- Sep 10, 2010
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Recently some of the true furniture of the league were inducted into the Hall of Fame, and coincidentally one of them, the East Side Hawks’ larrikin, plays his 350th career game in the 1st Preliminary Final this coming weekend.
With great respect to the Hall induction there’s not much more that should be said about larrikin’s accolades so a gent, ninety-three, sat down for a conversation with the rusted on league veteran.
A93 :: Let's start this with a trip back in time: You debuted in Season 3 for the West Coast Magic against a squad called Darkness Eternal. Is that possibly the worst name ever for a qooty club?
larrikin :: Good question. Wait - do you mean the Magic or Darkness Eternal? Both are shockers - these were the early days of Qooty where people had no idea what was going on, and teams came and went with such regularity that no-one got to attached to a name.
The Geelong Gumbies is probably still my pick for the worst name of all time though.
A93 :: I was going for Darkness Eternal, and the images of a bunch of Marilyn Manson wannabes lacing up the qooty boots. Somehow I think the the edgelord moniker thrown at brahj recently might've carried more weight back in the day.
Speaking of monikers, Gumbies is pretty rubbish - did you hear they've dropped their affiliation with Geelong? Apparently the side payments left with Darryn Lyons.
So season 3 was the starting point, and you didn't rock up to the Hawks until season 11, which would be the Hawks sixth in the competition. What were the early days like in the league, and why did you end up joining and settling at the Hawks?
larrikin :: The Gumbies are a funny one - for years they leaned in real hard on that name and then just folded like a cheap suit. I don't know the internal politics but it was strange from the outside.
In terms of changing teams, my early days in the first two West Coast incarnations I wasn't really into it - kind of Tom Lamb defensive running as a forward at East Perth levels of commitment. I joined the Mod Squad and that changed everything - the banter was up and it was more fun. The league was starting to really evolve at that point and the weekly threat of handing out cards if we lost was too much to resist. I would almost go so far as to say they were the best days of the league.
When the Mod Squad wound up for various reasons I was pretty close to hanging up the boots, but a few of the Hawks guys were West Coast board frequenters and they got in my ear. The rest, as they say, is history.
A93 :: Season 12 was the big one. Tarkyn_24 won the future Fred medal, you won your first Mobbs medal, Biggie got drunk, the Hawks won the premiership, and boncer34 was league admin. Did he rig it?
larrikin :: Well you couldn't rig Biggie getting drunk back then - that was his default gameday state (not the responsible upstanding citizen we see these days).
It was an incredible season, and that team was full of players that would go on to be greats. It truly was the Hawks at our finest, off field and on.
I'm not saying bonce rigged it, but if he didn't rig it, and we didn't win, he would have, if you know what I mean.
A93 :: *nods* I think I understand where you're coming from.
Let's talk stats. You're #3 all time in disposals, and #1 all time for hit outs. Yet in season 21 you were dumped from the ruck role for new recruit Tayl0r, and since then it has been a rotating circus of ruck-people. Do you harbour any bitterness for the change? If so, who would you like to knife?
larrikin :: We had a bit of a regime change at the club over that period, and as Mr Eagle began transitioning out new leaders tried to attract new recruits with promises of key positions. I get it, but I didn't like it.
I attempted going all Akermanis on their arses but no one really noticed so I went and quietly sulked in the corner (or forward and subsequently back pocket to be more accurate). To be honest I think the ruck position was thrown around too easily and a few stalwarts were discarded too readily for some Johnny Come Latelys who have since left.
And yes, I blame Tayl0r.
A93 :: Still on stats, your 349th game was another classic with the Hawks smashing through the Dragons on the way to a preliminary final berth. You, however, did sweet **** all and did not trouble the stats folk with absolute donuts at the end of the day. Can you talk about your preparation for such a momentous game?
larrikin :: You need three things: A comfy chair, an esky and a shit ton of beer. My opponents were so bad that day that I literally had to do **** all preparation and that flowed on to the game. We won didn't we? Next question.
