By Michael Cardamone
EVERY club has its larrikins – this is what makes local footy great.
The success that you can share and the friendships that you build are priceless. All football clubs are filled with different types of characters. Some are loud, some are quiet and shy. Many are confident among many other things, The Basin is fortunate to have a few that stand out more than most. The best thing about these blokes is that they bleed the jumper first and foremost.
They’re always the first to lend a helping hand, but when it’s time to stand out, they shine above and beyond.
A big personality is ‘Cults’, Andy Cultrera. He is the typical bloke’s bloke, much loved around the club. He loves to share a good story over Thursday night dinners, could be about anything from wearing the famous big V jumper, to his party tricks after having his second can or more importantly his former partner in crime, Rambo.
‘Cults’ loves taking the younger boys under his wing. If it’s not playing the cold water pranks in the showers it’s loosening the salt shaker at Thursday dinners. But the best thing about Andy is that the knowledge he passes down is second to none, he is a bloke that you want around the clubroom not only because of his off field antics, but for his footy smarts. He’s a much loved personality at the club, and one everyone hopes has a few more years left.
This brings me to the heart and soul of the club, our captain Luke Watson. “Watto” wears his heart on his sleeve and has the respect of every member of the playing group. When he speaks we listen, all he wants is success and there is no better man than himself to lead us to that ultimate goal that we are all striving for.
It’s not just all business, Watto loves a laugh he thinks he’s king of the kids too. He calls himself “the difference” and rates himself at many different activities (none that his actually good at!). He thinks he’s good at ping pong (he’s not) he also rates himself as a singer (not so much). Watto is a ripping bloke. We can all laugh with/at him off the field, but once we cross that white line he makes us all stand that little a lot taller.
The social guru of the last 30 years is none other than Todd Power. He has been dominating on and off the field for 30 years.
Toddy is one of a kind, the life of the club. He’s always there to make you laugh – and he’s usually up to a bit of mischief at the bar. My first function this year quickly changed from the quiet night I had planned. Lining up eight Basin Bombs within 30 mins of arriving – and the car staying parked at the club overnight- and rolling in at 4am, after a famous night at the “Dorset”.
Todd certainly knew how to introduce me to the club. Todd knows when to let the hair down (that’s if he has any left), but more importantly knows then it’s time to knuckle down.
All of the great characters that we meet at football clubs create the great buzz that make the tough losses and the wet, cold rainy training sessions all worth it. Local footy can bring you on one amazing ride, one that you should cherish. As I said before, every club has larrikins – the bond that these guys help to create within our club is priceless.