Yamirra19
Reserves
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 143
Location: Sydney
2210 Credits
Team: Mighty Rabbitohs/Swans/Waratahs
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 Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:30 am Post subject: Magic proud of long spell |
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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21539957-5006065,00.html
Magic proud of long spell
By Tim Morrissey
April 12, 2007 12:00
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MICHAEL O'Loughlin was just this raw, skinny, wide-eyed kid from Adelaide when he arrived in Sydney 13 years ago.
His infectious personality and that disarming smile with a hint of mischief behind it made O'Loughlin an instant hit with his new Swans teammates.
And from the moment O'Loughlin made his senior debut, kicking three goals on the SCG to help the Swans smash Adelaide by 57 points in round five in 1995, everyone knew the 18-year-old forward was going to be "something special".
But O'Loughlin's first flatmate at the club, former star forward Matthew Nicks, told The Daily Telegraph yesterday that no one quite knew back then just how special the kid wearing the No.19 guernsey would be.
"From his first game you just knew Mick was something special," Nicks said.
"But to go on and do what he has, I find that incredible . . . just an amazing feat."
On Sunday at the SCG against the Brisbane Lions, O'Loughlin will become only the third player in the history of South Melbourne/Sydney to reach 250 games for the club.
And, if everything goes to plan, O'Loughlin will break the club record for the most games ever played by a Swan, currently held by John Rantall (260 games set 28 years ago) in round 14 against Fremantle at the SCG.
Even O'Loughlin, who turned 30 in February, is amazed he's lasted so long in the AFL.
"When I came over I didn't ever think I'd last that long here," O'Loughlin said.
"I thought maybe one or two years here and then go back to Adelaide doing I'm not too sure what.
"But it's been a great journey and I certainly owe a lot to the footy club."
O'Loughlin's well-documented knee problems in recent seasons have threatened to cut his journey short more than once.
But as he established himself in the AFL he always knew wherever football took him it would be as a Swan.
"As I got to 80-100 games I thought to myself then that I'd like to stay here forever," said O'Loughlin, who hasn't ruled out being the first Swans to reach 300 games.
"I don't know, let's ask Roosy (Swans coach Paul Roos) and see how long he wants me round.
"I'd like to think I've got a couple more years left but let's just get this season and this week out of the way and hopefully have a great win."
There's no reason why Roos wouldn't want O'Loughlin, who is still one of the AFL's most dangerous forward playing his unique brand of magical football, around at the club a little longer.
"People know Mick as a footballer but as a person he's just such an easy person to like and an easy person to get to know." Roos said.
"I think that's why everyone wants to be his friend.
"Mick's always laughing and smiling about something. He's like a mischievous kid. You know he sometimes does the wrong thing but you can't punish him for it because Mick's such a likeable fellow."
However, Roos is planning a little revenge on O'Loughlin – now he's a proud father of nine-month-old daughter Taya – over a baby-sitting incident several years ago.
O'Loughlin, Nicks and Simon Arnott, another former Swan, came over to look after young Dylan and Tyler Roos only to let them raid the fridge and overdose on chocolate.
"Because Roosy had such a good house we were pumped to be going over to babysit and we forgot we actually had kids there to look after," Nicks said.
The results were disastrous.
"After Mick and the others left I went and checked on the boys and Dylan's asleep with chocolate all over his face and all over his bed, on the sheets – everywhere," Roos said.
"I'm going to pay Mick back and babysit his kid and feed her chocolate all night." |
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