The story commences with me joining the Epping Football Club at the age of 13 to play in the under 14 side. At that time, I had grown tall and only played a small number of games in the under 14’s when I was bumped up to the under 17’s, as they did not have a ruckman at that stage. I played out my seasons with the under 17’s, when I then took up the ruck position in the seniors Second 18. The First 18 had two very competent ruckmen and I was not up to their standard, or playing experience.
In the Second 18, I was coached by one of two brothers, with the other younger brother, being my rover. Whilst I was very comfortable playing with the brother, the coach had some issues. He seemed to be unable to comprehend that if I was playing to the skill level that he demanded, I would be not be playing in the Diamond Valley League, I would be in one of the clubs in the Victorian Football League.
On more than one occasion I was the recipient of a severe tongue lashing, for my inability to perform to his unrealistic standards. Whilst I was unable to leap tall buildings in a single bound, I was doing my best and for many games, rucked for almost the entire game, as there was no other player in the side that was anywhere near my height.
The situation came to a head during a pre-match pep-talk prior to a home game. The coach was giving his instructions to the individual team members, when he came to me.
“Barry, when you a resting in the back line, I want you to stick to the Full Forward as if he is your girlfriend. You know, as if you are joined at the hip”, and then he moved to the next player.
I thought for a moment and then responded, “I can’t”. The coach wheeled around and with a very angry look on his face retorted, “Why not?” My response was “I don’t kiss men!!”
The rest of the team rolled around laughing, however the Coach was less than impressed. Needless to say the relationship between the Coach and I deteriorated even further, and at the end of the season I left the club.
Despite representations from my father, who was a committee member of the club, I simply said that if this person was to continue as a coach, I would be leaving the club to play elsewhere.
How did this shape me? Well from that point on, I would not accept insults and abuse from anybody, and if I found myself in a situation where I was not enjoying myself, I simply stopped doing it.
Barry O’Connor.
September 2014.
In the Second 18, I was coached by one of two brothers, with the other younger brother, being my rover. Whilst I was very comfortable playing with the brother, the coach had some issues. He seemed to be unable to comprehend that if I was playing to the skill level that he demanded, I would be not be playing in the Diamond Valley League, I would be in one of the clubs in the Victorian Football League.
On more than one occasion I was the recipient of a severe tongue lashing, for my inability to perform to his unrealistic standards. Whilst I was unable to leap tall buildings in a single bound, I was doing my best and for many games, rucked for almost the entire game, as there was no other player in the side that was anywhere near my height.
The situation came to a head during a pre-match pep-talk prior to a home game. The coach was giving his instructions to the individual team members, when he came to me.
“Barry, when you a resting in the back line, I want you to stick to the Full Forward as if he is your girlfriend. You know, as if you are joined at the hip”, and then he moved to the next player.
I thought for a moment and then responded, “I can’t”. The coach wheeled around and with a very angry look on his face retorted, “Why not?” My response was “I don’t kiss men!!”
The rest of the team rolled around laughing, however the Coach was less than impressed. Needless to say the relationship between the Coach and I deteriorated even further, and at the end of the season I left the club.
Despite representations from my father, who was a committee member of the club, I simply said that if this person was to continue as a coach, I would be leaving the club to play elsewhere.
How did this shape me? Well from that point on, I would not accept insults and abuse from anybody, and if I found myself in a situation where I was not enjoying myself, I simply stopped doing it.
Barry O’Connor.
September 2014.
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