The Last Post

[Peter P]

I've just got back to Bigfooty for first time in long time. Haven't read the long debate here. Just wanted to say that I recall seeing Barry Robran as a kid - he was simply awesome. I recall him taking the ball from the centre hitout, a couple of steps and straight through the middle at Adelaide Oval - in the 73 Grand Final against Glenelg in front of 52,000. Was at a pressure moment and put the Roosters back in front. Nonetheless Graham Cornes took a screamer a few minutes later - literally a screamer as 20,000 young baby boomer girls swooned over the young "blonde bombshell" and put the Tigers back in front by a point.

Meanwhile I was heading out the gates, my ankles having given up from standing on a pile of beer cans on the hill in order to see 3/4 of the field all afternoon.

 

[gPhonque]

Originally posted by Oldfashioned Supporter
His message to you all is very simple. Support your footy club whoever it may be, support it loyally and cleanly, support it financially, support it with manual support if necessary, but also have a good word for your opponent if they beat you fair and square. In other words, recognise footy for what it is - a sport.

Hear hear!

 

[lioness]

What a fantastic thread to re-discover after so long. Perhaps someone could make it a 'sticky' for a while? Just so it doesn't get lost in the crowd and fade away again.

 

[Fred]

Done. Some of the newer members might be interested in this thread.

 

[Eago77]

Everyone should read it, the stories are brilliant, especially like the ones about the Gurkhas, they're very funny. Good time to bring it back up.

 

[Destructive]

Originally posted by joshhem
Thanks for being part of bigfooty with us ofs. I agree, that really puts tings in perspective. Teaches us to respect each other as we may not be here tommorrow.

I pray that he believed in Jesus.

Me too.

 

[carn_the_nmfc]

I hardly knew OFS.

Condolences to you and his family

 

[carn_the_nmfc]

Interesting reading.

Thanks for all the stories OFS's Friend.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Have a good one OFS.... Have a good one.

R.I.P OFS

Chris

 

[Captain Blood]

Is this the last post or will ssomeone else put up the last post?

 

[Chris who]

Happy to have found this thread, a true gentleman R.I.P. In the near ten years since his passing thousands and thousands posts have been made, none more valid than OFS's last

 

[AllFooty4]

R.i.p

 

[lewigie]

The stories in this thread are amazing.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

For once... A very good bump.

Think OFS user name says it all really, the older generation are those who truly support the game for what it is... a sport. In this day and age where it's also a profession some supporters lose sight of the fact that when its all said and done AFL is still just a sport.

Comraderie, respect, fun. All things that we can get from this great game, leave out the name calling, abuse and the like.

10 yrs too late but OFS, R.I.P mate.

 

[jenny61_99]

These stories all belong in a book. Thank you for sharing them with us.

RIP Oldfashioned Supporter

 

[mysainters]

His message to you all is very simple. Support your footy club whoever it may be, support it loyally and cleanly, support it financially, support it with manual support if necessary, but also have a good word for your opponent if they beat you fair and square. In other words, recognise footy for what it is - a sport.

Wow, wisdom right there.

 

[BACCS]

I have only read a couple of his stories so far, but they have been truly inspiring.

 

[Stats Man]

Bumped in accordance with the other footy history thread..

 

[westbrom]

It is a pity that these stories stopped. The comments about them belonging in a book are not wrong. In fact they sort of are... Albert Facey's A Fortunate Life (which has no doubt been read by many as it is often on school's curriculim is much along these lines. Of course their lives were very different, but you seem to get a sense of the generation through the telling of these stories and a lot of people seemed to cherish similar values.

I wish there were more of these stories, I absolutely enjoyed each post by OFS's friend, though was disguted by someone hijacking the thread impersonating someone who was trying to help the memory of an obviously dear friend live on.

RIP OFS and I hope this thread never goes away.

 

[Footypie32]

OFS spent some time in London recovering, then went home to Australia for full recovery and assessment. He volunteered for a jungle training unit as he loved the bush and it gave him a sense of freedom. He was however then sent to New Guinea and took part in several actions. When he was wounded he probably should have died. The way he told it is like this: He was hit in the shoulder, chest and hip, and in so much pain he could hardly stand up. He found himself alone in the jungle and rolling down a steep slope, finally landing at the bottom of a muddy ditch. When he recovered his senses he found he was only a yard away from a badly wounded Japanese soldier. They stared at each other terrified for a few moments then the Jap made a move to defend himself. He grabbed his bayonet and thrust it at OFS but luckily for OFS the Jap was so weakened by his own wounds that the point of the blade hardly even penetrated OFS's uniform. OFS now also panicked a bit as he was unarmed but he saw the Jap's pistol lying in the mud. He grabbed it and at point-blank range pulled the trigger. Nothing happened, there was too much mud in the gun and it was totally useless. They both stared at each other in disbelief and after about a minute the Jap said something in his own language and laughed. OFS saw the funny side of it and had a giggle too. The next few minutes found them both yabbering away to each other and laughing as if they understood each other completely. OFS offered the Jap his last cigarette but he shook his head, did not smoke. The Jap took a biscuit from his pocket and gave half to OFS and they both saluted each other and had a quick bite each. Then the Jap took out from his inside pocket three black-and-white photographs. One apparently was of his wife and two children and the others photos of what was possibly his beautiful flower garden back home in Japan. He showed them to OFS, kissed all photos, pressed them to his heart, shed a tear which slid down his cheek, he then took a deep breath and closed his eyes forever. OFS lay in that New Guinea mud and asked himself why this type of thing has to happen in our so-called civilised era of mankind. He was found about two hours later by his mates and sent home to Australia, never to fire a shot in anger again. He never did know the name or anything about the Jap who should have killed him with that bayonet thrust but he always wondered what happened to his family after the war. OSF died never knowing.

OFS's friend

Just found this thread and read this story. Absolutely amazing. Actually brought a tear to my eye.