The mighty Lions, Cazaly and young Mikko

But an opposing Cairns player cut in, and the ball was rapidly heading off to the opposing end of the field. Yes, it’s a fast game. (Just as the Dockers!)

And from the sidelines, a voice through a megaphone rang in my ears: “What are you doing Mikkelsen, you should be kicking towards the goal …”

So much for the selector or coach who hadn’t coached us. His words stung, but as the other Good Rule Book says, “You reap what you sow,” so get over it, mate!

Cairns went on to win, but hey, it’s only a game, right?

As fate would have it, it was my very last game. The following year Garnie was transferred back to Bundaberg and I transferred from first-form at Townsville State High to Bundaberg State High, which seemed a world away.

Aussie Rules was a foreign concept there, nobody had ever heard of AFL greats like the legendary Roy Cazaly, and the mighty Brisbane Lions were still about four decades away from stirring their southern rivals. But what a great team they have proved to be! No doubt euphoria prevails in the Lions’ pride.