Northern Stars Shine Bright in Seattle

It was with much anticipation that the Cougars got off to their first regular season game for 2003. After a couple of highly successful Reds vs. Blues games, the Cougars were primed to head down to Seattle for the first road trip of the season.

As always, the crew gathered at a ludicrously early 8am at the Avis rental office. A struggle for most after having stayed up late the night before watching the Canucks win a thriller in OT against the Wild. The time seemed even more perplexing when most realized we weren’t due to start the game until 7 hours later. Still, an inspired Prez "Chops" McGrath was chomping at the bit and trying to fire up the boys by regaling stories of how his beloved Tiges had just pulled out one of their biggest comebacks ever over Hawthorn to now sit at the top of the ladder. He was determined that everyone in the Cougars should know about it. Would the Cougars be required to make a miraculous comeback today as well ??…only time would tell….

After an uneventful border crossing, the Cougar convoy arrived to Seattle’s new home ground, which turned out to be a large patch of grass with two baseball fields on either side. As the mini-vans pulled up, the ground was quickly dismissed as a joke and "surely not the right ground"…. but when the boys strolled the field and the grass was determined to be smooth and lush, and the baseball diamond sand judged as firm, yet soft, the ground was quickly given a resounding thumbs up. Even more importantly, the ground passed the all important Grills/Vargo distance test.

So, it was game on. Cougars resident Handyman Col Hilton was dealt a pre-match blow when the Grizzlies unveiled their highly-improved scoreboard which clearly topped Col’s masterpiece from the prior year. As the players took the field, a frazzled Col was heard to be muttering something about…high tech… state of the art, …lights,… flashing numbers, pyrotechnics….

As the team was announced, Super Coach Grills brimmed with pride as for the first time, the Cougars were successfully fielding a side that was 50% Non-Australian, 50% Australian. A great performance for a club in only its 3rd year.

As always, the game started with a flurry. The centre battles were immediately proving to be an enthralling encounter with strong tackling from both sides. Edgar, Skip Freeman, Chops McGrath and Tommy were right in the thick of things, with neither side able to pull away in the early going. Still, the Cougars resilience was not to be denied and the ball was continually thrust forward. Eventually the hard work paid off and Glamour Boy Vargo took a nice grab and goaled for the first major of the game.

Tommy O' at the centre bounce.

The game quickly turned into the Cougars favour. The half backline of Guru Edmonds, Tony Coops and newboy – " Flowing Locks" Craigy were repelling nearly anything the Grizzles could throw at them, whilst Full Back Jarroyd was sending anything that got back to him away with his BOOMING drop punts. The centerline made the most of this and sent the ball long to the forwards. Goalsneak Jase continued his fine pre-season form by marking sensationally on the half forward line and bagging the Cougars second. Vargo finished the quarter by doing his best imitation of Jase by snagging his 2nd goal over his shoulder and a banana from the boundary for his third.

1st quarter score – Cougars 4.1.25 to Grizzlies 1.4.10

The second quarter proved a defining moment in the history of the Cougars as the teams Canadian players showed they will be a force to reckon with in season 2003. "Locks" Craig was relishing his CHB role. Not only were his long flowing curls in the face of his opponent a concern for his Seattle opponent, but his fierce determination at the ball was giving the Seattle forwards a headache. Meanwhile, Canadian Mark was beginning to light up the CHF position and at one stage laid the tackle of the game to set up another great mark and goal for Goalsneak Jase and the Cougars. The Wiz, Mike M, and Brian were supporting Goalsneak Jase and Glamour Boy Vargo up forward with their fight for the ball and determination to keep the ball in the forward line whilst Morgs as always was fighting doggedly in the backline.
…and so the Cougars went into Half time with a solid lead.

Super Coach Grills "Gees" the boys up for the second half.

Half time score – Cougars 8.3.51 to Grizzles 3.6.24

The 3rd quarter (or 3rd game as per the Super Coach Grills manual of Coaching), was the most intense of the game. Hilton was firing for the Cougars in the centre and thrust the ball into the forward on numerous occasions, helping himself to a handy Rover’s goal in the process. The boys from Adelaide and first gamers – Aussie Mark in the Ruck and Jarroyd at Full Back were really showing their bit of class all over the ground whilst Blocky was providing the crowd with some great entertainment with his runs out of the backline. Campo, Super Coach/"Helmet" Grills and Nelson were also popping up to make their presence felt. Throughout the quarter, the ball continued to get bogged around the centreline where Shiner was constantly throwing himself into pack after pack to try and get the ball forward, whilst Skip Freemo and Chops McGrath were getting in tight as well.
Eventually the quarter ended with both sides licking their wounds and determined to finish of the game strongly.

3rd quarter score – Cougars 9.5.59 to Grizzlies 3.8.26

The fourth quarter began to show the benefits of the great pre-season buildup as the Cougars began to dominate the play around the ground and start to pull away from the Grizzlies. Glamour Boy Vargo showed his pre-season knee trouble was not going to be a factor as he finished the game with his 6th and 7th. His dynamic forward partner in crime - Goalsneak Jase continued to take some great drifting grabs across the half forward line and bagged his third. However, the goal of the game (which truly summed up the performance of the whole team in one passage of play) was undoubtedly from young Canadian Brian (who was playing with a cast over his broken wrist). The facts now are slightly blurry, but went something like this - The play started with Jarroyd bombing the ball long from the full back line to Edgar on the wing, a series of handballs from Coops, Aussie Mark and then a long kick from Chops was sent into the CHF line. Vargo streamed out of the full forward line, picked the ball up on the bounce, turned and saw an open Brian heading for goal. A long (stories vary from 10-35 metre) handball was pumped down Brian’s throat, who then turned and headed straight into goal to snag a beeuuuwwwtyyy. The Cougars went up in unison and the game was in the bag….

Final Score – Cougars 12.6.78 to Grizzles 3.10.28

Cougar Goals: Glamour boy Vargo - 7, Goalsneak Jase – 3, Handyman Hilton –1, Brian – 1.
Cougars Best: "Locks" Craig, Glamour boy Vargo, Shiner Edgar, "YACS" (Yet another Crows supporter) Jarroyd, Handy Man Hilton, Canuck Mark, & Goalsneak Stratford.
Injury Report: Morgs – Bruising, Freemo – Dicky knee, McFarlane – finger, Chops McGrath – Shoulder, Tommy – beer deprivation, Super Coach Grills - scratch on helmet.

The Cougars - Triumphant in the season opener.

After Match Report
As always the boys headed back to Seattle’s pub for a few post match bevies and a chance to talk up individual performances and praise teammates. The new venue of the Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub went down a treat and many a Coopers and Meat Pie were consumed by the boys. Unfortunately the Cougars Convoy was split into 3 minivans and a couple of cars as opposed to the unusual 15 seater booze bus, so the trip back was not as eventful as per normal . Thanks to Bab’s, Mel and The Wiz for having to drive the drunks home, Mel in particular had to put up with Hubby Chris and the Glamour Boy arguing for half and hour about who fell asleep first and who may or may not have spilt beer all over themselves on the way back.