Blue Sombrero wrote:
Crosswell would be the Chris Judd of today if he were around. He was years ahead of his time. There was NOTHING he wouldn't try onfield and his confidence and body shape let him get away with most things. A friend of mine who played with him at Scotch College Launceston, once told me that one of his teammates was assigned the duty each game of whacking Crosswell behind the ear in a pack to fire him up. Until that happened he was lackadaisical but afterwards, he would play like a demon.
Unfortunately, Brent has been ill for a while and doesn't get out as much these days I understand.
The good news is that Brent is in good shape now - it is a testament to the man that he has come through it. I remember him missing a stack of footy with osteomyalitis in 1972 and almost died. There were grave doubts that he would live, let alone play footy again. And the meniere's disease is now under control. I met him here in hobart in 2003 and see him regularly for coffee. In 2003 he was in a bad way, but he got to a good specialist who changed his medication regime and this year he is back teaching at two private schools in hobart. During his worst times he told me that he couldn't even get out of bed. He has two sons, one who is a champion athlete and another who is a rep. soccer player here.
Agree with Blue Sombrero that he was something else - better the Judd! Barassi reckons he is the most naturally gifted footballer he has seen or coached, but one who frustrated him so much because he was a bit lazy - only producing the goods when he wanted to. But then that was always in finals, so who cares.
And if you reckon carlton's recent efforts in player and list management is abysmal, then what about the rocket scientists who decided in 1975 to let him go after only 98 games. Typical carlton arrogance when he approached them for a pay rise - from something like $2,500 pa (yes, thats right PER ANNUM) to $4,000 and they said no. At the time in 1975, we hadn't lost a game on North Melb hadn't won a game so they said piss off! Well, remember who won the flag that year - yep North Melbourne, and who was BOG - yep again, Brent Crosswell.
And he is a champion bloke to go with the talent.