Hit The Boundary wrote:
For all of the kiddies out there....
IMO by the best Carlton player to pull on the great jumper....
I found out his parents lived in Camp rd Broadmeadows so I got on my bike and rode around to their house and this little old man (think Benny Hill sidekick) answered the door... Being friendly folk and this little 10 year old kid not posing a real threat (at least not obviously) invited me in. I asked them if they could ask Bruce to sign my autograph book. Bruce's mum said no problem and told me that I should come around the following Thursday week to collect it as Bruce trained at Carlton and then had dinner at home after training.
So the following thursday (week I think), I had my dinner, and a shower and put on my best clothes ( ok they were 'best' in the eyes of a Broady kid) and dad dropped me off around the corner and I proceeded to walk through the front gate and knocked on the door....... My heart was thumping in my chest...
Bruce's mum answered the door and invited me into the kitchen ..... And there he was ...sitting there with a woollen beany on.... I was in heaven...wow he was so big...ok I'm 10... And not 'big' for my age.... I couldn't speak.
He looked up and got off his chair and came over and shook my (shaking) hand.... Not sure to this day if I actually said hello... I still can't recall it....
He talked for about 20 seconds and then walked over to the kitchen bench and gave me my book...full of autographs..... But the only one I really wanted was his...so I flicked through and as soon as I saw his tiny scrawl.... That was it...mission accomplished !!!
I can't really recall much after that other than, as my mum reminds me to this day, I came home with the biggest smile and all I said was..."geez, he's big".
I met him at a Carlton fundraising day/rally at the club in the early 2000' s -I think after the draft fine and penalties, and I took along my black and white photo of him with a premiership cup on his head in the rooms- in the old days you could order B+W photos from the paper - hoping to see him there and ask him to sign that.
On the day, yep he's there,trying to keep a low profile as usual, when I walk up- no longer that 10 year old boy- but a early 40y/o man with the same nervous feeling in his gut as that 10y/o all that time ago- and asked if we would sign something for me- I bring out the photo and his eyes lit up...asking me where did I get it- I told him and he signed it- and I actually asked him if he wanted it as he was so surprised.... He declined of course.
I can't help smile as I write this .... Absolute favorite player by a mile.... And as I watch that video link ... I'm taken back...
Champion!....
I couldn't help but smile reading your story. Thanks for sharing.
It's been a great series, I hope they continue it.
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