I don’t have any room for my cigarettes!’
Normally, Specky wouldn’t stoop to Screamer’s level and return his insults, not even for a great comeback like this one, but he couldn’t help himself. Screamer snarled and struggled to come back with an equally clever response. Instead, he turned and headed to join Coach Pate and the rest of the team. Specky followed.
‘Right, listen up, everybody!’ shouted Coach Pate. ‘This will be the biggest test of the season. I know we can beat this team, but it’s going to be tough work. You won’t have any chances to be complacent. Play your best game or you’re on the bench. And, by the way, I want you all to officially welcome Ben Higgins back to the side.’
Specky and his team-mates broke out into applause.
‘On ya, Gobba!’; ‘The Gob’s back!’ yelled some of them, over the top of the clapping.
Coach Pate called for everyone to settle down. She was still only halfway through her pre-game rev-up. The boys once again focused on her. They respected Coach Pate, even though she had only taken over from their much-loved Coach Pappas a few months ago. For some of them, including Danny, it had been difficult getting used to the fact that they were being coached by a woman, but she had quickly won their trust.
‘Okay, as you know,’ she continued, ‘the Sharks have a secret weapon – the Jones boys.’
Specky glanced over at Danny and Robbo, and caught them mouthing the words ‘Bumfluff Twins’, before turning his attention back to Coach Pate.
‘They are tall, powerful and skilful lads. One plays at full-forward, the other at full-back. I’m assigning Simon and Derek to play on them both. Simon, you’ll be up forward, on –’
‘What d’ya mean? Magee up forward? Derek will kick more goals, and that’s what you need against a team like this,’ grumbled a man with black, beady eyes popping out of his tough leathery face. He was standing directly behind Coach Pate.
‘Who’s that?’ whispered Gobba to Specky.
‘That’s Mr Johnson, Screamer’s dad and our team manager,’ replied Specky.
‘Glad he’s not my dad,’ said Gobba.
‘You don’t know the
half of it,’ responded Specky.
Coach Pate had become used to Mr Johnson’s rude interruptions and opinionated comments. She chose not to respond.
‘As I was saying, Simon will play up forward for the first two quarters, then swap with Derek at full-back for the last half of the game. Okay, Lions, get out there and show us that you’ve got it in you to beat the top team!’
Specky and his team-mates once again burst into applause and cheered, egging one another on as they ran onto the oval to take up their positions.
‘I’m Taylor,’ said one half of the Bumfluff Twins to Specky, as he approached him in the goal square. ‘Have a good one,’ he added, offering to shake hands.
Specky was surprised by Taylor’s show of sportsmanship. Normally he was the one to make the first goodwill gesture.
‘Yeah, you too,’ replied Specky, shaking his hand.
Finally, the ball was bounced to start the match. And what a battle it turned out to be.
Just as Specky and his mates had predicted, it was goal-for-goal, a fast-running contest that saw the ball quickly moved from one end of the ground to the other. Specky’s tussle with Taylor was one of the most evenly matched battles he’d ever had against a full-back. In the first quarter, Specky kicked three goals, mainly due to his safe hands and solid marking; but in the second he could only manage one shot at goal, which he missed. At the other end of the ground, Screamer and Taylor’s twin, Tyler, were playing out their own equally fierce contest. But, on two occasions, Screamer’s frustration and hot-headed temper got the better of him and he gave away a couple of easy free kicks for goal.
This was frustrating for the rest of the team to watch. All Screamer was succeeding in doing was giving Tyler, and the rest of the Sharks players, more and more confidence. Tyler didn’t mind one bit if Screamer was going to push him in the back, or tackle him around the neck. The Sharks were a very disciplined side, and they had a team rule that worked well for them. If they received a free kick because of the undisciplined play of the opposition, they were not to retaliate. It was far more important to end up with the football, and a possible shot at goal, than to do something that might give the umpire a reason to reverse the decision and take the ball off them. Even if they were not awarded a free kick, they were prepared to wait for a chance to deliver a fair hip-and-shoulder bump, rather than do something stupid and selfish that would cost the team.
At half-time, the Lions were ahead by just three points and for the rest of the third quarter they held on to their slim lead. Specky and Screamer swapped positions just as Coach Pate had planned. The move was designed to confuse the opposition and break the game wide open, but with only minutes of the last quarter to go, the Sharks had hit the front – by two points. Coach Pate was now shouting at the top of her lungs.
‘Get rid of it! Talk it up! Talk it up! Stop handballing! Kick it long!’ Her voice echoed from the boundary line.
The action bogged down in the centre of the ground. Both teams struggled to clear the ball from the pack – fierce tackling and smothering led to congested play, which, in turn, lead to a lot of ball-ups. Specky paced around the back line, hoping that he wouldn’t have to see the ball for the rest of the game. He also hoped that his knees were okay – he could feel them aching, and they felt like they were swelling up.
‘And what a sen-SA-tional game we’re witnessing today, folks!’
Specky looked over toward the boundary. He could faintly hear Gobba, who was benched for most of the match, doing what he loved best – commentating the game.
