Dukes of depth - Saturday 29 April 2000
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To use a nautical expression, the Saints have got a list problem. List in
the sense of a severe lean to one side. The team is taking on water and
players are bailing like crazy to prevent SS St Kilda from going belly-up
this season.
The other kind of list has seen more changes than costumes at a Jacksons concert in the 1970s. Tim Watson has sought a new culture at Moorabbin. One of the big four, Nicky Winmar was traded to the Bulldogs. Beveridge and Daniels have retired. Glen Coghlan, Brett Cook and Keogh all gone. A bigger surprise than packaged peas was the delisting of Daniel Healy. The Saints got the young midfielder from Central District in the SANFL at number 6 in the 1995 national draft. He was their first pick. You knew that Burke and Harvey and Tony Brown and Aussie Jones formed the Hikok belt - always around the middle. Healy may have been viewed as a long term investment. Healy was big for an on-baller midfielder. He stood at 188 centimetres and tipped the Toledo at 83 kilograms.Yet he had lightning reflexes and skills on both sides of his body. He enjoyed a reputation of attracting the ball like velcro. Of mesmerising the leather cobra like an Indian snake charmer. Healy played only one senior game in his in his debut season of 1995. He was a victim of a dreaded groin injury that can mean anything from upper thigh to double hernia. Healy battled the complaint for close to a year. But in 1996 he bounced back - like a tennis ball on elastic string. As a quick performer who knew where the goals were it was as though a geneticist had bred him in a test tube expressly to play at Waverley Park. During Round 12 against West Coast at the WACA, DH was on clover in the hard, dry conditions. Halfway through the last term he received a looping handpass, burnt up the track and booted a long goal. Unfortunately the Saints lost by 33 points 22.9 to 17.6. Healy was to play 15 games in the Ones that season. 1997 Round 8. Saints versus Essendon at the MCG. At the 17 minute mark of the third quarter the pipes the pipes called Danny boy. He took a mark under huge pressure, played on and curled in a fantastic goal. He continued his good form into the following season. He starred once more against West Coast at Subiaco in Round 6. Everyone remembers the 30 degree heat. On the interchange bench panting blokes in ice vests with their faces rippling from the electric fans on full blast. It was like a WWF Survivor Series played out in two hours. The Westies slipped away to a handy lead by half time despite an inspiring goal by Healy. Over the second hour the Saints grabbed the initiative. Dan got the ball rolling with a long goal five metres in from the boundary. Ten minutes later he read the nut off the pack and snapped truly. Fifteen into the last stanza, Healy steadied the ship after two unanswered goals. He drove through a beauty from the 50 metre arc. St Kilda home with a wet sail. Round 10 of 1998 was a victory with a capital V against the Swans at the MCG. It was a lop-sided affair. Everyone got into the goals. Healy a super six pointer in a win 24.10 to 8.5. When Tim Watson became helmsman, Healy started to founder. He spent time on the bench then in the Reserves. Consistency in the Twos was rewarded by Dano winning the 1999 Gardiner Medal even with 3 senior matches. Healy was dropped off at the end of last season. 34 games for 24 goals '95 to '99. He's now full steam ahead at Centrals in South Australia. |
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