Robbo Reckons

Well it?s November and as us couch potatoes are sitting back having a few cold beers watching the cricket on the TV the boys are back on the training paddock under new head coach Anthony Griffin and his staff. And while his staff are new to the club for 2005 they are certainly no strangers to the Dolphin Oval faithful. A Grade coach will be Ian ?Iggy? Graham captain of our 1994 premiership side and there has been no prouder man to run out with a dolphin chest. Coaching the Colts will be Waverley Stanley, when he played he gave nothing less than 200% and I can just hear it now the Colts defending on their own line and out will come the red dog call. Last but not least is strength and conditioning Coach Tony Guilfoyle. Gilly played for the club as a junior and a senior. He played first grade in the late 80?s under ?Shovels? Olling and played with club until the early 90?s before heading over to Brothers for a few years. Over the years we?ve had a few guys play international footy everyone knows our Australian reps but we also have a proud history of players representing other nations such as Tommy O?Reilly (Papua New Guinea), Duncan Naawi (Papua New Guinea) and Bertie Campbell (Russia) and joining these guys in the last month has been Chris Bond who played for PNG against the Kangaroos in Townsville and Pete Delaivuna who played for Fiji against Malta at Parramatta Stadium. And coach of the Fijians for that match and the next few years leading up to and including the World Cup is David Simpson so well done guys. In October the second most important awards in the Club behind the Robbo?s were awarded and congratulations to Adam Starr for winning the Peter Leis Medal from a fast finishing Cowboy Lindsay. One of the more popular award winners was Clubman of the Year Garry ?Foo? Worden one of our long time trainers. The Silver Fox has been involved with the Club for a very long time when he started with juniors in 1981 before moving to the seniors in 1987. And I think he hit the nail on the head when he said in his acceptance speech ?I?d hate to be the first team that has to travel across the Houghton Highway and play us next year?. There will be of a host of new players in the Red and White next year but like the staff some will be familiar to the Dolphin supporters Nick Emmert who played colts here in 1999 before heading down to Parramatta and Nathan Herbener who spent 3 or 4 seasons here before returning home to Roma. But on a sadder not we will be without Andrew Wynyard who has decided to retire due to a back injury, while I like to have a bit of fun in this column at Andrew?s expense he will be sorely missed when fit and in form there is no better back rower in the Queensland Cup than Wynny. Well that?s me done and dusted for another month and remember if you are looking the best deal on a new or used car pop out Keystar and see the friendly team. Because we have the keys to your new car. Until next month Cheers Robbo.