Specky Magee and the Battle of the Young Guns

by Felice Arena

  But not everyone wished them well. There was plenty of good-natured ribbing from the locals about how the South Australians were going to take the title in three weeks’ time.

  As Specky and Brian ordered themselves a smoothie from a juice shop, a bald-headed man who had just been served turned to them and smiled.

  ‘Well played, boys,’ he said. ‘Especially you, young Magee. I liked what I saw!’

  ‘Gee, there are some passionate footy supporters here,’ said Brian, as Specky watched the stranger disappear into the queue boarding a flight to Melbourne. ‘You’re a rock star now, Speck. They even know your name.’

  Specky laughed it off as they took a seat at their boarding gate. His body was still aching from the big last-quarter collision, but he couldn’t remember a time when he’d felt happier or more excited about the weeks ahead.

  4. response

  Specky was relieved when the plane touched down in Melbourne. He had been away for over a week and, although he would never admit it to anyone, he was really looking forward to getting back home. He especially missed his new baby brother, Jack, who he was obsessed with – except when he woke the house screaming at three in the morning.

  Specky and his State team-mates made their way to the baggage carousel where their excited families were waiting. As Specky scanned the crowd for his dad, he caught sight of the bald man who had congratulated him back at Adelaide airport. Specky stood still, not knowing whether he should acknowledge him or not.

  Thwomp! came a punch to his arm.

  ‘How’d you go, hotshot?’

  Specky was surprised to find Alice, his big sister, standing there, and while he would never tell her in a million years, he was happy to see her.

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Nice way to greet your big sister who cancelled all her plans to come to the airport and greet the homecoming hero, the golden child of our household.’

  ‘Yeah, right,’ Specky laughed, yanking his suitcase off the carousel. ‘You wouldn’t be here unless you had no choice. Where’s Dad?’

  ‘He’s in the car waiting for you. And you’re right. He picked me up from Dieter’s house on the way out here. Dieter wanted some space. He’s full-on studying for exams at the moment.’

  Dieter McCarthy – who Specky and his friends called the Great McCarthy – was Alice’s boyfriend. He was a year older than she was, and was studying for his VCE.

  ‘Sounds to me as if he might be finally coming to his senses,’ Specky stirred. ‘I think the Great McCarthy is about to give ya the flick, Al.’

  ‘Shut up, boy wonder! What would you know anyway? Just ’cause Christina has moved on and left you with a broken heart doesn’t mean that true love doesn’t exist elsewhere.’

  Specky ignored her and rolled his luggage towards the exit signs, farewelling his team-mates as he left. The mention of his former girlfriend, Christina, was a bit of a low blow as it was still a sensitive subject, although they had both decided it was time to move on. Living in different cities had been too tough.

  ‘Hey, Dad!’ Specky beamed as he and Alice approached his father who was waiting by the car.

  ‘Welcome back, kid,’ he said, hugging Specky before loading the cases into the boot. ‘Better hop in before we get a ticket.’

  The Magees pulled out into the traffic and hit the freeway for the journey home. Specky sat in the front and an uneasy silence came over the car.

  ‘Um, is anyone going to ask me about the carnival? We did finish equal top, you know. How awesome is it that we’ll get to play at the MCG on Grand Final Day?!’

  ‘Yes, of course – sorry, son,’ said his dad. ‘Robbo and Danny have been ringing non-stop, wondering what time you’ll be home. They saw you on TV. We all did. On that sports channel.’

  Specky smiled at the thought of his best friends’ enthusiastic reaction. He had expected that. But his dad didn’t seem as interested as he usually was. Mr Magee was the owner of a successful art gallery and would never have tuned into the sports channel if it wasn’t for Specky’s passionate love of football, but he was normally excited about Specky’s success and was very supportive. Over the past couple of years he had come to appreciate what it meant to his son and had taken a much greater interest. So Specky was a bit surprised by his dad’s low-key response.

  ‘Yeah, that was pretty incredible. It was the most unbelievable week,’ added Specky. ‘Grub is an awesome coach and we played at AAMI Stadium and the Adelaide Oval. I still can’t believe that we knocked off Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. It’ll be a massive game against South Australia at the G.’

