For those who don't know what the Mackie Medal is then here is some background.
The event was suggested back in 1991 by one of the bowlers in the side (apologies for not knowing the name) as a way to celebrate the season and provide a fairest and best ala Brownlow medal for the player voted by his peers to have had the best season. At the completion of each pennant game players cast there votes for the 3 others in there team on a scale from 1-10 with 10 being the maximum possible - the compiled score out of 30 is then read on the day. An independant auditor collates them (so no-one is ever the wiser about who votes for who). Nearly every metro club (and probably some country ones) do something similar. But we like to think we were the first and still the best with ours.
The trophy became sponsored by a very popular Doubleview family in Bill and Mary Mackie and there names will forever live on in history to be associated with this award.
There are many elements which make the Mackie medal day very popular (apart from crowning a champion player) which include
Free Drinks and Food paid out of the players kitty which is collected through-out the year - described by some as Xmas for alcoholics and the food is the best you are likely to eat as Doubleview has its own masterchief called Cossi.
The reading out of the comments which players can make after each game
The reading out of fines for stupid things players have done during the season
Various sweepstakes including Hi-Lo and other comps
The return of past premiership players who are always welcomed to attend - Brian Kat is a always a moral to turn up and good to see John "Chicken Man" Sherro aswell.
The Results
At the end of counting the winner (and for the 3rd time) was John Slavich. Some might say John was the best of a bad bunch this season and whilst that might be true there wouldn't be another player in the side who puts more into his game and gives 110% everytime he goes onto the green wearing the Gold and Blue for Doubleview. His ability to give solid performances throughout the year earned him the medal and for his committment, passion and ability he was a very deserving winner. Special credit must go to Peter Ker who had perhaps his best year of bowling at Doubleview finished a close runner-up. Peter has always given his best on the green for Doubleview and makes a big committment in both training and playing as he lives a far distance away. Roger Barns also did a mighty job as a leader and filled out the trifecta.
The top 10 get a mention here
Name RANK Votes
J SLAVICH 1 342
KER 2 335
BARNS 3 331
TREWHELLA 4 328
C SLAVICH 5 325
SCREECH 6
RANKIN 7
EDMONDS 8
MCILROY 9
HEATON 10
The Mackie Medal Trophy (pictured)
With Robbie Ball not playing this year there was also intense competition for last spot. Whilst I was in the mix for most of the count I somehow managed to miss this spot thankfully.
The Fines
Fines are always good for the Players Kitty and a humourus part of the day. They get read out at the end of each round. Charlie Slavich has been in control for the past 2 years and I believe he has passed the baton to me for next year - if so, I will take the job with great pleasure.
He kindly emailled through some of the better ones and I have picked a few classics out for a Top 10.
10. Schooner - Wanting to know from Ker-ee how much a $100 meat pack costs.
9. Squeeky – For making the ‘eyes left’ call on the bus, when it needed a DNA test to confirm if it was female.
8. Robbie Ball – For having 18 months to think of a decent pre-game speech but coming up with the most random pile of shit you have ever heard.
7. Della and Prickles - Della for giving Prickles a bowl on the wrong bias. Prickles for letting it go.
6. DT – Hitting Roger in the shoulder with a rebounding jack, squashing the rumour that he couldn’t hit a barns with a fistful of hay.
5. Katman – Attending a radio show on ‘sexy bowls’ with hot chicks in bikini’s but only getting a photo with Basil Zempalis. I guess he likes it Greek.
4. Ranks – For phone ordering a pizza and then trying to collect it from a different store.
3. DT – Leaving the club without drinking his pot which was already bought, just so he could go home and read his score on the OPBC website.
2. Matty – Telling DT in Croatian to rip a bowl out of the head. Accurate interpretation of what he said – “i want to fuck the bowl”.
1. Chevy – For thinking Charlie was going to hold onto the secret that he had tickets to see Usher.
The Fines
Fines are always good for the Players Kitty and a humourus part of the day. They get read out at the end of each round. Charlie Slavich has been in control for the past 2 years and I believe he has passed the baton to me for next year - if so, I will take the job with great pleasure.
He kindly emailled through some of the better ones and I have picked a few classics out for a Top 10.
10. Schooner - Wanting to know from Ker-ee how much a $100 meat pack costs.
9. Squeeky – For making the ‘eyes left’ call on the bus, when it needed a DNA test to confirm if it was female.
8. Robbie Ball – For having 18 months to think of a decent pre-game speech but coming up with the most random pile of shit you have ever heard.
