CAN’T run, can’t jump, not that strong - but a fantastic footballer.
That was Sydney Swans games record holder Michael O’Loughlin’s tongue-in-cheek assessment of retiring skipper Brett Kirk, who will play his last game at the SCG on Saturday night.
“For a guy who can’t run that quickly, who can’t jump, who’s not that strong; geez, he’s a good footy player though. He’s one of the best and I’m proud to call him my mate,” the former Swans forward said on Thursday.
O’Loughlin, who played alongside Kirk for 11 of his 12 seasons at the Swans, said his former teammate deserved to be recognised as one of club’s greatest players.
That was Sydney Swans games record holder Michael O’Loughlin’s tongue-in-cheek assessment of retiring skipper Brett Kirk, who will play his last game at the SCG on Saturday night.
“For a guy who can’t run that quickly, who can’t jump, who’s not that strong; geez, he’s a good footy player though. He’s one of the best and I’m proud to call him my mate,” the former Swans forward said on Thursday.
O’Loughlin, who played alongside Kirk for 11 of his 12 seasons at the Swans, said his former teammate deserved to be recognised as one of club’s greatest players.
“All of these champion players I’ve played footy with: Lockett, Kelly, Bayes, Goodes; Brett Kirk sits comfortably alongside them,” O'Loughlin said.
“I think I’ll have a tear in my eye when he walks off the SCG.
“His story’s such an inspiration for all Australian kids, for everybody. Off the rookie list, never giving up and ultimately to become the captain of the club and retire a legend of the footy club, it’s amazing.”
If O’Loughlin had a close association with Kirk during his time at the club, he could be regarded as a member of coach Paul Roos’ extended family, such is their ongoing relationship.
“I’ve known Roosy [since] we joined the Swans together [in 1995]. He was a superstar, I was a 17-year-old kid,” he said.
“I’ve become great mates with him and his family means a lot to me. His friendship over the course of the years has been instrumental.”
O’Loughlin was joined at the Swans training session by 50 indigenous youngsters taking part in the Qantas AFL KickStart Program. The boys trained on the SCG before meeting indigenous Swans Adam Goodes, Lewis Jetta and Byron Sumner.
They will play an exhibition game on Saturday night before the Swans tackle the Western Bulldogs in a clash that could determine the Swans’ hopes of hosting an elimination final.
Goodes said the players would do their best to put the emotion of the occasion aside and focus on what needed to be done to topple the Dogs.
“Everyone wants the fairytale sending off this year but we’re in some really good form at the moment and it’s about continuing that form into September,” Goodes said.
“I know Kirky and Roosy just want us to come out there, stick to the game plan and try not to let the emotion of it all get to us, but to really put our effort into our performance."
