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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Lang
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Wiki is your friend.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Lang
Can't have a bad boy eker - bad boys are tolerated on a list because they are supremely gifted and talented, hence aren't true ekers. Any bad boy ekers would not get anywhere near an AFL list.
Some are born to rise and peak
Others simply exist ... and eke
The eker lives on dreams and hope
He's patient, sure and steady
Number 1 ruck's done a hammy
Our eker hero's ready
To answer the call
To fill the hole
To give his all
To play his role
A vital cog when the need is dire
At de-listing time
He's a gun for hire
Ready to parley
His questionable skill
Sometimes makes a list manager
Look like a dill
The eker's lot
Is a hard row to hoe
It takes resilience and courage
To give it a go
So let's drink to the eker
The salt of the earth
He's fulfilling a destiny
That was laid down at birth
I reckon that's generally true but there are exceptions to the rule. Mug lairs who aren't disciplined enough to get regular games but are outrageously talented enough to tantalise list managers and hang on lists are a rare and wonderful subspecies (probably more prevelant in the 70s/80s than today). The player that comes to mind for me is Rocket Rod Owen, invincible on his day (about once per season), but generally mediocre. He was a notorious big drinker/partier and managed 78 games for 3 clubs over a 10 year career in the 80s/90s.
Aaron James was a bit of a head case but everytime he got shunted off a list another club would pick him up. He must have nearly eker out a decade long career with lots of games but pretty minimal output.
Playing career1 Years Club Games (Goals) 1994–1997 Collingwood 23 (6) 1998–2000 Richmond 30 (19) 2002 Western Bulldogs 1 (0) Total 54 (25)
Majak Daw is following some great company, now to receive the number 1 jumper, the last one to don was the great Eker himself ( maybe on of the greatest) Dan Currie.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-1...looks-the-part
Well Done Majak, 8 seasons, 32 games.
- spent time as a rookie - check
- lots of injuries - check
- qualifies as a ruckman - check
- takes over place of former great ekers - check
He just has to be picked up by another club, and he becomes more entrenched in Eker legend status.
2018 threatened to be overtaken by Preuss, and maybe Goldstein can regain some form. Potential 4-8 games next year. If none, a Rookie spot could beckon.
keep living the eker dream alive.
Surprised to read Vickery has retired , he was doing quite well to push into eker status.
Vickery - promised a lot but turned out to be a Clayton's eker.
Ty Vickery's gone
He's hung up his boots
He's done with the game
He's severing roots.
Seven years at the Tigers
Two at the Hawks
And now our mop top hero's
Had second thoughts
He's never quite peaked
He's not cut out to eke
Some say he was lazy
Others - he was weak
But Ty wouldn't care
He wouldn't give a toss
No, he won't miss the limelight
The glamour or gloss
Cos right from the off
His heart wasn't in it
So, when the inevitable came,
And he failed to peak
He hung up his boots
Rather than cling on and ... eke.
Ty Vickery
Spare a thought for poor Ty Vickery
The game he played has made him sickery
Nine years in the system, not much to show
Writing's on the wall, it's time to go
He showed early promise, a big guy for sure
But the coach was uncertain, the fans wanted more
Could take a big grab, kick the odd goal
But for a high profile player, he played without soul
Some might say that's harsh, but I disagree
So pull up a chair and listen to me
Ty was big, he was fast
He had all the skills
A tall marking forward
Not lacking in class.
But one thing eluded him
And brought his downfall
Resilience and hunger
He had none at all
So, for a bloke in nine seasons
Who failed to peak
It's no great surprise
That he's reluctant to eke
He's baulked at the prospect
Of starting anew
He's hung up his boots
He's racked up his cue
He's called it a day
Some might say that's weak
But the cold, hard fact is
He's not cut out to eke