  ‘You’ve certainly got a lot to look forward to,’ said Mr Magee, sounding distracted. He pulled into a service station. ‘Won’t be a minute, guys,’ he said, hopping out of the car.

  ‘What’s eating him?’ Specky asked Alice, who was sitting in the back staring aimlessly out the window.

  ‘He’s been grumpy for a couple of days now,’ she said. ‘Ever since Grandpa Ken arrived from Perth.’

  Specky twisted around to face her.

  ‘Grandpa Ken? You mean Dad’s dad? He’s here?’ he said. ‘In Melbourne?’

  ‘No, genius, he joins us every night via satellite – of course he’s here in Melbourne.’

  ‘Well, why didn’t anyone tell me?’ protested Specky. ‘I mean, it’s been, like, ten years since we’ve seen him. Why’s he here all of a sudden?’

  ‘I dunno really – I assumed he wanted to meet Jack.’ Alice shrugged. ‘It was a bit unexpected. He just showed up at the door and asked if he could stay for a couple of weeks. Just like that. Well, you know what Mum’s like – she couldn’t say no, even though she clearly wanted to. She’s exhausted with Jack. The last thing she needs is a guest out of the blue.’

  ‘Woah, how did Dad cop that?’ asked Specky. He knew his father had a strained relationship with Grandpa Ken.

  ‘How would I know? I’m not Dr Phil,’ said Alice. ‘I’ve got my own problems to worry about. Like why my so-called boyfriend can’t seem to find the time to hang out with me. All I know is that Dad has been like a bear with a sore head since Grandpa arrived.’

  5. grandpa ken

  ‘Welcome back, darling,’ said Specky’s mum as the three of them spilled in through the front door of their Camberwell home. She gave Specky a huge suffocating hug. ‘I’ve missed you so much. What a great job you did. We’re so proud of you. We saw every minute of the game on TV. But you almost gave me a heart attack when you got knocked over in the last quarter.’

  At least someone is happy to see me, thought Specky as he struggled to free himself from his mum’s hug.

  ‘Thanks, Mum,’ he said. ‘Whipped up anything special for me?’

  ‘Are you kidding?’ snapped Alice. ‘The chosen one has returned! We must honour him with plentiful gifts of the finest food.’

  ‘Now, Alice, don’t be silly,’ said Mrs Magee. ‘You know I don’t play favourites in this house.’

  ‘Yeah, right! She’s been cooking all day for you, boofhead,’ Alice said. ‘Your favourite vegetable soup is on the stove and there’s a massive vegetarian lasagna in the oven that would feed a small African village.’

  ‘That’s good, ’cause I’m mighty hungry,’ came a booming voice from the lounge room. ‘Now, where’s this champion grandson of mine? Give us a look at the next Nick Riewoldt!’

  Grandpa Ken entered the kitchen. He was just as Specky remembered him – with very blue eyes and a grin defined by his thick grey moustache. Specky thought he looked a little like Melbourne legend Ron Barassi.

  ‘Simon, do you remember Grandpa Ken?’ asked Specky’s mum. ‘It’s been quite a while since you’ve seen him.’

  ‘I’ll go and check on Jack,’ muttered Mr Magee. Specky caught his dad rolling his eyes as he left the room.

  Specky raised his arm to shake his grandpa’s hand.

  ‘What’s this nonsense, son? I’m your grandpa. Come here and give us a hug!’ Spe
cky awkwardly moved forward to greet Grandpa Ken with a hug.

  ‘Come with me, lad,’ added Grandpa Ken, gesturing for Specky to join him in the lounge room.

  Specky really wanted to unpack and call his mates. But a raised eyebrow from his mother suggested that wasn’t an option. He pulled a face at her as he followed his grandpa out of the kitchen.

  ‘Now, tell me all about your week over in Adelaide,’ said Grandpa Ken, collapsing into Specky’s dad’s favourite armchair. ‘You made a bit of a mess of my lot from Western Australia. You bloody Vics always were hard to beat.’

  Specky sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, and recalled the events of the past week for his grandpa. Unlike Specky’s dad on the way home from the airport, Grandpa Ken hung off every word and bombarded him with a ton of questions.

  ‘Really? You got to play on AAMI Stadium? Gee, that’s a big ground.’

  ‘How did your fitness hold out?’