7. Della and Prickles - Della for giving Prickles a bowl on the wrong bias. Prickles for letting it go.
6. DT – Hitting Roger in the shoulder with a rebounding jack, squashing the rumour that he couldn’t hit a barns with a fistful of hay.
5. Katman – Attending a radio show on ‘sexy bowls’ with hot chicks in bikini’s but only getting a photo with Basil Zempalis. I guess he likes it Greek.
4. Ranks – For phone ordering a pizza and then trying to collect it from a different store.
3. DT – Leaving the club without drinking his pot which was already bought, just so he could go home and read his score on the OPBC website.
2. Matty – Telling DT in Croatian to rip a bowl out of the head. Accurate interpretation of what he said – “i want to fuck the bowl”.
1. Chevy – For thinking Charlie was going to hold onto the secret that he had tickets to see Usher.
John "Chevy" Slavich (pictured) at the Usher concert
The Sweeps
Sadly for me I got very little of the betting dollars this year but its a great part of the day.
Each round is started by plucking names out of an icrecream container at only $2 a go - called the Hi-Lo. The blues are the ones you need to get the high score and the pinks are those for the low score. Most players seem to have a rough idea if the person they got had a good or bad game and you do hear the occasional cheer for someone getting read out a low score and sometimes a boo for a high one if they have trumped someone else - its all part of the occasion.
There is also the pre-mackie sweeps. Apart from picking the winner and score there is also one for the number of FUCK's said in comments which came in at a steady 103 this year. One of the other popular and newly created sweeps is the RAC's (also coming from the coments section but for political reasons can't be revealed) but it was a modest 12 this year.
The other popular comp is the ROTY (Rink of the Year) based of averages and playing positions.
The winning combination to select was
John Slavich (skip)
Scott Edmonds (3rd)
Charlie Slavich (2nd)
Peter Kerr (lead)
87.85 votes
Comments, Kat tribute, History made and a new tradition
Comments are one of the funniest bits of the day. I won't repeat any of them as for legal reasons they become destroyed immediately after the event however Kyle was at his normal funniest and occasionally weirdest, Slav was apparently really spewing after one loss, Rocket expanded on his love of UFC and Robbie Bell gets my vote for best comments following an aggregate win but seemingly a rink loss.
With Katman retiring from the playing ranks at Doubleview Kyle gave a bit of speech and revealed a few unknown stats. Apart from about 250 games for Australia, 300 for WA and 300+ for Doubleview there was also only 8 hand claps of a good bowl, 1232 thigh claps, 5314 head shakes and 2634 death stares during his career. I think I had a good percentage of those Head Shakes and Death Stares too.
DT starting a tradition by bringing out a tray of tequila shooters and revealed anyone who scored 25 and over or 10 and under had to walk up and down one - it became a popular achievement. The tray had to be refilled at one stage which leads me to the next segment.
History was made in round 17 against Cambridge - a total loss of 64 shots and according to the old blokes in Prickles and Kat who would know a record at Doubleview. This loss then translated to more records when Mackie voting was announced. I believe it was well over double figures the number of people invited up to down a tequila shot. The average for the round was a smidge over 9 and the POT winners skipped by Dave Rankin (with a loss 11) recorded a total score of 38 both of which will surely stand in history unlikely to be broken.
Suffice to say although not a good year for Doubleview it was still a great Mackie Medal day.
I give out one final award.
The Star Trooper Award goes to Mel Rankin for driving home both Dave Rankin and Scott Edmonds who between them probably drank more alcohol than an entire NRL side on a night out.
Mackie Medal Past Winners
For anyone that saw the Hitler video now you will know why the girl said Rags (John Rainoldi) would still win the Mackie and yes he holds the record for highest winning score.
1990/91 Robbie Ball
1991/92 John Rainoldi
1992/93 Brian Katunarich
1993/94 Glen Ellis
1994/95 Brian Katunarich
1995/96 John Rainoldi
1996/97 Dennis Katunarich
1997/98 Kyle McIlroy
1998/99 John Rainoldi
1999/00 John Rainoldi
2000/01 John Rainoldi
2001/02 John Rainoldi
2002/03 John Rainoldi
2004/05 Ross Dempsey
2005/06 John Slavich
2006/07 Lindsay Thorn
2007/08 John Slavich
2008/09 Kyle McIlroy
2009/10 Charlie Slavich
2010/11 John Slavich
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