SWANSBEST
10th July 2003, 07:44 AM
O'Loughlin on The Block
July 10 2003
A hit with the punters: Michael O'Loughlin yesterday. Photo: Steve Christo
The Swans kicked a few goals in Eveleigh Street yesterday, writes Jessica Halloran.
The kid was chasing the ball hard - as hard as he could in a pair of thongs - and was desperately stretching his arms to mark the cherry red football.
And he was doing a good job of catching it off that talented foot of Michael O'Loughlin's.
Corey was his name, and he was dressed in baggy blue board shorts and bottle green thongs, but soon kicked off the thongs to rough it in bare feet on the patchy turf.
Another boy, casually leaning on his BMX and watching the kick to kick, eagerly shouted orders. "See how far you can kick it, see how far you can kick it, Michael," he said.
With half his might, O'Loughlin kicks it high into the sky. Corey grasps at the air, the mini-footy bounces, and it then gently hits his head.
A couple of steps away two small boys pile thick yellow wads of margarine on their bread rolls before being given a sausage off the barbecue - a barbecue in celebration of National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week. O'Loughlin and his teammate Adam Goodes are there to hang out, kick the footy, sign autographs, give out stickers, and chat with everyone.
In the background, Uncle Hotshot strums his guitar to warm up before taking the stage - a bare bit of grass just off Eveleigh Street.
"He's the leading musician on The Block," says someone proudly.
A big grin appears on Adam Goodes' face when Uncle Hotshot, an older man with grey flecks in his hair, starts belting out a tune.
Josephine from Waterloo watches it all unfold. She's in a happy mood, enjoying the NAIDOC week activities but especially the Sydney Swans players, O'Loughlin and Goodes.
"The children need to see positive stuff," Josephine says. "The kids go mad for them."
She then looks off into the distance, asking: "Who is this lot?"
Walking down Eveleigh Street comes a bunch of athletes from the United States, here for the Down Under Games, and making an impromptu visit.
Reuben from Alabama starts chatting to Josephine from Waterloo. "So you're a runner?" Josephine asks.
"Yes ma'am," Reuben replies, ever so politely.
Uncle Hotshot finishes up his tunes, and a woman grabs the microphone and announces: "These here are a group of people from America, you should all go up and have a yarn to them."
Goodes, O'Loughlin and others chat to the visitors, Goodes suggesting they should come along to the game on Saturday night at the SCG against St.Kilda.
Someone asks if one of the American athletes is Maurice Greene. He's not. Lots of laughter.
Kids clutching balloons start playing chasings around the legs of adults. The barbecue has stopped sizzling but Eveleigh Street local Sam Hookey is starting to dance, the music has picked up a bit.
"C'mon brothers," Hookey shouts enthusiastically, beckoning Goodes and O'Loughlin to dance. He then insists on being photographed with the pair and shakes their hands.
O'Loughlin spots Corey again through the crowd of people wanting to talk to him, and calls out. Corey is obviously delighted the Swans player wants to kick to him again.
What was it like kicking with a star? "Fun," he says, wide-eyed and with all the excitement he can muster.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/09/1057430280362.html
July 10 2003
A hit with the punters: Michael O'Loughlin yesterday. Photo: Steve Christo
The Swans kicked a few goals in Eveleigh Street yesterday, writes Jessica Halloran.
The kid was chasing the ball hard - as hard as he could in a pair of thongs - and was desperately stretching his arms to mark the cherry red football.
And he was doing a good job of catching it off that talented foot of Michael O'Loughlin's.
Corey was his name, and he was dressed in baggy blue board shorts and bottle green thongs, but soon kicked off the thongs to rough it in bare feet on the patchy turf.
Another boy, casually leaning on his BMX and watching the kick to kick, eagerly shouted orders. "See how far you can kick it, see how far you can kick it, Michael," he said.
With half his might, O'Loughlin kicks it high into the sky. Corey grasps at the air, the mini-footy bounces, and it then gently hits his head.
A couple of steps away two small boys pile thick yellow wads of margarine on their bread rolls before being given a sausage off the barbecue - a barbecue in celebration of National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week. O'Loughlin and his teammate Adam Goodes are there to hang out, kick the footy, sign autographs, give out stickers, and chat with everyone.
In the background, Uncle Hotshot strums his guitar to warm up before taking the stage - a bare bit of grass just off Eveleigh Street.
"He's the leading musician on The Block," says someone proudly.
A big grin appears on Adam Goodes' face when Uncle Hotshot, an older man with grey flecks in his hair, starts belting out a tune.
Josephine from Waterloo watches it all unfold. She's in a happy mood, enjoying the NAIDOC week activities but especially the Sydney Swans players, O'Loughlin and Goodes.
"The children need to see positive stuff," Josephine says. "The kids go mad for them."
She then looks off into the distance, asking: "Who is this lot?"
Walking down Eveleigh Street comes a bunch of athletes from the United States, here for the Down Under Games, and making an impromptu visit.
Reuben from Alabama starts chatting to Josephine from Waterloo. "So you're a runner?" Josephine asks.
"Yes ma'am," Reuben replies, ever so politely.
Uncle Hotshot finishes up his tunes, and a woman grabs the microphone and announces: "These here are a group of people from America, you should all go up and have a yarn to them."
Goodes, O'Loughlin and others chat to the visitors, Goodes suggesting they should come along to the game on Saturday night at the SCG against St.Kilda.
Someone asks if one of the American athletes is Maurice Greene. He's not. Lots of laughter.
Kids clutching balloons start playing chasings around the legs of adults. The barbecue has stopped sizzling but Eveleigh Street local Sam Hookey is starting to dance, the music has picked up a bit.
"C'mon brothers," Hookey shouts enthusiastically, beckoning Goodes and O'Loughlin to dance. He then insists on being photographed with the pair and shakes their hands.
O'Loughlin spots Corey again through the crowd of people wanting to talk to him, and calls out. Corey is obviously delighted the Swans player wants to kick to him again.
What was it like kicking with a star? "Fun," he says, wide-eyed and with all the excitement he can muster.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/09/1057430280362.html