Zephi - Learning to feel at home away from home

[The Coon Dog]

Emma Quayle - The Age - 9 March

http://images.theage.com.au/2012/03/08/3109350/Zephaniah-Skinner-ALW-420x0.jpg

ZEPHI Skinner went home for Christmas, and almost didn't come back. It takes more than 11 hours for the 22-year-old to travel from the Whitten Oval to his home, Noonkanbah, a journey that requires a plane trip to Perth, another to Broome, a bus ride past Fitzroy Crossing, then a 90-minute car trip down a dusty road past ''the turn-off. And it's longer if there's cattle all over the road,'' he says, shaking his head and smiling.

Skinner went home a few times last year, during a first season that presented him with a little bit of everything. First of all, the move - even though he had gotten himself ready for it, moving to Claremont in Perth, then Darwin, to convince recruiters that he was ready. Then, his first pre-season training program at the Western Bulldogs, which was far more detailed than anything he had ever done. ''All this running, boxing, riding bikes. At first you don't see how it's about footy,'' he said.''

Skinner spent his one game mostly on the bench, becoming more and more nervous before being subbed on for the final quarter. ''I could hardly even hear my teammates' voices. It was over so quick. I think I only touched the ball two times.'' Still, he smiles when he talks about it; two touches are better than none.

Article in full... (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/learning-to-feel-at-home-away-from-home-20120308-1un9f.html)

[Mantis]

Another excellent read by a consistently good journo.

The last sentence is a classic... Let's hope we see a few over the coming years.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

You have to admire Zephi for what he has taken on in such a different culture to his own. My grandmothers didn't teach me to hunt for bush turkey. I wish they had. He seems like a lover of life, hopefully it stays that way. If he makes it at AFL level he will became a legend of the club and his people and God I hope he does.

[bornadog]

Its so difficult for indigenous players coming from remote areas of Australia to a city with 4 million people. I think many of us do not understand what they have to go through. Its hard enough for a kid in a country town, but to come to Melbourne from a place that takes 11 hours to get to and a totally different culture makes it 10 times harder.

I hope Skinner sticks to it as he is an exciting prospect.

[DragzLS1]

top guy and starting to look like a very exciting footballer for us :) love his determination

[Throughandthrough]

I was up that way for work last year.


Here's a couple of snaps. Amazing part of the world.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6056/6325927412_7cd1b88f9e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325927412/)
The road between Broome and Derby WA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325927412/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6043/6325168697_0a57907b74_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325168697/)
Stray cattle on the road between Broome and Derby (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325168697/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6053/6325933238_75d0425664_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325933238/)
Broome Derby road (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325933238/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6102/6325939798_68482826f7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325939798/)
Broome Derby road Fitzroy River crossing (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325939798/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6108/6325970774_c313cca092_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325970774/)
Broome Derby road Fitzroy River crossing (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325970774/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6223/6325977744_a9865c0852_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325977744/)
Prison Boab Tree Derby WA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325977744/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6216/6325251665_9c9f67b5b2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325251665/)
Gibb River Road (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325251665/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6221/6325067033_e4e67af5c3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325067033/)
Cable Beach Sunset Broome WA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325067033/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6108/6326040074_6e435330ba_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6326040074/)
Camels on Cable Beach Sunset Broome WA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6326040074/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

[Murphy'sLore]

Wow, beautiful photos t&t. It's another world isn't it.

[Mofra]

Amazing pics

[Throughandthrough]

just a bit different from Footscray :)

[bornadog]

just a bit different from Footscray :)

What a great part of Australia. What sort of work do you do?

[Throughandthrough]

Work for one of the big AUstralian Companies (not mining) and travel a lot in SA and WA talking to the staff about things :)

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Great photos.

Zeph's got a really good character, so it's be great to see him make the grade. I've been to a few training sessions, and he definitely has been working harder. The coaches and players were always extremely supportive of him too, always helping him out. It was good to see.

He already looks a much better player than last season. He was impressive in the first NAB Cup outing, so here's hoping he can really takes strides forward. He has talent, for sure.

[Dancin' Douggy]

I was pretty impressed with Zeph's body language at the intra club.
Seemed confident and relaxed. A big step from the year before.
On field he was determined to be involved in the game and not hover on the fringes.
He probably flew for a few too many marks. But each time he flew, he WAS the one who got his hands on the ball. He did pull down a big hanger as well.
I think he's an amazing talent. So what's the best case scenario for Zeph?
Could he play 200 games for us?
Could he play 100?
Can he be an Adam Goodes, Nicky Winmar or Andrew McLeod type?
I'd take a Daryl White type!
All power to him, very excited about what he can offer.

[Throughandthrough]

A relevant article from 12 months ago

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/cc/story-e6frf9jf-1226295084517

[azabob]

A relevant article from 12 months ago

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/cc/story-e6frf9jf-1226295084517

Good article, certainly is eye opening.

