MEMBERS ON SPORTING STAGE - Melbourne Cricket Club

More documents

Recommendations

Info

CLUB NEWS BUMPER FOOTY FIXTURE IN STORE The relentless football news cycle was most evident in October when the 2009 AFL season schedule of matches was released before a cricket ball had even been bowled at the MCG. As was the case in 2008, the MCG will host 46 home and away matches next season. It will be an action-packed opening, with four matches played at the ’G in the fi rst round, starting with a clash between Richmond and Carlton on Thursday March 26. On the following evening the grand fi nal replay between Hawthorn and Geelong is bound to draw a big crowd. Other notable features of the MCG’s schedule include a fortnight without matches over the weekends of June 13-14 and 20-21, the return of the Anzac Day, Queen’s Birthday and Dreamtime at the ’G matches, a Geelong-Collingwood Easter Thursday blockbuster and 14 matches involving Collingwood (the most of any club), including two against both Carlton and Essendon. A full fi xture and operational details about the 2009 AFL season will complement the MCC newsletter in early March. MCC member Michael Inglis (second from left) became the lucky two-millionth patron for the 2008 AFL season on August 2. MCC chief warden Peter French (right) and Sharp Australia sales manager Steven Field (left) presented Michael with a new television, courtesy of Sharp. IRELAND’S CLEAN SWEEP For the fi rst time since 2003, the MCG hosted an International Rules Series match between Australia and Ireland on October 31, exactly fi ve years to the day the ’G last saw the hybrid game. More than 42,000 fans descended on the stadium, braving the cold and rain throughout most of the second and third quarters, to watch the close encounter. The ’G looked a picture, with ground staff doing a wonderful job converting the arena to its new confi guration and rejuvenating the turf after thousands pounded it during the Samsung Melbourne Marathon a fortnight earlier. After a hard-fought fi rst Test at Subiaco, Australia was looking to bounce back from a narrow defeat and 14 MCC NEWS DECEMBER 2008 win in Melbourne. The Irish, however, had other ideas and a gallant effort by the Aussies in the fi nal term wasn’t enough to stop Ireland winning by four points and making it a clean sweep of the series to take home the Cormac McAnallen Trophy. Stephen Gough presents a cheque for $50,000 to Ladder general manager Mark Bolton. MCC SUPPORTS WORTHY CAUSES The MCC has continued its support for community activities, recently making sizeable fi nancial contributions to two very worthwhile ventures. At the AFL Players’ Association (AFLPA) Most Valuable Player Awards night in September, MCC chief executive Stephen Gough presented $50,000 to the AFLPA to go towards its Ladder project. The club matched the gesture of Hall of Fame Tribute game players who donated their match fees to Ladder and two other community projects. The MCC donation came from the proceeds of the same game in May. Ladder was created in 2007 by the AFLPA and AFL Foundation to address the issue of youth homelessness across Australia. It aims to provide programs that will give hope and inspiration, improving the lives of homeless young people by tapping into the resources of the AFL and the players. Ladder general manager, former Essendon defender Mark Bolton, was pleased to see his organisation receive such strong support. “I am very happy that, as one of the game’s key stakeholders, the MCC has joined the team,” he said. “I would like to think that Ladder has the potential to change lives, not only of the youth involved in our programs but also the players themselves, giving them a sense of perspective and also fulfi llment that comes from helping others.” The club has also donated $20,000 to St John Ambulance Victoria to fund the purchase of new equipment to maintain the high-level medical support available to MCG visitors on event days.
Picture: James D Smith UNKNOWN AUSSIE A BIG NAME IN AMERICA The MCC membership is so large and diverse that it is understandable when the feats of individuals among us are occasionally overlooked. Such is the case with long-time member Mat McBriar, who has been busily making a name for himself as a highly paid American football punter with the Dallas Cowboys. While McBriar may not be quite as well known as other Australians playing US professional football, such as former AFL players Ben Graham, Darren Bennett and Saverio Rocca, many would argue his impact on the National Football League more than matches his compatriots. Born and raised in Melbourne and an MCC member since 1995, McBriar gained his college education in America while punting for the University of Hawaii. His then head coach, June Jones, told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2003 that McBriar was “probably as special as any (punter) that I’ve ever seen”. After finishing his three-year scholarship and breaking all Hawaiian punting records, McBriar signed with the Denver Broncos and was later traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle unexpectedly cut McBriar only one game into the preseason, leaving him without a team and out of football. A year later, McBriar was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys and he has been their star punter for the last five years. The Victorian was just the fourth Australian to play in the NFL and only the second to play for the Cowboys behind Colin Ridgeway in 1965. Ridgeway also boasted achievements as an Olympic high jumper on his sporting resume. In 2006, McBriar added another feather to his cap when he received one of the highest accolades in American football – selection in the NFL Pro Bowl. He is the first MCC member and only the second Australian to scale such heights after Darren Bennett, who was selected in 1996 and 2001. McBriar credits his leap into the American football big time to Bennett Picture: James D Smith who, after seeing McBriar’s impressive skills in an NFL-run kicking competition in 1997 at Waverley Park, introduced him to Jones at the University of Hawaii. Bennett again lent a helping hand when he housed McBriar for a year between his stint at the Seattle Seahawks and his current contract with Dallas. Further cementing his place in NFL history, McBriar recently extended his contract with the Cowboys for another five years, and he’s now one of the highest paid punters in the league. We were hopeful of speaking to McBriar prior to deadline but, as fate would have it, he unfortunately sustained two hairline fractures to his foot when his punt was blocked during a game against Arizona in October. Fellow teammate, Louis-Philippe Ladouceur, described McBriar as being “greatly missed” during his recovery and while he is unlikely to return to the Cowboys this season, he will be looking to make a big comeback in 2009. We will keep you posted. DECEMBER 2008 MCC NEWS 15
Page 1 and 2: NO. 140 • DECEMBER 2008 • ISSN
Page 3 and 4: As we head towards the end of 2008
Page 5 and 6: OLYMPIC MEDAL HAUL FOR MCC MEMBERS
Page 7 and 8: MCG AGAIN THE STAGE FOR SOCCEROOS
Page 9 and 10: GRAND RECEPTION FOR NEW MUSEUM An e
Page 11 and 12: HIRD, WARNE STILL STARRING AT THE M
Page 13: VES UP TO THE HYPE made for another
Page 17 and 18: IT’S YOUR CLUB, SO WHY NOT ENJOY
Page 19 and 20: that held his audience spellbound.
Page 21 and 22: YOUR FUNCTIONS CALENDAR DAY DATE FU
Page 23 and 24: SYDNEY TRIP FOR YOUNG MEMBERS The c

MEMBERS ON SPORTING STAGE - Melbourne Cricket Club

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?