Great Roys commentaries X: Snappy Bernie Harris

[Mr Ripper]

Date: 14.9.86
Venue: MCG
Opponent: Sydney
Time: 4 mins; final quarter

Lou: "So it'll be a ball-up about 30 metres out from the Swans' goal, and they're in front by 7 points; Fitzroy already picking up a goal in this quarter...and we've only gone 3 1/2 minutes. Rendell, got over the top...ball comes back to Daniher...still plenty of fumbling; down goes Smith; they're falling over like nine-pins, and the umpire's found a free kick; it'll go to Hinchen for being grabbed on the leg. So, Hinchen with a free kick down there in the back pocket; still 7 points the difference, and what a game it's been...both these sides fighting...like nobody's business. The ball knocked on by Smith; it's Clayton driving it over Fitzroy's half forward line; there's a battle between McAsey and uh Harris; Harris is clear...straightens up; the kick is not a good one...down goes Quinlan and Carter; it's going towards the goals...it's kicked through by uh Osborne, it'll be a goal! So it's only a point the difference! The two of them fell over, that gave Osborne the break he wanted. 11.9.75 Sydney to Fitzroy 10.14.74; 1 point the difference!"

Bobby: "Once again, McGrath could've been the player who's gone off the ground, as we see Bernie Harris showing a bit more pace than uh McAsey. Both Quinlan and his opponent, Carter falling over; as on replay we see Bernie Harris slide as he kicks the ball across...Richard Osborne, right on the line..."

Peter: "Give it to Osborne?"

Bobby: "Nurr, I think it was just before when he kicked it, so I gave it to Osborne."

Lou: "Ball back out there on the wing position...a fumble...both sides desperate; well, they've been desperate all day as Pekin picks it up; drives it back to the half forward line; smothered by Harris; picked up by Clayton; here's a go for Lokan to have another go at the goals; a looong shot out there towards the full forward position...at the back is uh...Roberts goes the big punch and the ball is out of bounds on the 50 metre line in Fitzroy's attacking zone."

Peter: "Five minutes gone in the final quarter. So, Fitzroy again finishing the better as they did over Essendon last week. Carter and Quinlan...out of bounds again. Official attendance this afternoon, I think the best we've had in the finals so far, 65,763."

Lou: "Well, that's a tribute to these two sides too, ahh, they haven't got the biggest following in the world, but they came to see a clash and they've seen it here today, Pete."

Peter: "Carter was looking for a free kick, he didn't get one...out of bounds again...a little bit closer to the Fitzroy goal...so that miss by Gerard Healy may, in the summing up, prove costly. Carter...and Quinlan...over the top was McAsey...chance for Fitzroy...that was Bernie Harris! Fitzroy are in front! Well, they're killing the Swans at the moment, they've kicked 3 goals in 6 minutes in the final quarter; 11.14.80 to 11.9.75."

Bobby: "Well, a great move by David Parkin to bring Bernie Harris onto the ground, and there was uh Darren McAsey, his opponent, doing the ruck work...now, in the first half, it was uh Darren McAsey's opponent, er, Craig McGrath who was doing the ruck work, but on this occasion, McGrath not going up, Bernie Harris staying down...and a goal!"

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Olmy knows best

 

[Olmy]

Gee, when you think about it, there were really quite a few of the Roys stars in '86, who fizzled out in the following years.

Lokan, B.Harris (went to BB), C.McGrath, S.McIvor (never recaptured his brilliance with BB), Hinchen, Dwyer, etc. etc.

Any theories on why this was so???

 

[Fat Pizza's Dad]

1986 was a very wet year. It probably suited some of these players better.