A93 :: It’s worth noting you’ve done that eight times previously in your career, making you the 4th all time donut king. Game 350 this week solidifies you at 7th all time on that list, and will be your all time leading 278th for the Hawks. Coincidentally your long time team-mate Biggie will move to equal second for games played for the club next week. In that time there's undoubtedly many posters who have come, and who have gone. Are there any of those who have left the game you wish were still around?
larrikin :: Yeah, it's been a long road. There's a few that are still kicking around the league on and off. Obviously bonce, itsmyshow and tarks come to mind, but also a few of the Eagles boys - Mr Eagle is the most obvious, Wally too. It's great Biggie is back up and firing, he's a real asset for us.
A93 :: He is, and it's great to see you two both get recognition in the SFA Hall of Fame. It's duly deserved evenly for purely sticking around and contributing to the SFA for such a long period. Let's close this out with a quick high five:
A93 :: Favourite SFA poster?
larrikin :: Probably Mr Eagle to be honest. Always witty, always quick. You didn't have to wade through mountains of BS to find the gold.
A93 :: Favourite player from 'the other league'?
larrikin ::Nat Fyfe. Naitanui or Kennedy, with Yeo close behind. (we could do with Fyfe though...)
A93 :: Favourite beer?
larrikin :: I don't mind a decent Pale Ale, but there's something about a cold pint of Carlton Draught.
A93 :: Favourite music?
larrikin :: I'm going to cop some crap for this, but in recent years have got in to country music, not the twangy banjo crap but there's some good modern stuff around - Eric Church, Kip Moore, Jason Aldean etc.
A93 :: Who wins the SFA in season 25?
larrikin :: Two words: East Side Hawks.
Since 350 games is a grave milestone, a gent, ninety-three partnered up with fellow adventurer por_please_ya and we visited the grave of the league’s resident zombie, Ljp86, for his thoughts:
"Congratulations to larrikin on playing his 350th game, he is one of only a few players to have achieved this feat in the SFA and has had a fairly storied career over the journey, most of which has been played at East Side Hawks. I've had the pleasure of playing alongside larrikin a few times in the SFA when State of Origin was running but mostly at the West Coast Warriors in the BigFooty Fantasy Cricket League. Larri was always a good contributor to the Warriors on and off the field and that has been the case in the SFA with the Hawks for a long time now.
larrikin's career has had many highlights, a couple of premierships, one of only three players to win the Mobbenfuhrer Medal twice and four best and fairest awards mostly while leading the ruck at the Hawks. Now larrikin can add a 350-game milestone to that list and also recently being inducted into the SFA Hall of Fame, a rare honour for a player in the SFA.
Congratulations on the milestone and your career so far and hopefully we'll see you around the SFA for many more seasons to come."
Then it was off to the old folks home where Dingster rambled something unintelligable:
"Hey larrikin, this morning I got into my time machine and went back to S22 R11 when I was at the Bears. You said your shakra had been released. I was wondering if it brought you comfort. Happy 350th mate."
Lastly, we went back home to Waverley to ask what fellow Hawks thought about a near impossible milestone being reached:
"larrikin is an absolute Hawks legend, a rock in our backline and a very worthy Hall of Fame Inductee this season. This weekend he will take up the open full forward position and help guide the Hawks through to a Grand Final. 350 games is a wonderful achievement and he should be congratulated for his long tenure in the SFA."
"Nobody has ever made it to 350 games with as great as ease as larrikin. In the time we've been teammates he's certainly appeared and who would have thought, in this, his 50th season, we might be able to get him a premiership and a HoF spot all within a week or so of his 350th. He's a legend of the Hawks and of the Sweet FA and I couldn't be more pleased to see him sitting in the goalsquare for his big milestone match."
"One of the greatest SFA careers was finally recognised with HoF status this week. 2 Mobbs medals, 4 B&Fs, a Deestroy Medal, ruckman in a premiership team. Now 12th on the all-time games list. larrikin has proven to be a pillar around which the East Side Hawks legacy was built. Congratulations on 350 games, larrikin."
"larrikin is a great competitor, with a heart of gold. One of the greatest ruckmen I have played Qooty with. He never backed down from a challenge and was always there when we needed. Plus he loves a good afterparty, some of the things we did.... well that can’t be relayed to the public.
Congrats Larri on your 350th."
"It's all in the name really. Seems like a ripping bloke, and he's been around the traps. Looking forward to helping put a premiership medal around his neck."
We concluded there’s not much that hasn’t been said in the Hall of Fame induction, but to be around the league for 350 games and to still contribute to and be enjoying the banter is something special and worth celebrating. Well done larrikin!
