just quickly, page-9

ausjpn,

I'll give you a history lesson.

I grew up in Canberra which meant Aussie Rules and League and Rugby were all big.

At 14yo in 1976 I went to the GF when Manly beat Paramatta 13-10. Eadie kicked 5 from 5 and Norton the import Pom scored our only try. Eric Grothe from Para dropped the ball on the right wing for a dead set try with a minute to go to tie it up with Mick Cronin to kick from the sideline. The guy was the best kick in the game and would have got it.

I also went to the 1978 GF in the tied match 11-11 Manly vs Cronulla, and saw one of the greatest hits when Eadie took Rogers out and saved a match winner. Could'nt go to the replay as it was a school day. Manly won 16-0 after leading 15-0 at half time thanks to 5 tries with no conversions. Near the end Eadie slotted a field goal as they announced he was man of the match.

During my years in Canberra my father and I used to drive for 5 hours (yep no freeways) from Canberra to Brookvale every few weeks or so to watch guys like Fulton, Krilitch (when hookers earnt thier money), Randall, Thompson, Eadie, Mooney (the Manly fairy) etc etc run around. They were the days....that was real football. Always went to Manly v Wests just to see the fights.

My bedroom was nothing but wall to wall Richmond and Manly posters. On the ceiling above my bed I kept just one poster.... Graham "Wombat" Eadie, the greatest fullback of all times. I used to stare at that poster while I drifted off to Alice Cooper's "Welcome to My Nightmare" on my cassette player.

They were the days. Life was uncomplicated.

So all I can say is that some of us do follow Manly not for the silvertail tag but the fact that Manly is the greatest league team on earth and some of us have driven many many hours to watch them play!

Here endeth the lesson :)

GO YOU MIGHTY SEA EAGLES!!!!




Cheers, Tony.