  ‘And you went and watched the Adelaide Crows train? Wow, how big is Andrew McLeod? Did you get to speak to him? What about Simon Goodwin?’

  Question after question came Specky’s way, and he loved it. He got to relive some of the great memories from the carnival. Grandpa Ken really knew his football, and Specky felt as if he could’ve talked with him all night long.

  He was just in the middle of telling Grandpa Ken about his six-goal haul against Tasmania when his dad interrupted them.

  ‘Simon, dinner’s ready! Jack will be awake soon, and I’m sure you’re looking forward to seeing him.’

  ‘Give the boy a break, will ya, David?’ said Grandpa Ken, before Specky had a chance to respond. ‘Just because you didn’t know a football from a basketball when you were a kid, doesn’t mean we can’t sit here and have a natter about one of the biggest weeks in the boy’s life.’

  ‘I wasn’t talking to you, Ken,’ said Specky’s dad. There was a real edge to his voice, and Specky was surprised that he didn’t call Grandpa Ken ‘Dad’. He tried to imagine what his dad would say if Specky started calling him ‘David’.

  ‘We eat dinner together, at the table, every night. That’s the rule in my house and that’s the way we like it.’

  ‘It’s okay, Grandpa,’ Specky chimed in, trying his best to defuse the tense moment. ‘We can talk about it later, plus I’m starving. I’ve been hangin’ out for a bowl of Mum’s vegie soup all week.’ He jumped up and headed for the kitchen, leaving his dad and grandpa glaring at each other. Alice was right – it was going to take Dr Phil to sort out whatever was going on between those two.

  6. mates and girls

  ‘Hurry up, Speck! We know you’re used to limousines and chauffeurs now, but some of us still have to walk to school.’

  It was Robbo and Danny, impatiently waiting at the front door, doing what they did best – stirring and hanging it on each other.

  ‘Yeah, coming!’ shouted Specky, bounding down the stairs. ‘See ya, Mum, Dad, Grandpa Ken.’

  Specky joined his friends and they set off for school.

  ‘Here he is – the man described as the “excitement machine” of the National Carnival. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the future number one draft pick … Simon “Specky” Magee!’

  ‘Knock it off, will ya, Danny?’ Specky laughed.

  ‘Mate, great effort over there,’ said Robbo. ‘Danny and Gobba came over to my house yesterday and we watched every second of the game. It was awesome.’

  Specky appreciated Robbo’s support. He was a really good player in his own right, but there was never any competition or jealousy about the success that had come Specky’s way.

  ‘Yeah, but we were five seconds from chucking Gobba into the pool and locking him out of the house,’ added Danny. ‘He wouldn’t shut up, and insisted on calling every second of the whole game. It was driving us nuts.’

  Specky could picture it all. Ben Higgins – or ‘Gobba’, as Specky and his mates called him – lived and breathed football commentating. He was so good that he had won a coveted position at the Dennis Cometti Commentary School for up-and-coming young callers. It didn’t matter what was happening in their world, if Gobba was around he would turn it into a broadcast.

  For the next few minutes, conversation bounced all over the place. Specky soon found himself answering what seemed like a hundred questions.

  ‘You’re kiddin, aren’t ya?’ cried Robbo. ‘Chris Judd actually spoke to you before one of your games, and you got to shake his hand? What was he doing over there and what did he have to say? Come on, Speck, don’t hold back. I can’t believe you didn’t text us and tell us.’

  ‘Well, you know how Carlton played Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last week?’

  The boys stopped walking.

  ‘Yeah.’ They nodded.

  ‘Well, they were staying at the hotel just up the road, and because Grub had coached Juddy when he played for the Vics in the Under Fifteens, he asked him if he could spare us a few minutes. He stayed for about an hour and it was unbelievable.’

  ‘Man, you’re so lucky,’ sighed Danny. ‘You got to talk to a superstar like Juddy! I’m a Pies man, through and through, but he’s an absolute legend. Wish he played for us.’

  Specky grinned. ‘So, what’s been happening around here?’ he said. ‘Did we win on the weekend?’

  Robbo and Danny talked over the top of each other.

  ‘Yeah, we got up by a couple of goals.’

  ‘Robbo killed ’em. He kicked five goals.’