Hopefully we manage to hold onto Brett Goodes for a while yet...

[Prince Imperial]

I've been up there a couple of times in the last year and it certainly is very different to Melbourne. These photos bring back some memories. It's hard to overplay the difference in climate and the challenge for anybody born and bred there to adapt to a Melbourne winter.

[jeemak]

Work for one of the big AUstralian Companies (not mining) and travel a lot in SA and WA talking to the staff about things :)

Thanks for posting those pictures. I really undervalue the beauty of Australia, and often feel guilty about not getting out and seeing more of it.

[the banker]

Did a visit there in the late 70's Fitzroy Crossing, Broome, halls Creek, kunnanurra. Hitching most of the time. Totally memorable in many ways. Just passing through remote outback towns back then was culturally shocking and amazing. The daily challenge of lifestyle adjustment moving to Melbourne, we can't possibly comprehend. The AFL does appear to be in a unique position in connecting with the communities but it needs great wisdom and guidance in how it goes about it.

Let's hope we can provide a great experience for Zephi and he unlocks some of the magic he obviously possesses.

[westdog54]

Thanks for posting those pictures. I really undervalue the beauty of Australia, and often feel guilty about not getting out and seeing more of it.

Absolutely stunning photos. When you think of remote WA you picture desert, desert and more desert, and yet there you are.

I love reading articles like that, whether they are our players or not. Emma writes very well. Really hope Zephi can crack it for a few senior matches this year.

[Go_Dogs]

Great article, and thanks for the photos T&T.

[Throughandthrough]

a few more photos from that trip.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6212/6325887656_5c8c57b56a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325887656/)
Broome WA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325887656/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6231/6325994142_46a9693cf5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325994142/)
Ant Hill Derby WA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325994142/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6119/6325866708_a7644f1baa_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325866708/)
Cable Beach Western Australia (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325866708/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6118/6325850534_326165031f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325850534/)
Cable Beach Sunset Broome WA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6325850534/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6116/6326017260_7310eda1f6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6326017260/)
Camels on Cable Beach Sunset Broome WA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6326017260/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6227/6326011858_0c76808ee4_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6326011858/)
Camels on Cable Beach Sunset Broome WA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34664426@N04/6326011858/) by FlashGordon Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/34664426@N04/), on Flickr

[westdog54]

Cable Beach at Sunset is now on my bucket list.

[bornadog]

Listening to Bob Murphy on AFL 360 he said he has nothing for admiration for guys like Skinner who come from the outback to play footy in the big smoke. He said Skinners world compared to his are totally different. Skinners days at home are spent spear fishing and catching Goannas and then he comes to Melbourne and has to adapt.

[Ghost Dog]

Listening to Bob Murphy on AFL 360 he said he has nothing for admiration for guys like Skinner who come from the outback to play footy in the big smoke. He said Skinners world compared to his are totally different. Skinners days at home are spent spear fishing and catching Goannas and then he comes to Melbourne and has to adapt.

Not exactly. He was working in a meat packing plant.

[bornadog]

Not exactly. He was working in a meat packing plant.

Bob was talking about when he goes back to his home town.

[LostDoggy]

I've been to Broome quite a few times, and love the place. I didn't like Dampier too much, too desolate, Port Hedland is the same. All of these places are the harsh red earth, sunburnt country that Australia is known for, yet most Aussies have never seen them.

My favourite pastime when I was in Broome was going down to Cable Beach, sitting about 100m from the surf on the dry sand, and watching the tourists lay down their towels, etc. right near the water. We'd sit and listen to the sea change that indicates the tide coming back in, and wham! They'd all get swamped… :) The tidal changes there are more than 10 metres!

Even living in WA for the 5 years I was there I found it very hard to get used to Melbourne's weather again, even though I'd grown up here. I'd hate to imagine how hard it is for blokes like Zeph, and Liam Jurrah, etc.

[westdog54]

I've been to Broome quite a few times, and love the place. I didn't like Dampier too much, too desolate, Port Hedland is the same. All of these places are the harsh red earth, sunburnt country that Australia is known for, yet most Aussies have never seen them.

My favourite pastime when I was in Broome was going down to Cable Beach, sitting about 100m from the surf on the dry sand, and watching the tourists lay down their towels, etc. right near the water. We'd sit and listen to the sea change that indicates the tide coming back in, and wham! They'd all get swamped… :) The tidal changes there are more than 10 metres!
Even living in WA for the 5 years I was there I found it very hard to get used to Melbourne's weather again, even though I'd grown up here. I'd hate to imagine how hard it is for blokes like Zeph, and Liam Jurrah, etc.

If not for all the tyre tracks it'd be a brilliant beach cricket deck.