I REMEMBER walking into the office of former Bulldogs midfield coach Leon Cameron (now GWS Giants coach) in late August 2009. It was my first year on the Dogs’ list and I had spent most of the season playing with Williamstown in the VFL and even a few games in the VFL reserves.
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I distinctly remember the conversation we had about the impact the upcoming finals had on the place. It seemed to enhance the smell of the leather on the new footballs brought out late in the season for training; the ride-on mower seemed to leave a trail of grass greener than that which it swallowed up; and the sun seemed to break through the clouds for a bit longer.
The sun was shining through the frosted glass windows on the northwest wall of the Kennel and as we reviewed the previous weekend’s game, a silhouette threw a football at the rebound net, rolled onto its left foot and kicked repetition after repetition at its hula-hoop target.
It was a sight that we were all familiar with. In fact, watching Daniel Cross doing everything he could to become the best footballer he could possibly be had a rather reassuring influence on many of us. He was the ultimate team man, so it will be sad to see him leave the field for the last time after 249 games.
September is as strange a time as we have as footballers. It’s a time when some of our heroes – whether we are fans, mates or opponents - decide to hang up their boots. Every club has them, those players who have made the most of every ounce of their talent and can’t give any more to the game.
Already this season several players have announced their retirements - Geelong’s James Kelly and Matthew Stokes, Adelaide’s Brent Reilly, Richmond’s Chris Newman, St Kilda’s Adam Schneider and Port’s Kane Cornes will all be remembered and celebrated, as will Crossy at Melbourne.
Some players will fade quickly from memory. They are often the ones who are told their time is up rather than choosing to go.
I’m sure that in most instances the players that leave our game, whether by their own choice or the choice of others, are anxious about what the future holds. I wish them all the best and can only hope they also feel as excited about their futures as we do about our chance to play in September.
• Western Bulldogs vice-captain Jordan Roughead writes an exclusive column for The Courier. Roughead was drafted from North Ballarat Rebels in 2008 and made his AFL debut in 2010. He played his junior football with Lake Wendouree.
