The CoodabeenChampions Quality Street
25 May 2002
A medal creates excitement among sponsors and supporters. Footballers that have won the Magarey or Sandover have a distant credibility unknown to winners of the Gardiner. Also the Morrish medal conveys a sense of potential. Tim McGrath won the 1988 Morrish for North. He failed at Arden Street. But an institution with Geelong. David Rodan has the last two consecutive Morrishes in his sock draw. The young Fijian has an exciting future at Richmond.
Let's examine the interstate awards.
The Magarey from South
Australia.
John Platten won in 1984. 258 great games at
Linda Crescent. 1988 winner Greg Whittlesea. A chequered
career Glenferriewise. 1990 Scott Hodges. Struggled at the
highest level. 1992 Nathan Buckley. Superlatives fall short
like an assessment of Jimi Hendrix. 1996 Josh Francou. A
genuine PA Power star.
The Sandover.
The 1986 medal went to Mark Bairstow. A fine
link player and captain at the Cattery. The 1995 Sandover.
Craig Treleven from East Fremantle. His stocks increased
like a listed dot com company in the mid nineties. Clubs
clamoured for the 25 year old. The Hawks selected him with
1996 pre season pick 16. A bargain like the mini muscle car
the Subaru WRX. The brown and gold allocators gave their WA
arrival the number 8 jumper worn by Des Dickson and Kevin
Heath and David O'Halloran and Robert Handley and Dean
Anderson. Treleven joined his old Sharks team mate Daniel
Chick drafted the previous season.
Craig was a big midfielder. 188 and 86. Soon got in the groove like a James Brown song. Not over quick but a hunter gatherer of possessions who distributed with precision. His finishing was solid too. 1996 round 5. The Swans at the SCG. Early in the first and mid way through the the second CT went in and got the ball. Kicks low and fast to a leading Dunstall. Goal and goal. Late last quarter Treleven ran back with the flight and marked on the chest despite physical intimidation from Plugger. The Tre fella a set shot major from 45. However Sydney won 13.10 to 11.10
Round 10. Freo at Subiaco. Treleven indicated more strings to his bow than 'The Adventures of Robin Hood'. Mr T could grab the nut after stoppages. His kicks into the forward line fed number 19. Plus 25 minutes into the third he was poetry in deliberate motion. Marked the ball on a lead took two steps and drilled the sausage from 35. Hawks home 17.8 to 7.11.
On to 1998. The C man had developed a mastery of the one percenters; tackles and smothers and intercepts. Handy as Andy. Round 4. Twilight game at the Park. Hawks versus Saints. 10 minutes into the first Treleven marked on a long lead at 50 close to the boundary. He chose a shot. One of the goals of the year. Craigo continued to farm the ball out. But Saints won. 20.9 to 18.13. The 1999 Ansett Cup final against Port. Number 8 was instrumental in pushing the ball forward. He booted a goal at a critical stage in the third. Hawthorn won the little cup.
1999 Round 1 versus the Magpies at the MCG. Treleven worked hard all afternoon. Got the ball to Micky Collica who goaled on the cusp of half time. Fast becoming his trademark Craig scored the last goal. Hawks over the line. 10.14 to 8.11. That year he had some hamstring problems.
At the end of the 2000 season the man was delisted after 78 games. Played at Balwyn in the Southern League. Nowadays he's dominating with East Fremantle.
The Craig Treleven Sandover caused excessive expectation.