Dukes of depth - Saturday 18 March 2000
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Last Sunday night's meeting between St Kilda and Sydney at
Colonial brought to mind the teams that Troy Gray played
with. TG had one sensational season then drifted from favour
with the Bloods before he was considered surplus to the
Saints' needs after a year. Gray spent deep freeze winters
with ACT side Queanbeyan.
He made his debut at Swanland in 1992 aged 19. He played most of his early football as a defender. He was harder to counter than a Joe Frazier left hook, more difficult to match up than a Rubix cube. The Gray guy was 188 cms tall but a solid 96 kilograms in body weight so he could defend his turf in heavy duty marking contests. Plus he was a left footer. This is often seen to be an advantage at the SCG. The red and white hierarchy didn't give Laurie Nash's number 25 to just anyone. They saw a future for their boy Troy. Troy Gray grew like a mushroom under the coaching of Ron Barassi. Ron had TG make the odd sortie forward with the result that he was able to mark often unopposed, play on and boot goals. Gray played 19 games during 1995. His season began in a fashion as exciting as Elle on the catwalk. Gray took an absolute empire stater in the Ansett Cup match against Footscray. Another monster grab in the Round 3 encounter with Brisbane at the Gabba. Round 8 Friday night Swans versus Carlton, Gray followed Ron's instructions. He slipped down the ground, marked and majored. It contributed to a great win. Mr T went one better under lights at Football Park. He provided two goal saving marks in defence and through the second half went forward where he slotted three majors. The game was remembered as Plugger's 200th game. Gray continued his good form and confidence into the last hit out of the year against Collingwood at the SCG. He grappled with Monkey in a best two out of three falls Three was TG's lucky number that afternoon. He bagged another hat trick of six pointers. As it turned out, that game was a signpost for the future of Troy Gray because Barassi announced his retirement as Sydney coach. When Rodney Eade assumed the helm, Gray Street pointed out of town. Through 1996, the match committee selected the big fella just four times in the seniors. He became a mainstay of the Swans reserves. With 51 games and 24 goals under his belt in five seasons, Gray was traded to St Kilda for 1997. He was given the unlucky number 21 jumper. In the Ansett Cup game fittingly against Sydney, Gray kicked a great snap goal during the second quarter. Good effort for heavy artillery. Against Brisbane the following week, he took a chain of solid marks in defence. However senior opportunities were to be rare as economic stability in South America. He finished the year with 9 senior appearances and 10 in the reserves. It was considered he was a bit light on for a second effort. Gray was then delisted. If Ron Barassi was still coaching, you could bet your life Troy Gray would be going around in the Ones. |
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