Media Jack of All Trades

[Ant Bear]

​

The OP casts his mind back. Way, way back, to Sweet FA Season 24.

As rookie captain of the Swamprats, we had endured a hell of a lot of heartache already, and were only halfway through the season. From Millky95's mic drop and the desertion of key players Noobz0r, Golumless and spookism, we wondered if the Swamprats would survive. But up from the shadows stepped Dingster; Cloud_ stayed when retirement was on his mind and we recruited heavily. Current skipper philreich came over from the Demons, and we invested in rookies, some of whom had short careers.

But the best of these rookies was drazah, and little did we know how dramatically this recruitment would shape us in seasons ahead.

drazah was sharp, witty and clever. He famously torched the Furies, and spread his wings wide across the league. We could all see that he was a EKA contender.

We had lost the first 8 games of the season. Coupled with the straight sets S23 exit, a club record 10 game losing streak sat on our shoulders, but come round 9 against the Roys - SUCCESS!!! Celebrations were long and loud, and as we embarked on round 10 against the Wonders we were exuberant.

Until...

On the Friday morning, I found out via the Port board that drazah had sadly passed away. We were genuinely distraught, and found solace in the win that week, with drazah famously soaring high in defence to save the game.

4 : 23.53 {CHF} - WaLkEr_ThE_StAr takes off.
4 : 23.57 {FF} - That's a real finger-breaker in the direction of dogs105.
4 : 24.01 {FF} - dogs105 is outmarked by drazah.
4 : 24.06 {FB} - The ball is now with drazah.

​

In the weeks and months that followed, I kept in contact with drazah's family, through his brother, jackster83, as we planned and executed several memorials to our fallen comrade. We arranged a charity match, with a tidy sum donated to Beyond Blue. Many SFA posters still wear this badge. We named our internal rookie award in drazah's honour; it still bears his name today. And without any pressure, jackster 83 came to see that we were a real club, a genuine team, and he eventually asked to join the Swamprats in Round 6 of Season 26.

Since then, he has played 99 games with the club; risen to a leadership position and won 2 Premierships. Eschewing prime positions, he has prowled the half back flank, half forward flank and been a KPP. Like others, jackster83 took his time to find his feet in the league; learned about his opponents and has become the leader that we thought we were getting way back in S24 with his brothr.

Please congratulate JACKSTER83 ON 100 Sweet FA games this week. Mate, you finally get your name on a cell (and not one of those smelly, COVID-infested hellholes at Abdu!)

​

 

[Dingster]

Grats on the milestone jackster83. You're forging a great SFA career in your own right. We will forever #doitfordraz

 

[serial_thrilla]

Finally a Rats media thread not ruined by GremioPower.

Congrats jackster83!

 

[Pugsley]

Congrats on making the 100 club jackster83.

 

[Ant Bear]

Finally a Rats media thread not ruined by @GremioPower.

...yet.

 

[Chipmunk]

Congrats jackster83 !

 

[BLUEALLTHRU]

This is an incredible piece of media with a very sad backdrop. I love your work jackster83 and congratulations.

 

[GremioPower]

...yet.

 

[BLUEALLTHRU]

10 beers per game you need to lift jackster83 .

 

[philreich]

Congrats jackster83 - it's been a real pleasure to play alongside you throughout your first 100 games, and may there be many more to come!!!

 

[GremioPower]

jackster83 is a GIANT.

His link to the Rats is as sad as it could possibly be, but that also makes it special. It is a pleasure and an honour to share the qooty field every week with you, my friend!

A toast for your Smith and to 100 more!

 

[MWPP]

Congratulations jackster83
A true wizard of the game, and achieved more than many do over their entire careers
Here's a butterbeer for your next 100

 

[Barrybran]

Finally a 100 game milestone deserving of its own thread. Congrats jackster83.

 

[Barrybran]

Nice to see Ant Bear back in the media landscape too

 

[RelaxMax]

Nicely done Ant Bear

Congratulations jackster83

 

[Callums_Guns]

Congratulations jackster83 on 100 games, fantastic write up Ant Bear



Summed up perfectly by Dingster "We will forever #doitfordraz"

 

[GremioPower]

drazah did it for us:

MATCH-UPS :

• Neither having much reason to brag, drazah either broke even with BallaratBulldog or vaguely bested him - it was hard to tell. - 18m from 7 to 25.
• In a solid performance, drazah and dogs105 had an epic contest. - 43m from 56 to 99.
• Neither having much reason to brag, drazah came out tops over the brave JT_the_Man. - 0m from 17 to 17.

 

[Ant Bear]

Fun fact: since jackster83 joined the Swamprats, we have never failed to make a preliminary final.

 

[Barrybran]

Fun fact: since jackster83 joined the Swamprats, we have never failed to make a preliminary final.

ant555 dislikes this

 

[ClarkeM]

This is nice, congratulations Jack

 

[spookism]

Congrats on that thing you did.

 

[jackster83]

Awww. Thanks Ant Bear. *wipes tear*

Draz would be proud of what the Rats have achieved in the last few seasons on and off the qooty field. He would have also likely sent me 100 blue, red and yellow wooden spoons to mark my milestone.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

Nice one jackster83, you've always been a fun bloke around here, congratulations on 100 games.

 

[Jabba73]

Finally something worth celebrating from the Swamp Rats this week.

Congratulations jackster83

 

[Restricted Free Agent]

Congratulations jackster83, a cracking poster and an even better bloke. Love hearing about your footy heroics and having you there to help our club running smoothly. Enjoy the week and lets get you a dominant 15 goal win to celebrate!