Green Book 2022: Tomorrow We'll Be Sore

Soon after we got the first ‘final’ squad list for the season and the never-say-die hopes of
seeing Andrew in Green were dashed with his first MOTM appearance for the 35s. Never
mind - we had people lining up with aspirations of scoring, playing better than each other
(not hard that…) and generally making claims only an over-confident group of middle aged
blokes could. Soon, it would all be put to the test in our first preseason game as full Greens
against Fremantle.
As the game approached so did the firsts. First ‘can’t make it’, first questions about the kit to
wear, first street directions for the phone-challenged, first COVID case in the team … but not
the first jab at Renzo for giving a team talk. Renzo’s clever response could just about be
turned into a laminated poster to unfurl at every game for the rest of the year instead of
having a team talk. Even Jorge liked the bit about the balls.
Although this was the first Greens game for the year, we happily included Ross from Reds
whose family was fleeing Ukraine and who welcomed a bit of football relief from his worries.
Unbeknown to the (very protective) 35s manager, Andrew thought it would be great to have
one last Friday night fling with the Green Machine before a season with the young guns. We
could not say no to a brother whose heart is Green could we?
With some dodgy individual promises of polishing boots and heads if a hat-trick was scored
we kicked things off on a stinky humid March Friday night…
Friday 25 March, Hilton Park
Fremantle City v MUM FC Green
3 — 4 (Friendly, preseason)
Greens travelled to Hilton to face the old foes in burgundy on a pitch that finally got the
upgrade from a ‘potato field’ status it had for several years. Mozzies and stifling humidity
were in, lights were just about out and a slight shower at kick off made the surface real
handy for anything sliding - ball, tackles and standard of refereeing. Starting without the
recent acquisitions but with the “honorary Green” Andrew Seaber, the first twenty or so
minutes were a foreplay with a few nice build ups without any serious threats. The couple of
youngish reinforcements Freo brought along for the night were a persistent threat in our
backline and after a brief slip up on the edge of our box, one of them fell after a touch so
light that Michael should star in moisturiser ads instead of being judged a penalty. A well
struck penalty caused the first movement on the scoreboard, wrong way. Ali limped off the
pitch as the first injury after a challenge that didn’t look comfortable whichever way you look
at it. Ten minutes later Tomaz correctly played the sweeper-keeper but instead of lacing the
crap out of an incoming ball tried to play it fancy to a misunderstood Andrew and the young
fella from Freo put them up 2-0. Instead of panic and blame, Greens knew things were going
to get better. And they did!
Daniel has been banging on about scoring goals at training but they don’t hand trophies at
training do they (well, none at preseason games either but don’t tell him that). It was time to
put the money where his fast feet are. He harassed the defence enough and on the turn
scored the first of what we hope is many goals for Greens this year.