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Deep Pencil - the musings of Morgan Bell

If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it did it really make a sound? If i post a blog and nobody reads it was there really any point? You have entered the random thinking space of Morgan Bell . . . These are my musings . . . things about my life written off the top of my head . . . written in an informal disjointed style almost completely devoid of punctuation, this is where i flesh out writing ideas, discuss my life, and generally be self indulgent . . . it is also the bargain bin for articles which do not fit in with the film or arts themes of my other blogs . . . so have a wander around my mind, have a laugh, have a think, be nice, and humour me!

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Deep Pencil - June 2008

remembering the Baby Bombers . . .

June 10th 2008 07:17

a very young Gavin Wanganeen

think back to the 90s and the people and events that shaped the pop culture of that era . . . at a time where football was of great interest in our family home there was a team of exciting youngsters climbing the ladder, the AFL football club the Essendon Bombers . . . i was thinking the other day, you dont hear much of Steve Alessio anymore? the galloping giraffe of a ruckman, he was quite the tall italian, standing 203cm (or 6' 7") he really was a magnificent giant!

i think the Baby Bombers were originally dubbed with that name because they included the children of some former players and were generally an inexperienced but talented young side . . . so of course they were all very handsome . . . and while my parents supported the Melbourne Demons, and i generally didnt give a toss about sport, i couldnt help but be fond of the pretty-boy team and became an automatic fan, silently cheering them on even in Melbourne vs Essendon matches!

Essendon won the flag (grandfinal) in 1993 and again in 2000 and generally seemed like a super-team to me for the entire decade

i kind of lost track of football when i lost track of my parents but now that we are all under one roof again i get all the news . . . little baby Hird retired last year with the coach Sheedy and it seemed like the official end of the era

in 1993 Michael Long and Derek Kickett were just 24, Steve Alessio was 22, and Gavin Wanganeen and James Hird were only 20 . . . i was 12 haha

Kickett left Essendon in defiance after he wasnt played in the winning final of 1993, Long was one of the first aboriginal players to actively stamp out racism in the game, Wanganeen was also aboriginal and all three of these men are still inspirational in the aboriginal community

when Matthew Lloyd joined i remember he would never kick for goal without plucking a few blades of grass from the ground and throwing them in the air to see which way the wind was blowing . . . the precision haha . . . Lloyd, Long, Hird and Alessio all played in the 2000 grand final

it was an exciting time in football ladies and gentlemen!

and when i think of football fondly these are the six names that always come to mind . . .

my Essendon legends:
Kickett (born 1969) played for the baby Bombers from 1989-1993 (went on to play for Sydney)
Long (born 1969) played for the Baby Bombers from 1989-2001
Wanganeen (born 1973) played for the Baby Bombers from 1991-1996 (went on to play for Port Adelaide)
Alessio (born 1971) played for the Baby Bombers from 1992-2003
Hird (born 1973) played for the Baby Bombers from 1992-2007
Lloyd (born 1978) played for the Baby Bombers from 1995 currently captain

what ever happened to Steve Alessio?

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Posted By: Morgan Bell - Category: Tastes

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Comments

13 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Cheryl J

June 10th 2008 12:47

Funny Videos
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment

Yikes, football! I have no idea who any of these people are. I shall votes and slink out the back door...

Comment by RubySoho

June 10th 2008 13:06

Music Zone
Thought Zone

I second Cheryl. Verbatim.

Comment by Morgan Bell

June 10th 2008 13:50

Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk

oh thankyou ladies . . . i appreciate the support!
if you were in NSW in the 90s you probably didnt get alot of media on the AFL
my dad is from Melbourne so hes footy mad and around 1993 i spent some time in Victoria and Perth so i got a bit caught up in the footy fever and it stayed with me forever!

Ruby and Cheryl, you really dont have to know anything about football to admire at the pics! haha

thanks for the comments!

Comment by Norm

June 11th 2008 01:00

Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power

Tim Watson was the inspiration for them that year.

"Let's win this one so that Tim can retire because we can't stand him either."

Comment by Morgan Bell

June 11th 2008 03:19

Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk

hi Norm
haha poor Tim!
i think they got rid of a few of the great old legends around this time . . . replaced them with new blood . . .didnt alot of the oldies go on to coach?

Comment by Norm

June 11th 2008 03:59

Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power

Bomber Thompson, Timmy himself...
Mark Harvey...
all have gone on to sit in the box with their hands on the telephone...

Comment by Morgan Bell

June 11th 2008 05:20

Deep Pencil
Current Business News
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Artist Quirk

hey Norm,
true true . . . its good to have a resident footy fan around to pose questions to!
my knowledge is pretty superficial!
i guess sometimes they have their hands on the telephone and other times they have their head in their hands . . . or sometimes they get to swing their jackets around their heads like the Sheed-meister!

Comment by David O'Connell

June 11th 2008 05:52

Screen Fanatic

Thanks for the great post Morgan! As a devout, lifelong Bombers fan it's nice to be reminded of some of the good old days when success was something so commonplace we really took it for granted - and which has now dwindled away to a skeleton of a football club which would be embarressed to even call itself mediocre!........................God, I'm depressed when I think about the current incarnation of the mighty red and black!! (I always knew we'd hit rock bottom after Hirdy retired.).................... ......

...............(grown man crying here).

Comment by Lord Waterfront Yuppie

June 11th 2008 06:32

Noise Pets

Go the Mighty Dons! I was 12 too Morgan and I agree that it was the awesomest thing ever!

Kernahan having the wood on us... them taking out little Sean Denham early... the team rallying... Watson doing shit all... Kickett hating Sheed's guts...

Don't forget the mighty Dean Wallis, 18 year old Dustin Fletcher, Peter Somerville, Misty and Murky, Darren Bewick, big Paul Salmon, Gary O'Donnell, Ricky Olarenshaw...

In summary, it was freakin unreal!

Comment by Morgan Bell

June 11th 2008 06:43

Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk

hi David,
im so glad you enjoyed it!
i started off looking for info on what steve alessio is doing now and stumbled across a couple of pics wanganeen and was astounded at how young he looked . . . i guess it was 15 years ago now hey . . . i wonder if they could get back into the swing of recruiting more really young, fast, accurate guys, send a few scouts out to the aboriginal communities?

Comment by David O'Connell

June 11th 2008 06:51

Screen Fanatic

We've got quite a few exciting young Aboriginal kids on the list now Morgan and I think they'll be very good players in the next few years as we rebuild - but it's definately going to take a lot of patience before we return to some of the glory days of the last 25 years.

Comment by Morgan Bell

June 11th 2008 06:56

Deep Pencil
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Artist Quirk

hello Lord Waterfront,
so much enthusiasm!
i love it!
Darren Bewick! haha
the nifty little red-head goal-sneak . . . i remember him well . . . what a little runner!
Kickett was so not impressed with Sheedy haha if looks could kill!
thanks for stopping in and sharing some memories!

Comment by Morgan Bell

June 11th 2008 07:03

Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk

hi David,
i should get back into watching some games and try to remember the club didnt close just because Hird isnt there . . . you just get so set on your old favourites . . . but i hope the team does get back on top!
unfortunately i think im one of those terrible fairweather fans, its bad i know

i wonder if most people tend to follow the club that was winning when they were kids?

[ Previous - Nicola Roxon: using big ugly necklaces to distract us from her limp hair ]

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