With great respect to the Hall induction there’s not much more that should be said about larrikin’s accolades so a gent, ninety-three, sat down for a conversation with the rusted on league veteran.
A93 :: Let's start this with a trip back in time: You debuted in Season 3 for the West Coast Magic against a squad called Darkness Eternal. Is that possibly the worst name ever for a qooty club?
larrikin :: Good question. Wait - do you mean the Magic or Darkness Eternal? Both are shockers - these were the early days of Qooty where people had no idea what was going on, and teams came and went with such regularity that no-one got to attached to a name.
The Geelong Gumbies is probably still my pick for the worst name of all time though.
A93 :: I was going for Darkness Eternal, and the images of a bunch of Marilyn Manson wannabes lacing up the qooty boots. Somehow I think the the edgelord moniker thrown at brahj recently might've carried more weight back in the day.
Speaking of monikers, Gumbies is pretty rubbish - did you hear they've dropped their affiliation with Geelong? Apparently the side payments left with Darryn Lyons.
So season 3 was the starting point, and you didn't rock up to the Hawks until season 11, which would be the Hawks sixth in the competition. What were the early days like in the league, and why did you end up joining and settling at the Hawks?
larrikin :: The Gumbies are a funny one - for years they leaned in real hard on that name and then just folded like a cheap suit. I don't know the internal politics but it was strange from the outside.
In terms of changing teams, my early days in the first two West Coast incarnations I wasn't really into it - kind of Tom Lamb defensive running as a forward at East Perth levels of commitment. I joined the Mod Squad and that changed everything - the banter was up and it was more fun. The league was starting to really evolve at that point and the weekly threat of handing out cards if we lost was too much to resist. I would almost go so far as to say they were the best days of the league.
When the Mod Squad wound up for various reasons I was pretty close to hanging up the boots, but a few of the Hawks guys were West Coast board frequenters and they got in my ear. The rest, as they say, is history.
A93 :: Season 12 was the big one. Tarkyn_24 won the future Fred medal, you won your first Mobbs medal, Biggie got drunk, the Hawks won the premiership, and boncer34 was league admin. Did he rig it?
larrikin :: Well you couldn't rig Biggie getting drunk back then - that was his default gameday state (not the responsible upstanding citizen we see these days).
It was an incredible season, and that team was full of players that would go on to be greats. It truly was the Hawks at our finest, off field and on.
I'm not saying bonce rigged it, but if he didn't rig it, and we didn't win, he would have, if you know what I mean.
A93 :: *nods* I think I understand where you're coming from.
Let's talk stats. You're #3 all time in disposals, and #1 all time for hit outs. Yet in season 21 you were dumped from the ruck role for new recruit Tayl0r, and since then it has been a rotating circus of ruck-people. Do you harbour any bitterness for the change? If so, who would you like to knife?
larrikin :: We had a bit of a regime change at the club over that period, and as Mr Eagle began transitioning out new leaders tried to attract new recruits with promises of key positions. I get it, but I didn't like it.
I attempted going all Akermanis on their arses but no one really noticed so I went and quietly sulked in the corner (or forward and subsequently back pocket to be more accurate). To be honest I think the ruck position was thrown around too easily and a few stalwarts were discarded too readily for some Johnny Come Latelys who have since left.
And yes, I blame Tayl0r.
A93 :: Still on stats, your 349th game was another classic with the Hawks smashing through the Dragons on the way to a preliminary final berth. You, however, did sweet **** all and did not trouble the stats folk with absolute donuts at the end of the day. Can you talk about your preparation for such a momentous game?
larrikin :: You need three things: A comfy chair, an esky and a shit ton of beer. My opponents were so bad that day that I literally had to do **** all preparation and that flowed on to the game. We won didn't we? Next question.
A93 :: It’s worth noting you’ve done that eight times previously in your career, making you the 4th all time donut king. Game 350 this week solidifies you at 7th all time on that list, and will be your all time leading 278th for the Hawks. Coincidentally your long time team-mate Biggie will move to equal second for games played for the club next week. In that time there's undoubtedly many posters who have come, and who have gone. Are there any of those who have left the game you wish were still around?
larrikin :: Yeah, it's been a long road. There's a few that are still kicking around the league on and off. Obviously bonce, itsmyshow and tarks come to mind, but also a few of the Eagles boys - Mr Eagle is the most obvious, Wally too. It's great Biggie is back up and firing, he's a real asset for us.