  ‘Yeah, well, the Italian Stallion here didn’t do too bad, either. He gave a couple of ’em to me on a plate.’

  Specky laughed – Danny had christened himself the Italian Stallion years ago in reference to his family’s Italian heritage and the name had stuck.

  Robbo and Danny went on to recall the different passages of play from Saturday’s game. Specky loved every minute of it. Playing for the Vics was great, but he really loved playing with his mates from Booyong High and he wished he hadn’t had to choose between the two.

  Beep! Beep! Danny pulled his mobile out of his pocket.

  ‘Gee, she’s a bit late this morning, Stallion,’ stirred Robbo, smirking. ‘She usually gets at least fifty messages in before school starts.’

  ‘Yeah, good one, you big tree,’ Danny said, as he read the message.

  ‘Is that Maria?’ asked Specky.

  ‘Yeah, who else?’ Danny groaned. ‘She’s killing me, Speck. I can’t move without her wanting to know where I am every minute of the day, and who I’m with.’

  Danny’s thumb raced across the phone as he shot off a reply.

  Specky looked at Robbo for an explanation.

  ‘Booyong High’s great love story is hitting rocky times, Speck. Seems the Italian Stallion is getting a little bit smothered by the Gladiator.’

  Maria Testi and Danny had been an item for three months. She was known as the Gladiator because of all the athletic training she did. She was one of the State’s best sprinters. Given that Danny, a rover for their school football team, was a good twenty centimetres shorter than the Gladiator, they certainly made an odd-looking couple.

  ‘You can’t talk, Roberts,’ Danny snapped defensively. ‘You and Tiger Girl are like Siamese twins, joined at the hips.’

  ‘Yeah, well, maybe not for much longer,’ muttered Robbo, suddenly not so keen to continue the debate.

  ‘What do you mean, mate? You and TG fighting or something?’ enquired Specky, not sure if he should push for more information. Samantha Shepherd – whose nickname was Tiger Girl because she was obsessed with the Richmond Football Club – was one of his closest friends and he didn’t want to get involved in any problems between her and Robbo.

  ‘Nah, nothing,’ mumbled Robbo. ‘But this little dweeb won’t be able to walk for much longer if he keeps this up.’

  Robbo jumped on Danny and wrestled him to the nature strip. Specky grinned. The day had barely started and his friends were already sprawled on the grass – school bags and books flu
ng everywhere. Robbo managed to sit on Danny and deliver a particularly savage ‘typewriter’ to the chest.

  ‘Come on, I’m going,’ announced Specky. ‘I don’t want to be late first day back.’

  Robbo and Danny picked themselves up, collected their books, and chased after Specky.

  Beep! Beep!

  ‘Right, that’s it!’ said Danny. ‘I’ve had enough!’

  Specky and Robbo snorted.

  ‘No, seriously, you guys, this isn’t funny anymore,’ moaned Danny. ‘It’s wearing me down. I’m laying down the law to her today.’

  Danny turned off his phone and shoved it into his backpack.

  ‘Yeah, sure you will, Stallion,’ scoffed Robbo. ‘As soon as you see her, it will be all, “Yes, babe, of course, babe.” Face it, dude, you’re fairly and squarely under the thumb.’

  Specky found himself wishing for the days when girls hadn’t even gotten a look in with him and his mates. Nowadays, it seemed that’s all that occupied their minds.

  But Specky’s thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of a stranger making his way towards them – he was well-dressed, carrying a white plastic bag, and seemed to have been waiting in front of the school for them.

  ‘G’day, Simon,’ he said, holding out his hand and passing Specky a business card. ‘Brad Dobson’s the name.’

  The card read:

  Sports Management Australia

  Brad Dobson

  Talent Manager

  Danny and Robbo read it over Specky’s shoulder.

  ‘Congratulations on your win in Adelaide,’ said the man. ‘We at Sports Management Australia have been keeping an eye on you for a good twelve months now. We think you’ve got a really exciting future ahead of you, and your performances at the carnival confirmed that.’

  ‘Ah, thanks,’ said Specky, completely caught off-guard and feeling a bit self-conscious.

  ‘We’d like to make a time to sit down and talk with you and your parents in the next week or so about the prospect of my company managing your football career.’

  ‘Why does he need a manager?’ Danny asked.