In AFL speak that equates to bursting on the scene with devastating effect, some gone within that same year, others never quite able to rediscover the same magic or injured before their prime.Injuries curtailed the promising careers of Collingwood back pocket Robert Hyde, Essendon’s Neale Daniher, North Melbourne’s West Australian recruit Dick Michalczyk and Richmond on-baller Mark Coughlan.Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >Others such as Glenn McLean, Grant Thomas, Mark Dwyer, Frank Marchesani, Brad Pearce, Adrian McAdam, Les Bamblett, Wes Fellowes and Gavin Exell played some seriously good football for a year or two before fading from the scene.Then there was Geelong’s 196cm full-forward of the 1970s in Larry Donohue, a modest man who was a fast-leading and long-kicking goal machine from 1976-78 when he kicked 263 goals in 68 matches, before being gone from the game two years later at age 27.“I was a good player for three years only but when I look at the (100-goal) company I’m in, I’m proud even if I comfortably feel I’m at the bottom of the scale,” Donohue said.“I ended up doing my shoulder in 1980 and missed half a season, before coming back when I lost confidence in both my shoulder and myself. I was washed up with no enthusiasm for training by age 27.”He then returned to local footy in Geelong, winning flags as a playing coach with both Thomson and Newcomb before leasing a hotel in Winchelsea which he promoted with slogans such as “have a drink with one who kicked a ton” and “have a gander at Larry’s amber”.A TEAM OF STARTS WHOSE CAREER WAS CUT SHORT B: Robert Hyde (Coll) Dick Michalczyk (North) Glenn McLean (Melb)HB: Neale Daniher (Ess) Grant Thomas (St Kilda) Mark McGough (Coll)C: Mark Dwyer (Fitzroy) Max Papley (South) Frank Marchesani (Fitz)HF: Allen Jakovich (Melb) Gavin Exell (Geel) Brad Pearce (Carl)F: Adrian McAdam (North) Larry Donohue (Geel) Les Bamblett (Foots)R: Wes Fellowes (Coll) Mark Coughlan (Rich) Andy Wilson (Ess)TICK OF APPROVAL FOR DEPARTING NIKE STALWART While he will more than likely bob up somewhere else after a battery recharge, the popular George Lalor has taken redundancy after 35 years with Nike.“I have loved my time with Nike and as to the future there are still some miles left in my old umpiring legs and as such I will continue to work, hopefully in the sports world,” said Lalor, 61, who has rubbed shoulders with the sporting elite, from Roger Federer to LeBron James and Michael Johnson.“Federer I know a bit and saw him briefly one year at Crown casino where I introduced my wife Jenny. Same place, same time the next year he saw us again and walked up before saying, ‘Hello Jenny, how are you?’“As for standout Australian people, I think of the mental fortitude of Cathy Freeman, the tenacity of Steve Moneghetti, the inspiration of Dylan Alcott, the single mindedness of Patrick Dangerfield, the magic of Shane Warne and the loyalty of Raelene Boyle.” IS DUSTY GREATEST NO. 3 PICK EVER? The 2009 AFL national draft will forever be etched in Melbourne minds as the one in which the Demons overlooked Dustin Martin, instead choosing Tom Scully and Jack Trengove with pick Nos. 1 and 2.So where does Martin sit in terms of a pick 3 when compared at international level, given his CV is rapidly expanding into rare territory?BEST DRAFT NUMBER THREES 1 Michael Jordan (basketball)2 Chris Judd (Australian rules)3 Luka Doncic (basketball)4 Robin Yount (baseball) 5 Dustin Martin (Australian rules)Who is the AFL’s greatest No. 3 draftee? CAPTAIN’S THANKS FOR AFL BOSS The role of AFL CEO can often be a thankless task as Ross Oakley, Wayne Jackson, Andrew Demetriou and Gillon McLachlan can no doubt attest.But there are some satisfying moments, as McLachlan is said to have discovered after last year’s Grand Final when he received a letter of thanks for the 2020 season (and good bottle of plonk) from one AFL club captain.His identity? Well, he lives in the same coastal town that Cadel Evans sometimes calls home.A GATHERING OF DEMONS GREATS To most customers last Friday they were just a bunch of blokes in their 70s with a collection of limps and stories, unless you happened to be a Melbourne supporter with a memory of the 1960s and 70s.The eatery was popular Carlton-based Italian restaurant Scopri, the magnificent seven Demons being made up of Stan Alves, Barry Bourke, Paul Callery, Frank Davis, Gary Hardeman, Peter Keenan and Tony Sullivan.While Alves and Keenan went on to enjoy premiership glory with North Melbourne in 1977, at Melbourne the septet totalled 1156 games, 618 goals (defenders Davis and Sullivan kicked three between them in 366 matches) and two second placings in the Brownlow Medal count (Hardeman and Alves).Golf: Australian Matt Jones has picked up the biggest win of his career after taking out the Honda Classic in Florida by five shotsHOTMATT JONESFor his speed of play in dominating the Honda Classic.COLLINGWOOD PLAYERSFor their compassionate reaction towards Adam Treloar.NOTSLOW GOLFERSThis sport continues to shoot itself in the foot as a television spectacle.THE BOUNCEIt’s 2021, yet umpires still recall the ball after failed bouncing attempts.



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