A93 :: He is, and it's great to see you two both get recognition in the SFA Hall of Fame. It's duly deserved evenly for purely sticking around and contributing to the SFA for such a long period. Let's close this out with a quick high five:
A93 :: Favourite SFA poster?
larrikin :: Probably Mr Eagle to be honest. Always witty, always quick. You didn't have to wade through mountains of BS to find the gold.
A93 :: Favourite player from 'the other league'?
larrikin ::
A93 :: Favourite beer?
larrikin :: I don't mind a decent Pale Ale, but there's something about a cold pint of Carlton Draught.
A93 :: Favourite music?
larrikin :: I'm going to cop some crap for this, but in recent years have got in to country music, not the twangy banjo crap but there's some good modern stuff around - Eric Church, Kip Moore, Jason Aldean etc.
A93 :: Who wins the SFA in season 25?
larrikin :: Two words: East Side Hawks.
Since 350 games is a grave milestone, a gent, ninety-three partnered up with fellow adventurer por_please_ya and we visited the grave of the league’s resident zombie, Ljp86, for his thoughts:
"Congratulations to larrikin on playing his 350th game, he is one of only a few players to have achieved this feat in the SFA and has had a fairly storied career over the journey, most of which has been played at East Side Hawks. I've had the pleasure of playing alongside larrikin a few times in the SFA when State of Origin was running but mostly at the West Coast Warriors in the BigFooty Fantasy Cricket League. Larri was always a good contributor to the Warriors on and off the field and that has been the case in the SFA with the Hawks for a long time now.
larrikin's career has had many highlights, a couple of premierships, one of only three players to win the Mobbenfuhrer Medal twice and four best and fairest awards mostly while leading the ruck at the Hawks. Now larrikin can add a 350-game milestone to that list and also recently being inducted into the SFA Hall of Fame, a rare honour for a player in the SFA.
Congratulations on the milestone and your career so far and hopefully we'll see you around the SFA for many more seasons to come."
Then it was off to the old folks home where Dingster rambled something unintelligable:
"Hey larrikin, this morning I got into my time machine and went back to S22 R11 when I was at the Bears. You said your shakra had been released. I was wondering if it brought you comfort. Happy 350th mate."
Lastly, we went back home to Waverley to ask what fellow Hawks thought about a near impossible milestone being reached:
"larrikin is an absolute Hawks legend, a rock in our backline and a very worthy Hall of Fame Inductee this season. This weekend he will take up the open full forward position and help guide the Hawks through to a Grand Final. 350 games is a wonderful achievement and he should be congratulated for his long tenure in the SFA."
- Hawks captain Loonerty
"Nobody has ever made it to 350 games with as great as ease as larrikin. In the time we've been teammates he's certainly appeared and who would have thought, in this, his 50th season, we might be able to get him a premiership and a HoF spot all within a week or so of his 350th. He's a legend of the Hawks and of the Sweet FA and I couldn't be more pleased to see him sitting in the goalsquare for his big milestone match."
- The Filth Wizard
"One of the greatest SFA careers was finally recognised with HoF status this week. 2 Mobbs medals, 4 B&Fs, a Deestroy Medal, ruckman in a premiership team. Now 12th on the all-time games list. larrikin has proven to be a pillar around which the East Side Hawks legacy was built. Congratulations on 350 games, larrikin."
"larrikin is a great competitor, with a heart of gold. One of the greatest ruckmen I have played Qooty with. He never backed down from a challenge and was always there when we needed. Plus he loves a good afterparty, some of the things we did.... well that can’t be relayed to the public.
Congrats Larri on your 350th."
- Biggie ruminates about the old times
"It's all in the name really. Seems like a ripping bloke, and he's been around the traps. Looking forward to helping put a premiership medal around his neck."
- Hawks rookie YearOfTheRoos admires a legend
We concluded there’s not much that hasn’t been said in the Hall of Fame induction, but to be around the league for 350 games and to still contribute to and be enjoying the banter is something special and worth celebrating. Well done larrikin!
#larri350
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Looking forward to running out with you on the field Sunday. Let's book in the Grand Final!
