OPPORTUNITY n. an appropriate occasion
All of us need an opportunity at some stage in our lives… don’t we?
This week has been crazy busy with a bazillion questions about Brett, how am I feeling, how is Brett feeling, what are we doing next year, will Brett coach, will you leave Sydney, will you stay?
But right at this moment it isn’t the future I have been thinking about. Being bombarded with so many loaded questions (all asked with love and care for us as a family) I have reflected on times that have stood out for me through Brett’s football career.
There are all the obvious ones like the 2005 Grand Final win and the 2006 Grand Final loss, the semi-final win over Geelong at the SCG (it still gives me goosebumps!), and the win against Port Adelaide in 2003 when many were questioning whether or not we should be bothering to even turn up.
Early in Brett’s career - when he was a ‘fringe’ player - there were some tough times mentally for both of us. His determination kept his woes in check; for me mine came out in anger.
I remember at times yelling in his honour, or standing on my self-made soapbox damning those who didn’t rate him and gave him no hope of ever ‘making it’.
Like a swan, I am fiercely protective of my family and in some way I thought I needed to protect Brett from all his heartache. But he had this amazing ability to never get angry about it all. He taught me to let things go, to not get caught up. “Things happen for a reason”, he would say, “my opportunity will come”.
Brett saw everything as an opportunity to achieve his AFL dream, even those rounds where he would only get 15 minutes game time. For him it was better than no minutes and when he had to, he traveled to Port Melbourne to play in the VFL.
He made no fuss, there were no dropped lips or kicking the dirt, and on most occasions he came through the game with a best on ground effort. He often says he’s glad things didn’t come easy.
A memory that stands out in my mind was when things were looking like Brett wouldn’t be at the Swans for much longer, they were going to play youth and his opportunities would be limited.
Kelvin Templeton (Swans CEO at the time) met with Brett and told him a story of an AFL player who had a similar beginning to Brett. This player changed clubs and with the right opportunity in the right environment went on to play 225 AFL games and captain his club.
Kelvin told Brett that, with the right opportunity, he believed he too could have that same playing future. Brett was grateful for the vote of confidence and not much time passed before the opportunity presented itself and the rest, as they say, is history.
I am looking forward to Saturday night at the SCG. It will be a grand celebration of both Paul and Brett’s contribution to the red and white and a fabulous opportunity for them to thank the great Sydney supporters. And while it may be their last hurrah at the SCG it’s not the final one for 2010… just yet!
"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever and in its place is something that you have left behind... let it be something good." Author Unknown
Saturday night will be something good! Cheer, cheer… …
Hayley Kirk