‘And the clock is ticking down. Tick-tock, tick-tock. It’s now down to whoever wants to win this clash the most, and – look out! The ball is finally cleared. It looks like young Danny Castelino, the Italian stallion, has broken away. A long kick from the rover and Booyong’s Smashing Sols comes out to meet the ball and marks solidly on the centre wing. But no time for tea and scones, Sols handballs quickly to the Bombay Bullet, who dodges one, no two, no three, of the Sharks. Incredible play by the Bullet! He kicks! It’s a wobbly old punt, floating toward the goal square. Screamer Johnson is under it and so is the Bumfluff kid – or, as I like to call him, BF number one. They fly! Look at ’em soar! And it’s, it’s, it’s … Screamer! Screamer has taken the grab of his life. Directly in front of goals! And can you believe it? The siren has sounded. Hooley dooley! Booyong High has the chance to snatch victory from the Sharks.’
Specky could no longer hear Gobba; the Booyong supporters had drowned him out with their cheers and screams. Specky and his team-mates anxiously looked on, as Screamer prepared to take his kick for goal.
5. tell you something
‘I still can’t believe Screamer’s kick hit the post,’ Danny sulked, as he and Specky walked off the ground.
‘Yeah, we got so close,’ sighed Specky, disappointed by his team’s one-point loss. ‘But don’t forget I missed that sitter last year from the goal square. Remember the Beacon Hill Falcons? It was after the siren had sounded and it cost us the game.’
They all nodded, remembering how shattered Specky had been after that match. They knew that Screamer hadn’t missed the goal on purpose, and would be feeling pretty bad about it.
As the Booyong High Lions made their way to the change rooms, they still received a round of applause from their proud parents and supporters.
‘Well done! Well done to all of you. Brilliant effort, boys,’ Coach Pate said, patting some of the boys on the back as they walked past.
Specky noticed that the only one who wasn’t impressed by the team’s performance was Mr Johnson.
‘Boy, you let me and the side down – pathetic!’ he hissed, grabbing his son by the scruff of the neck.
As much as Specky didn’t like Screamer, he still couldn’t help feeling sorry for him every time he saw Mr Johnson get stuck into him.
‘Simon Magee?’
Specky looked up to see a tall, athletic-looking man standing before him.
‘Yeah?’ said Specky, wondering who this stranger could be.
Specky looked past him to see that Danny, Robbo and his team-mates had continued on into the change rooms.
‘Sorry to keep you from joining your mates. My name is Dave Reager and I’m the sports coordinator at Gosmore Grammar. That was a great game you played out there, today,’ the man said, shaking Specky’s hand.
Specky had heard of Gosmore Grammar. It was a private college out in the country that had a reputation for producing great footballers – many of whom had gone on to play at AFL level.
‘Thanks,’ mumbled Specky. Despite the sound of the dispersing crowd, he could still hear Mr Johnson having a go at Screamer.
‘I won’t take up too much of your time, Simon. But I’ve been monitoring the way you’ve played your last two Diadora Cup games and, of course, today’s game.’ Specky listened, surprised to discover his football form was being recorded by a stranger in the crowd.
‘You have an enormous amount of raw talent, and I’ve enjoyed watching you play. Anyway, your team will be playing Gosmore Grammar in the next Diadora Cup match in a few weeks time. And, not to beat around the bush, I’m going to be seriously considering you and a few others in the competition as possible candidates for a sporting scholarship to Gosmore. Would you consider accepting an opportunity like that, if it were offered to you, Simon?’
Specky had dreamt of playing AFL one day, and being part of a prestigious football school like Gosmore would certainly put him on the right track to reaching that goal.
‘Yeah, I would,’ replied Specky enthusiastically.
‘Great. That’s good to know. So, I look forward to seeing you in action at your next game.’ Specky gulped, remembering his knees and the fact that he shouldn’t be playing footy at all. He didn’t know what to say.
‘Um, yeah, thanks,’ he stuttered nervously.
Specky was torn. What was he going to do?
When Specky got home, he rushed upstairs to the study to spend some time in front
of the computer.
‘So, what did Coach Pate say?’ asked his mum, appearing at the door.
‘About what?’ said Specky, switching on the computer.
‘About you not playing for the next seven weeks.’
Specky had momentarily forgotten that, as far as his parents were concerned, he hadn’t played today.
‘Um, yeah, she was disappointed,’ he replied, feeling really uneasy about lying to his mother.
‘Well, I hope she understands. I might call her Monday morning and explain it all to her.’
‘No!’ snapped Specky, making his mum look at him curiously.
‘No … I mean, she totally understood, and she won’t be at school for most of the week ’cause she’ll be on a school camp with the Year 7s.’
Specky’s voice cracked, he felt even more uncomfortable about lying again to cover up the first lie.
‘Oh? Okay,’ said his mum, leaving Specky, who let out a huge sigh of relief.
Specky knew he would have to talk to Coach Pate and tell her he couldn’t play. There was no way out of it. He would talk to her first thing Monday morning.
But, for the moment, all he wanted to do was surf the Net. He was especially keen to check out the footy sites.
As he did, a message popped up on his screen. It was from Christina.
CHRISkicks: Hey! Still not talking to me?
Specky’s fingers hovered nervously just above the keyboard. He had missed his on-line chats with Christina. He had wanted so much to write to her, despite the fact that he still felt hurt about what happened between them during the Great Footy Contest.
Maybe I should get over it. Maybe I should just say a quick Hi, he thought, mustering up the courage. As Specky was about to type his response, his older sister, Alice, barged into the room.