Barry Bacon
6 Feb 2005, 19:38
*An attempt to get some action in this board
O'Loughlin enjoys the fans
10:59:39 AM Fri 4 February, 2005
Karen Collins
Michael O'Loughlin is a fan of the fans.
On day three of their community camp, the Swans visited 52 schools around the Wollongong area and the full-forward enjoyed every minute of introducing the kids to the code, while hoping it may be the start of a special friendship.
"I have had some people from Newcastle (Sydney's last camp) who have said we will be at the games," O'Loughlin told Sportal.
"You sort of think 'oh yeah, ok we will see you there' but then after the games they've pulled you aside and said 'do you remember us' and you actually do remember the faces.
"I am not very good with names but certainly with faces you always sort of recognise someone when you have done a clinic somewhere.
"It's great to see them at the footy but also a surprise when you are walking back to your car after the game and someone taps you on your shoulder and says 'remember me from Newcastle, or hopefully now Wollongong, we are here, we made it, great game or sorry about the loss'.
"Certainly it's a thrill that the message has gotten through that they are there wishing you the best and supporting you."
The man they call 'Magic' hopes the new found support of the AFL, the club and players may also extent to unearthing some new talent via the clinics.
"The kids asked questions like how do you kick a football properly and why do you hand-pass instead of throwing it in rugby league style," the 27-year-old said.
"So it's good that we can come down and teach them the right ways.
"With some of them you may walk away and a couple kids may join up with Auskick and who knows they may grow up to be Sydney Swans footy players.
"An example is Jarrad McVeigh; I can remember him as a kid going to the AusKick clinic. It was myself and Matty Nicks at it and we looked around and saw Jarrad McVeigh kicking a footy around and we thought gee that kid might be okay and now he is playing for the Swans.
"So it's great when those kids come through."
http://sydneyswans.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=184134
O'Loughlin enjoys the fans
10:59:39 AM Fri 4 February, 2005
Karen Collins
Michael O'Loughlin is a fan of the fans.
On day three of their community camp, the Swans visited 52 schools around the Wollongong area and the full-forward enjoyed every minute of introducing the kids to the code, while hoping it may be the start of a special friendship.
"I have had some people from Newcastle (Sydney's last camp) who have said we will be at the games," O'Loughlin told Sportal.
"You sort of think 'oh yeah, ok we will see you there' but then after the games they've pulled you aside and said 'do you remember us' and you actually do remember the faces.
"I am not very good with names but certainly with faces you always sort of recognise someone when you have done a clinic somewhere.
"It's great to see them at the footy but also a surprise when you are walking back to your car after the game and someone taps you on your shoulder and says 'remember me from Newcastle, or hopefully now Wollongong, we are here, we made it, great game or sorry about the loss'.
"Certainly it's a thrill that the message has gotten through that they are there wishing you the best and supporting you."
The man they call 'Magic' hopes the new found support of the AFL, the club and players may also extent to unearthing some new talent via the clinics.
"The kids asked questions like how do you kick a football properly and why do you hand-pass instead of throwing it in rugby league style," the 27-year-old said.
"So it's good that we can come down and teach them the right ways.
"With some of them you may walk away and a couple kids may join up with Auskick and who knows they may grow up to be Sydney Swans footy players.
"An example is Jarrad McVeigh; I can remember him as a kid going to the AusKick clinic. It was myself and Matty Nicks at it and we looked around and saw Jarrad McVeigh kicking a footy around and we thought gee that kid might be okay and now he is playing for the Swans.
"So it's great when those kids come through."
http://sydneyswans.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=184134