Big Show and tell

24 Aug 2012

PANMURE full-forward Gary Robinson lived up to his nickname ‘Big Show’ at the J.A. Esam Medal count on Monday night.

Robinson won our award for the best acceptance speech. With respect to the other winners, Robinson stole the show with a humorous display behind the mic. His quick wit was appreciated by the audience when he heaped praise on his teammates in only a fashion he could deliver in accepting the leading goalkicking award, which for the first time included a Thomas Jewellers watch.

Shall we say his timing with the speech was impeccable.

“I’m 35 and I play with the worst midfield in the comp,” he joked. “And they don’t like to kick it to me.” Asked about playing at Panmure’s sometimes heavy ground, he replied: “We went to Merrivale the other day and the grass was green. It’s a whole  other thing out there.”  He was just as stark about teammate Tim Condon’s chances of polling well in the J.A. Esam Medal.  “I’ve been picking his man up all year.  I’m pretty sure he will do well,” he said. He was a good judge — Condon was closest to winners Nick Johnstone and Corey Rounds. On a more serious note, Robinson told Talkin’ Footy  that playing footy again had been great and the Panmure club had done a lot for him and his family.

“At my age, it’s fantastic to get personal awards, but when you are 35 it is all about the group. I played my best footy when I was a junior,” he said. He said it had been important his children had got a chance to see him play. But his main reason for coming out of retirement after several years had been to help out his brother-in-law, coach Simon O’Keefe. “The outlaws wanted a photo of all the boys playing. That’s all it’s been about,” he said.

Extract from "Very superstitious, writing’s on the wall for most of" on The Standard, page 40, 24th Aug 2012