Milestones, finals and another reunion planned.
IT'S BEEN a busy few weeks for Barunga's Braun Bush: a milestone, a premiership reunion and the grind of weekly travel from his town to Darwin to play footy.
The 29-year-old recently celebrated his 100th NTFL game milestone with Waratah Football Club and put in a vintage, winning display to mark the occasion. Later, after the Foundation Cup clash between the Warriors and Wanderers, Bush celebrated with his former team-mates the club’s 10-year anniversary of its 1998/99 premiership. Only he and Warriors team-mates Lincoln Withers and Jim Bury remain as current-day players.
"We had a great time, meeting up with all the boys from that premiership team," Bush said from Barunga last week.
In that side we had some great players like Sylvanius Tipiloura, Adam Kerinaiua, Kevin Baxter, Shane Tippuamantamerri, Richard Puruntatemerri, Kevin Payne... We had the best side, we were the top side and I think we only lost one game that season. But I'll like to be in another premiership team again."
Bush, who was the Waratah's fairest-and-best that season, will have the chance to relive the glory days again next year in another 10-year premiership reunion because he played in the following season's flag-winning side.
It was a successful era for the club and the 'Tahs were a dominant force in the NTFL. They trounced St Mary's in the 1998/99 decider by 66 points and Palmerston a year later by 40
(as pictured at left).
But the Warriors' fall from the top has been long and hard. Only in the last three years has the club come good but have ultimately fallen short on the big stage, copping back-to-back losses in 2006/07 and 2007/08.
Bush hopes to be part of the senior side's on-field revival. Both player and club have proved their loyalty to each other since their union was formed in the mid-1990s.
Bush rose through the ranks at Gardens Oval from the under-14s, 16s, 18s to the seniors. He has represented the Territory Thunder (under-18s) and the NTFL against Richmond, South Fremantle, Norwood, and Port Adelaide twice. Against the AFL's Tigers, he was named best-on-ground.
"They have looked after me -- with a car and a good job -- and the body is feeling alright so I reckon I'll give it one or maybe two more years and hopefully we can get to play more finals," Bush said.
Waratah coach Rick Hall is a fan of the man from Barunga.
"It's been good having him here, obviously it's always good having Indigenous boys at each club. It just breeds that bit of excitement," Hall said. "Bushy's played about 10 games with us this season and although he's not as fit as he could be, it's pretty hard living out at Barunga and facing a four-hour road trip. We just want to make sure he can play more football for us, maybe get him to 150 games."
Like a lot of Territory footballers who live outside of Darwin, Bush laces up in the dry season. He plays for Arnhem Crows in the Katherine and Districts Football League. He won a flag with the Crows in 2006 and was voted the league's fairest-and-best player in 2003.
"We was in the Grand Final last season, too, but we lost to Lajamanu," Bush said. "I'm still spewin' about that."
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Last Modified on 04/02/2009 12:39