From Boys to Roys

By Nick Armistead

It’s Anzac Day and scores are tied. You’re lining up for goal post-final siren in front of a vocal Brunswick Street Oval crowd, attempting to drown out the sound of loyalty and focus on claiming victory for your beloved Roys.

The chance to experience every Australian Rules footballer’s childhood dream will soon be a reality and the accompanying communal fame and season-long immortality will be yours due to the acute rarity of the moment.

Jack Beech completes the dream and wins the four points for his side, causing the previous sound of loyalty to erupt from the boundary line.

What if, in the middle of the celebratory team mosh pit, laughing, back-slapping and embracing as brothers, there’s a moment even rarer overshadowing the dream goal as two self-proclaimed second-string regulars complete the fairy-tale of playing their 150^th match together?

Life-long mates and Fitzroy Football Club stalwarts, Sam Buckley and Richard Willingham, did just that in the Roys’ Premier B reserves Anzac Day clash against Ajax and it’s safe to say Beech would have no issues allowing the pair full accolades post-match for the contribution they have made during their tenure at the Club.

Debuting for Fitzroy Juniors in 1993, Buckley and Willingham have shared their football journey side-by-side for 23 years, bagging Daicos-esque goals when their hamstrings would allow them and toiling away against opposition ruckmen in the harshest of conditions.

Appointed reserves coach at the start of 2016 for the second time – after spending a year in the role in 2009 – mercurial half-forward and goal sneak, Buckley, retired from playing last season due to ongoing hamstring issues and only made his return to join his mate for the milestone match.

“I did four strings last year which put me into retirement,” Buckley told VAFA Media prior to the match.

“I’ve come back for one last game and I wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t to be playing 150 with him.”

Buckley admitted he is as fit as he has ever been, but that news did little to stop those around him from wagering on the specific timecode his previously unreliable hamstrings would give out.

“We’ve got some mates taking bets what quarter I’ll do my string though so we’ll see,” he said.

Thankfully, or luckily, Buckley strung four injury-free quarters together on Monday and the two local favourites were able to contribute to the team’s success and cap off their individual milestones in style, with Buckley registering two goals and Willingham named in the best for his standout rucking display.

Willingham, who is the State Political Correspondent for the Age, admitted the excitement surrounding the whole event made for a special occasion.

“I hate to use the word fairly unique but it’s unique,” he said.

“For two blokes who haven’t played a lot of senior footy, let’s be honest, it’s been a lot of reserves footy. But that’s what the ammos is about; blokes having a crack at playing footy because they love it.”

Under the umbrella of uncommon and slightly irregular events, playing under your best mate is not a line most community footballers can admit to having expressed throughout their careers.

However, the ties of mateship play no part when Buckley is holding up the magnet board and demanding his chargers perform.

“When I coached back in 2009 I actually made a point of singling him out pretty early giving him a bake,” Buckley said.

“I think I gave him a bake at half-time on Saturday in front of the group too.”

Willingham has no qualms with the extra attention and believes it benefits the team as a whole to witness the semi-regular sprays; which usually occur when he uses the levers to punt the pigskin instead of handballing.

“I think it’s good that your mate can be your coach but you don’t get special treatment,” Willingham said.

“If anything, I get tougher treatment to set an example in front of all the blokes which is fine. I’ll tell him later at the pub he was wrong but out there and in the rooms, whatever he says goes.”

The North Fitzroy Arms and Royal Derby Hotel have played a role in the careers of both men over the years, providing an outlet for honest discussion following losses, celebration on the back of victories and assisting with the role they claim as one of their most important during the backend of their careers.

As experienced veterans and stalwarts of the Roys, Buckley and Willingham have spent time trying to breed an inclusive culture with the reserves and Club newbies by getting them to the pub and assisting in an often nerve-racking transition.

“Rather than what we’re offering on-field still, it’s probably more what we bring to the Club off-field now as we try to mentor the young guys coming through,” Buckley said.

“When we started at the Club it was full of artists and poets, musos and we even had a piano tuner. The Club was a really arty, Fitzroy-type of Club and we’ve tried to keep those roots and keep the Club where it was when it started.”

Post-match celebrations also allow the pair the opportunity to reminisce on past performances, highlights and memories from their time together. While most ale-induced stories are often embellished for the social standing of those telling them and entertainment of those listening, neither Buckley nor Willingham come across as the tale-enhancing type when speaking about each other’s achievements.

“I’ve seen Richard play some pretty impressive games in the ruck on days like this (wet and wild),” Buckley said.

“When it’s wet and it’s tough and it’s a slog you know that’s when Richard really comes to the fore. I remember his first senior game was a day out at Aquinas where it was so muddy you couldn’t tell the opposition by their jumper at the end of the game. I think Rich was probably 19 or 20 and I think he was named in the best that day. It was probably the best senior game he played.”

“And then I got dropped the week after,” Willingham responded before elaborating on the mythical foot skills Buckley possesses around the sticks and that one goal.

Buckley and Willingham’s first-ever year of playing for Fitzroy Juniors was also the Club’s inaugural season. As young and slightly less-skilled versions of their current selves, the boys and their teammates managed just one goal throughout the entire season; a goal kicked off Buckley’s 10-year-old boot.

“Let’s get this right,” Willingham said.

“We kicked a goal for the year. One goal. It was wet and the ball sort of went through. I think Dads were crying and there was a pitch invasion like we’d won the World Cup. We were just kids and thought it was the best thing ever. When you’re starved of success or goals in a footy team and you actually get a win it’s pretty amazing.”

From 23 years of playing football together, the most enduring memory a 150-gamer holds is of his mate’s first-ever goal. Now that’s what community football is about.

Photos: Jonathan White