i like most of you on here was in the panther junior system at one point.And like a lot of others just never got there for one reason or another.
I agree with kilkenny Fibro could have been one of the immortals lightning speed incredible fend a grasshopper side step and that was just to go to the bar and grab a drink
Fibroman, while at the NSW Academy of Sports facility at Narrabeen in his younger days lays claim to a sub 11 seconds 100 metres. I believe it was 100 yards but he argues the toss. In those days, drug testing was clearly not as sophisticated as it is these days and he may have been found wanting in respect of certain anabolic steriods but everyone in those days was doing including one very famous Ben Johnson. Fibroman was very, very quick but alas had the heart the size of split pea and a thirst which only 20-30 schooners could quench. Yes, he had big dreams and to a degree some talent to match. Alas had he of made the big time he would surely have been one of those footballers who would have fallen foul of 'off field alcohol related indiscretions' for which he is now well known for. But for the demon drink what could have been................
Well do you??
As a die-hard Panthers supporter I have had many dreams of taking the field
with the boys.
The one that sticks most in my mind, is that I'm taking the field in the
1991 Grand Final, it's the 74th minute and it�s deadlock, There is a vibe on
the field, it's something magic like we know we're going to take the
Panthers to a grand final win. The whistle blows, we've just taken
possession and we're charging down field, I'm playing second-row and chasing
down Geyer trying to keep up, when suddenly he flicks the ball out to me. I
catch it and start running, I dodge past Belcher, leaving him stumbling in
my wake, Walters gets a hand on me but I palm him off, then I can see, Lazarus
he's coming in fast so I look out to my left to pass the ball, and there I
see Greg Alexander. He's striding down the field, his jersey is torn, he's
tired but still going strong.
He sees me and our eyes lock, then something happens, I don't know if the
roar of the Panthers army or the magic of the game, but suddenly it's just
him and me. We both stop and walk over to each-other, we just stand there
staring at each other, words are not necessary and we embrace, our lips
touch and it's like we've already got the Winfield cup in our hands.
Somewhere inside of me I know that this is wrong, but I don't care, there is
only us but then I'm aware of somebody else there, I turn and it's Brad
Fittler.
He's just looking at us, and I can tell by his thick thighs that something
isn't right. he comes charging up to us, pushes me aside and grabs Greg, he
almost crushes him in his huge arms, and there's Greg, who has been a pillar
of strength all season, melting helplessly under the caress of the big man.
What time did Lachie Turner run in that sprint he won the other week.
A touch over a 11 seconds.
I hand timed Fibroman once from the Aussie Arms to the Top Pub, approximately 100 metres, and he covered the distance in a tick over 11 seconds and that was with a blood alcohol reading approaching 0.35.
It was all in vain as the bouncers at the Top Pub refused him entry for obvious reasons.
Never one to be deterred he staggered down to Panthers, gained entry and proceeded to plow his hard earned into the 'hearts' machine. You young whipper snappers would not remember the ' hearts' poker machine which was a terrific earner for the clubs in the mid 90's.
What time did Lachie Turner run in that sprint he won the other week.
A touch over a 11 seconds.
I hand timed Fibroman once from the Aussie Arms to the Top Pub, approximately 100 metres, and he covered the distance in a tick over 11 seconds and that was with a blood alcohol reading approaching 0.35.
It was all in vain as the bouncers at the Top Pub refused him entry for obvious reasons.
Never one to be deterred he staggered down to Panthers, gained entry and proceeded to plow his hard earned into the 'hearts' machine. You young whipper snappers would not remember the ' hearts' poker machine which was a terrific earner for the clubs in the mid 90's.
Actually this reminds me of that fateful evening when Fibroman, Wallo and I were playing the 'hearts' at the Razzle. As a team we were playing the 'hearts' but I had to urinate and then purchase a round for the 'team' only to learn when I returned some 'minutes' later the 'team' (for want of a better word) had got the spins within spins in my absence and somehow or another I was no longer entitled to share in the $1400-00 accumlated by Fibroman and Wallo.