The CoodabeenChampions | Quality Street
30 March 2002
You know, people are fascinated by the exotic. At the motor show huge numbers cluster around the latest Lamborghini, the Ferrari F40 and the Hummer. AFL footy sparkles with players from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Exciting Tiger David Rodan has Fijian connections. Performs like a Dodge Viper. A few years ago Essendon provided a VFL top up player named Wanis Imbi. He was of Papua New Guinea extraction. The Adelaide Crows reveal a rich history of ethnic players.
With 1999 national draft pick 79 they got Balraj Singh the AFL's first Indian footballer. Unfortunately Singh didn't play a game for the Westlakers although he continued to shine with West Adelaide in the SANFL. This year Balraj will line up for Peel Thunder in WA. He's magnificent concept vehicle.
But a silky smooth performer was the League's first Thai player. His name? Sudjai Cook. Played 7 games at Norwood before he was placed on the Crows rookie list in '98. The exciting prospect was elevated to the senior list that season. Wore the number 40 guernsey made famous by Stephen Schwerdt. An appropriate number because of the legendary Ford GT 40 that won Le Mans in the sixties and is to be released in the US as a retro road car later this year. Cook was a neat 175 centimetres and 76 kilograms. He reached fine tune in mid season.
Round 9 at the Gabba. Five minutes into the second half hour the newcomer under intense pressure from Danny Dickfos squeezed a pass square to Matthew Robran who marked and booted a long goal. Late in the third Cook disguised a left foot pass that bounced into the path of Jarman. The Rolls Royce easy major from 40 metres. Adelaide won in convincing fashion. 14.14 to 6.14.
The following week Sudjai Cook underlined his status as a quality mover. Melbourne visited the sympathetic and caring supporters at Football Park. During the final stanza Cook grabbed the ball off the back of a pack and sent a 35 metre skimming pass to Vardy. He added the lid to the Demon coffin. Crows home 17.9 to 8.10. Round 12. Crows v. Essendon at FP. A narrow margin all night. Goals aplenty. Minutes from half time Cook burnt off Michael Prior and delivered perfectly to Eccles. The man played on and goaled. Halfway through the third Sudjai short passed to McLeod then ran on to shepherd. Macca split the centre. In a gripping encounter Adelaide by two points. 15.18 to 15.16.
Sudjai Cook was dropped several weeks later. He returned to Norwood where he scorched the grass like an Aston Martin Vantage at full throttle. At the end of the year the Crows dropped Cook off the list after 3 games. His number 40 was allocated to a rookie named Jarrod Twitt from Sturt. Sudjai Cook was the city of churches equivalent of the Maserati twin turbo with the boomerang shaped tail lights.