My Experiences with the Bulldogs

[AZHawkie]

Hello All Footscray fans!!

Most of you I'm sure by now are aware that the Dogs brought some spring training to the states... Arizona to be specific. I play footy for the Arizona Hawks and have been a footy fan for quite some time.
I don't mean this thread to be a "look what happened to me!!" type thread. I decided to post this because I think it's important for fans to understand the players that play for their side.
The Arizona Hawks were invited to watch this top of the line Footy team practice and I was one of the privaledged to witness this. It was certainly something special to watch a professional team going through the works and putting 100% into their efforts to be the best side that they can be. Personally, the day couldn't get much better, until....

The boys invited us to run some drills with them.

You must understand something. We're just a bunch of silly American boys playing a sport that is not only foreign to us, but for the most part new as well. At first we said, "whoa... we don't want to slow you guys down at all... we're not good!" This was shrugged aside and the Dogs insisted.
So out I went, onto the side of the field, ran through handball drills directly with Rob Murphy. I couldn't believe it. Here was a guy that I admired (we share the same #2) and has been one of my favorites since watching my first game in 06. After that, Jarrod Harbrow joined a fellow Hawk and myself for some more handball drills. I had a one on one kick with Sam Reid. We ran through a few more drills and then let the boys go and do their thing.
Once their session was finished, we all gathered for a photo of the two clubs and a bit of a chinwag with the boys. Brad Johnson, a legend of the game and a gunner of a player, came up to me and we started talking. Just shooting the breeze. It was a very surreal experience.
Some of their guys didn't have a ride back to the hotel, so they asked us if we would be willing to drive some of the guys back to the hotel. "Of course!" we said so we held up fingers indicating how many we could take. Being a slob, I only had room for one in my car, so I did a quick tidy up and who walks into my car, but Aker. We had a great little chat on the way back to the hotel, mostly about how silly american money is because it's only one color! We got back to the hotel and so ended my day.

the point of this thread: Be loyal to your Bulldogs. Believe in them. You support a team who is humble, kind, and selfless. Though it won't change my loyalties to the Brown and Gold (they're my colors so lay off!! ) it made such an impact on this silly little American that I wanted to share it with those who would love to hear it. Have faith, Dog fans. You're team is the real deal and I wish them the best in the years to come.

I have pics by the way but I can't figure out how to do it yet. Hopefully soon I'll get them up here. Hope I brightened someone's day.

Joe Swierupski- Small Forward/Wing for the Arizona Hawks

[GVGjr]

Welcome aboard AZHawkie. Great first up contribtion to the forum.

[AZHawkie]

That's me on the left in the photo with Aker, and kneeling in the middle of the whole pack shot.

Enjoy, and if anyone has any questions, feel free to fire away and I'll answer as best I can.

A very Happy Holiday Season to everyone!!

-j

[AZHawkie]

let's try that again...

[The Coon Dog]

Thanks for the insight there AZ. I guess you'll now keep a bit closer eye on the Doggies this season.

[LostDoggy]

Thanks for taking the time to do that AZ. How did an American boy come to follow the Hawks?

[AZHawkie]

Well, our team here in Arizona is the Hawks, and share the colors with our Mother Team from Hawthorn. After playing the game, I built up my loyalty to the Mama. Out came a Hawks fan. It was a fun year!!

[Twodogs]

Welcome aboard AZHawie. Mate you got to live the dream that most of us mugs can only fantasise about-handball drills with Jarod Harbrow, photos with Aka, training with the boys!



You've got some very envious bulldog supporters in this part of the World.

[BulldogBelle]

Hello and welcome AZHawkie,

An excellent read and thank you for putting the pictures up. Sounds like you had a great experience with the players, you never know if you ever venture to Melbourne, perhaps you can catch up with a few of them.

[BulldogBelle]

Thanks for that AZ.

Looks like you enjoyed your time with the boys!

[strebla]

Well done AZ Glad you got to experience every young pups dreams.Heres hoping your comp gets stronger and one day one of your fellow Americans joins the geatest game at the highest level.

[LostDoggy]

Very cool AZ.

What is it about sportspeople being so much more approachable outside their home country? I hung out with the Aussie cricket team in Bangladesh one year at an Australia Day function at the embassy (there begun my loathing of Andrew Symonds, but that's another story for another time) and they were on the whole far more relaxed than they would ever be in Australia.

Same with the Manchester United players when they were out here for a friendly one year, and a whole bunch of European based cyclists, soccer players and atheletes whom I have trained with and had over at my place (long story -- my ex-housemate was an Olympic triathlete and sports researcher) who would never have given you the time of day if you met them in France or Spain or Germany.

Must have been a great thrill AZ. All the best with the rest of your season.

[LostDoggy]

It sounds like you really enjoed the expirience. I would kill if it meant I got to do this.

[LostDoggy]

...there begun my loathing of Andrew Symonds, but that's another story for another time..

No time like the present. The team comes across as boorish, conceited and arrogant. Your views from personal experience would be most interesting.

[Ozza]

Nice one AZHawk. Glad to hear you are enjoying the greatest game on the planet! Keep it up.

Very jealous by the way - I'd love to train with the Doggies - just once!