Blues chief Luke Sayers is committed to one big issue, as support flows for Dusty’s hiatus
Carlton president Luke Sayers has kept a five-year secret that speaks volumes about his compassion for Melbourne’s battlers and desire to make a difference.
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AFL star Dustin Martin is no closer to returning to the Richmond football club, and one legend says he understands the three-time premiership player’s decision.
Triple Brownlow medallist Ian Stewart says the Tigers No.4 is also the greatest finals player in the history of the game.
“I think he is in the top one (per cent) of finals players of all time,” Stewart told Sheahan Ink this week.
“He is certainly one of the best players to have played, of all time.”
Dusty’s finals record speaks for itself. He was instrumental in the three premierships of 2017, 2019 and 2020, winning the Norm Smith Medal in all three.
“I’m a fan of Dusty,” 79-year-old Stewart said.
“I can understand fully where is coming from. I understand why he is taking a spell or I understand why he is taking an extended break,” Stewart said.
The Saints and Tigers living legend didn’t elaborate but reiterated he understood Dusty’s decision.
The two clubs face off against each other on Sunday at Marvel Stadium as they vie for the Stewart medal, awarded to the player best on field.
Stewart, who wore the Saints jumper 127 times and the Tigers’ yellow and black 78 times, has decided against presenting the medal and instead will be tucked away in a corporate suite.
“I am going but I’m going in a private capacity and it’s not that I don’t want to present (the medal) but I have a prior responsibility, so I won’t be representing either side,” he said.
Stewart is one of four players in the history of the game to win three Brownlows.
He won two playing for St Kilda and his third in his first year at Richmond in 1971.
He also played in two VFL premierships and coached South Melbourne and Carlton.
Stewart was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1997 and anointed a legend one year later.
Scare for ex-AFL player at Buddy’s 1000th goal game
Imagine a nine-year-old boy in a foreign city, there to watch his team Geelong take on the Swans at the Sydney Cricket Ground in front of 36,000 fans, with a strong likelihood Buddy Franklin would boot his 1000th goal that night.
Fast forward to the last quarter with Franklin on 999 goals, Ryder Haynes and his older brother Cooper, 12, and their dad are ready to jump the fence and run onto the ground to celebrate the once in a lifetime milestone.
Buddy boots his 1000th goal, and dad and former Richmond and Essendon player Ben Haynes grabs his two boys and runs on to the ground, leaving his father-in-law in the stands.
“The excitement and roar when Bud went near the ball was a highlight,” Haynes said.
“Before we went on the ground I spoke to (his boys) and said if we lose each other meet at the goalsquare.
“Everything was going fine, then suddenly I lost Ryder’s hand and in the swarm of people lost him.
“I took his older brother to the goalsquare but Ryder wasn’t there, I then went searching for him.”
Haynes, in a small state of panic, began scouring the crowd for his lost son, with Cooper holding on tightly to his dad’s hand.
A stranger in the crowd noticed Ryder by himself looking around for his dad and his brother.
The Swans supporter and his sister put Ryder on the bloke’s shoulders in the hope the two parties would have a greater chance of seeing each other.
“We found him on a Swans supporter’s shoulders with a Sydney scarf around his neck,” Haynes said with huge relief.
“The guy and his sister were awesome,” he told Sheahan Ink.
“He didn’t need to do it, I’m just so thankful. I can’t believe we didn’t get their names, so thank you.”
The Haynes family returned to Melbourne on Saturday with Ryder spilling the beans on his little secret to mum, Janelle.
Haynes, who played in three AFL finals and an Anzac Day clash at the MCG said: “I’ve played at the SCG but to be there last Friday was like a carnival. It’s as good as there is”.
Carlton president’s five-year secret
Profound words from an AFL president will hopefully go a long way in assisting those less fortunate.
Carlton’s Luke Sayers has been working with street chronicle The Big Issue for the past five years and it’s a secret passion that began when he was boss of Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Sayers took to the streets of Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday in high vis, donating his time, his money and his profile to a worthy cause, with all moneys raised assisting those without a home.
“Life can be fickle and oftentimes we just need to put our arms around people and help them through their difficult stages of their life,” he said.
“There’s a program that The Big Issue runs for leading CEOs and when I was at PWC I got attached to the organisation; so for me personally, as well as the firm, we try to do as much as we can, so we’ve had a great relationship over many, many years.
“I think it’s a great cause and it was a great morning yesterday,” the Chairman of Sayers Group said.
He spoke of his preference to be incognito yesterday, selling the magazine alongside regular Big Issue vendor Matthew when some people took a second look at the familiar face.
“There was a couple of Carlton fans who came up and started singing the theme song, so I just had to say to them keep a lid on it,” he said with a laugh.
“I felt like I was selling pies at the MCG.”
Standing on one of Melbourne’s busiest thoroughfares, at the corner of Swanston and Little Collins streets, Sayers sold 20 Big Issues, donated $250 out of his pocket and raised a further $2000 in a few hours for the charity.
“I said to my team ‘I’d like everyone to experience that because you’ll appreciate this because life can be very fickle’.
“We’re the fortunate ones at this stage in our life.
“To stand there on a corner puts you very much in their shoes and it’s a very humbling experience and you do feel vulnerable.”
Melbourne’s homeless rate is about 25,000 at any given time and with the cost of living rising every day, many more face life on the streets.
“In a small way, you do appreciate some of the hardship these people are going through,” Sayers said.
Adam Tomlinson
The unluckiest of Demons in 2021 has found new fame in 2022 in a different sport.
Melbourne defender Adam Tomlinson missed last year’s premiership due to a season-ending knee injury in round seven, which left him sidelined for the winning grand final team.
But he hit the winner’s list in last Thursday’s golf competition at Portsea Golf Club.
The Dees defender hit a 73 on the par 71 course on the Mornington Peninsula, and with a handicap of 10 reduced his score to a 63, to defeat his nearest rival by five shots in the stroke monthly medal.
Second place was Kerry Foley with 68.
Foley played 11 games for Collingwood between 1973 and 1977.
Tomlinson’s love of AFL is evident. He is incredibly passionate about the red and the blue and is very well liked by his teammates.
The 163-game footballer is a regular down at Portsea, with a family house nearby in Sorrento, and is often seen playing, when not training with the Demons.
The Portsea golf club newsletter notes: “Well and truly ready for the pennant team but his other sport seems to get in the way”.
Tomlinson marries his long-time love Cassie at the end of the season.
Celebrity slap for Slater
Surfing superstar Kelly Slater has had a massive week.
He was ringside for the Will Smith vs Chris Rock celebrity slap at the Oscars and then provided an emotional tribute to the late king of spin Shane Warne for his MCG send-off on Wednesday night.
The 50-year-old Florida native is an 11-time world champion and remains as competitive as ever on the surfing tour.
NBA star Shaq is back
Covid has crucified many live events over the past two years.
Now that we are moving forward into a post Covid era, former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal can reorganise his trip to Australia.
The former Orlando Magic and LA Laker big man will be in Melbourne late August to talk to the fans.
He follows in the late Kobe Bryant’s footsteps with Melbourne’s The Hour Group promising some untold tales from the 7’1 commentator/movie star.
Premier Victorian sheep farm snapped up
A renowned 1200ha central Victorian property has changed hands after it was offered for sale in 2022, where it was expected to fetch $30 million offers.
Left to rot: ‘Gentlest’ teen Isla Bell’s brutal end
The horrific final moments of Brunswick teenager Isla Bell were captured on CCTV while her accused killer allegedly beat her on the kitchen floor of his apartment, before her body was stored in a fridge for weeks.