in view of all the non football crap.......

[stinger]

i thought i would brighten you all up a bit....


......this article was entitled.....


...in awe of robert harvey......

...enjoy......


"

Mike Sheahan

June 18, 2007 12:00am

EARLY in Stan Alves' reign as St Kilda coach he yelled during a game: "What the hell is Robert Harvey doing out there?" as Mike Sheahan writes.

His then chairman of selectors Norm Goss quietly replied:

"Don't worry, the ball will get there shortly."

Goss knew him best.

That's Harvey, a relentless runner with an extraordinary capacity to track the often-contrary oval balIt's been the case for the best part of 20 years, and he's not finished yet.

About 1400 of the St Kilda family paid homage to Harvey at Telstra Dome on Saturday night, to reflect on 349 games and more awards than Rove McManus has won.

The tributes were numerous and lavish.

My favourite came from former Essendon champion Tim Watson, who coached the Saints for two years.

"I still marvel at the way Robert Harvey plays his football," he said.

Watson, remember, played 307 games and won four best-and-fairests during the 1980s.

Harvey's former teammate Aussie Jones said:

"There's no doubt in my mind St Kilda has the best midfielder who's been around in 20 years."

Those who paid their respects via tape included Shane Warne, Geoff Ogilvy, Paul Roos, Wayne Carey, Shane Crawford and Eric Bana.

Those who didn't included Tony Lockett and Grant Thomas, the man who coached Harvey the longest of his seven coaches at St Kilda.

Thomas didn't seek to attend and wasn't invited.

More pointedly, he did not feature on the visual tribute to Harvey and wasn't asked.

He said yesterday: "I'm humbled and unbelievably proud to have had anything to do with Robert Harvey's career.

"He's an absolute legend of St Kilda and the game.

"You need to speak to the club about anything else," Thomas said.

Robert Dickson, the former Hawthorn and Brisbane Lions player who produced the video, said yesterday Thomas's name wasn't included in the list given to him.

"No one said don't do him, but, put it this way, I certainly wasn't encouraged.

"I did ask the question."

All of a sudden, the Rod Butterss-Grant Thomas feud seems to have become St Kilda v Thomas.

It is understood Lockett declined an invitation from friend and former captain Danny Frawley to participate in the video.

Frawley, one of Harvey's closest friends, made sure the tribute had a touch of "roast" about it, with several examples of his friend's vagueness and shyness.

"Humphrey Bear would give you a bigger headache than Harves," he said.

Yet, everyone - Frawley, Jones, Andrew Thompson, Nathan Burke, Stewie Loewe included - acknowledged the famous Harvey work ethic.

Jones said: "My work rate wasn't brilliant, but it got better by watching Robert Harvey."

Great players don't give unconditional references easily.

Watson, Roos, Carey, Crawford, Garry Lyon and company had no trouble heaping praise on the St Kilda star.

Carey said: "I can tell my kids I actually baulked Robert Harvey."

As for the man himself, he shyly described himself as "not a great kick or mark; never kicked a lot of goals".

He says the best period of his career came from 1994-98, the period in which he won three best-and-fairest awards.

The late Trevor Barker was his inspiration, with his attitude to training and supporters.

Saturday night was yet another reminder that, whenever the modern-day midfield greats are discussed, it is folly to stop at Voss, Hird and Buckley.

[True Blue Sainter]

Very good pick up stinger....Good read...

However, what's with Sheahan stating that when talking about the best modern-day greats, it is folly to stop at Hird, Voss and Buckley... we all knew this! The statement for mine implies that he believes Robert Harvey is underrated and should not be mentioned in the same breath as the players he lists... Still, a fairly positive article though. I'll have much pleasure in telling my grandkids that I saw the myth that is Robert Harvey play in at least half of his 350+ games (Remember, I'm only 20... I wasn't even born when Harvs debuted...)