Punch Drunk
Every football club has its characters and their personality traits are predictable.
Usually, they are not renowned as champion footballers, although they are remembered for memorable incidents both on and off the field.
They all have a touch of larrikin about them, but deep down they are loyal and often good clubmen.
Above all, they love talking about themselves.
In recent years Mick Arrowsmith (pictured above) and Dean Jolly have fitted the role. They are different vintages, but, like a good wine, their stories get better as they get older.
The year was 1991 and the Avoca boys were returning home from Swan Hill after a typical end of season trip.
But that man Mick Arrowsmith was becoming bored.
Brimming over with Dutch courage, Mick, suddenly fancied himself as a budding Mike Tyson.
Dean Jolly accepted Mick`s challenge, and the bus came to a screeching halt on the side of the highway.
Bets were still being laid as the two heavyweights started swinging like a couple of windmills.
As their fancy footwork started to slow, it looked like a punch would land at last. And it did, when Dean unleashed a perfectly executed right hook, which collected Mick square on the chin.
Mick did not need a referee, or the count, to convince him that boxing was not his forte after all.
Much to the surprise of everyone who knows him, Mick decided to stop drinking beer for the duration of the 1993 season.
He made the brave decision in the Avoca Hotel, soon after Jim Jess had been appointed coach.
After watching Mick down quite a few pots, Jim remarked, `well, Mick, do you want to be a piss pot for the rest of your life, or do you want to be a forward flanker?`
Mick reacted by declaring he was `going on the wagon` and, as a joke, he said he would take bets on the matter.
But the gesture seemed to backfire, as Mick was inundated with people wanting to get set.
One hour prior to the first match of the 1993 season, one of Natte-Bealiba`s best known footballers publicly slapped a wad of notes in Mick`s face, challenging him to put his money where his mouth was.
But the jibes just made him more determined, and it seemed everyone, except Jim Jess and one other person, who will remain nameless at this stage, had mis-judged the stocky footballer.
The sacrifice he made early in the 1993 season, ultimately revealed what he was really made of.
As the week rolled by those who joked about Mick`s lack of commitment suddenly found they were wiping egg from their faces.
His dedication and determination was an outstanding example to his team mates.
Whilst he will always be known as one of the club`s most popular characters, he is also earning of the respect he deserves from his peers.
If he achieves his goal, then Mick Arrowsmith is entitled to be remembered as a real Avoca boy….a tough, clever, determined, proud footballer, and one of the longest kicks the club has ever produced.
Footnote!
Mick Arrowsmith kicked 8 goals from the forward flank in the 1993 preliminary final against Lexton to give Avoca the opportunity to play Natte-Bealiba in the Grand Final.
Avoca then won the 1993 Premiership the following week.
