A massive rift has been healed

[Enrico_Misso]

16 years ago our greatest legend walked out on us for a variety of complex reasons.
To the best of my knowledge tonight was his first official function back at the place where he made his name.

It was incredibly emotional.
He got two massive standing ovations.
Danny tried to make a speech to welcome him back. He started to say something about 16 years is too bloody long but had to cut off as the emotion got to him.

At the end of the formalities he was besieged with well wishers and 90 minutes later was still standing left of stage surrounded by adoring fans just wanting to say "welcome back", get a hand shake, get an autograph, get a photo, but mostly just to bask in the glory that the great man is BACK.

And not just us fans,
there were past and present players clamouring to get close and soak it up.

His departure and his shunning of us has always left a void, even bitterness.
But tonight all is forgiven.
The disturbance in the force has been rectified.

His "return" capped off a magnificent night.

[BackFromUSA]

Deserves to be a legend no doubt. Grabbed his autograph of course.

But deep down I wish Trevor Barker had been elevated tonight.

[Enrico_Misso]

Deserves to be a legend no doubt. Grabbed his autograph of course.

But deep down I wish Trevor Barker had been elevated tonight.

Barks will undoubtedly get there, as will Harves when he is eligible.

But tonight was really a welcome back for one who had shunned us.
The room was full of love for the big man.
It must be a huge boost to our team psyche to have The Great One "BACK".

[kosifantutti23]

Could have sworn he was at the Team of the Century dinner in 2001.

[bigred]

No he went fishing.

[kosifantutti23]

Maybe that was hall of fame or Harvey testimonial but I remember he was at the Team of the Century, Rohan Connolly remembers as well.

http://www.immortality.com.au/immortali ... urns-home/

[wallbanger]

Nup - he wasn't at the Harvey testimonial.

[White Winmar]

How is plugger's arm injury? There were great concerns that he had lost most of the use of his left arm after a motorcycle accident. Did Sandy inquire?

[stinger]

16 years ago our greatest legend walked out on us for a variety of complex reasons.
To the best of my knowledge tonight was his first official function back at the place where he made his name.

It was incredibly emotional.
He got two massive standing ovations.
Danny tried to make a speech to welcome him back. He started to say something about 16 years is too bloody long but had to cut off as the emotion got to him.

At the end of the formalities he was besieged with well wishers and 90 minutes later was still standing left of stage surrounded by adoring fans just wanting to say "welcome back", get a hand shake, get an autograph, get a photo, but mostly just to bask in the glory that the great man is BACK.

And not just us fans,
there were past and present players clamouring to get close and soak it up.

His departure and his shunning of us has always left a void, even bitterness.
But tonight all is forgiven.
The disturbance in the force has been rectified.

His "return" capped off a magnificent night.

my youngest is really pleased...if a little confused.....was christened anthony.....after plugger walked out ..we started calling him cuz or nicky......now we can go back to anthony...tony or.... plugger for short......

[SaintWodonga]

Any audio?

He was my fav player... We did not do well in his trade IMO

[ace]

16 years ago our greatest legend walked out on us for a variety of complex reasons.

Money is not a variety of complex reasons.
If you have got it, you are rich.
If you haven't got it, you are poor.
Rather simple actually.

[plugger66]

16 years ago our greatest legend walked out on us for a variety of complex reasons.

Money is not a variety of complex reasons.
If you have got it, you are rich.
If you haven't got it, you are poor.
Rather simple actually.

So it was all about money? No other issues at all. I doubt it very much.

[saintsRrising]

16 years ago our greatest legend walked out on us for a variety of complex reasons.

Money is not a variety of complex reasons.
If you have got it, you are rich.
If you haven't got it, you are poor.
Rather simple actually.

EM is correct. Ace is not.

[georgie girl]

As disappointed as I was when Plugger left the Saints, I felt it was best for all. He was in and out of the team for a variety of reasons which was very unsettling for the club. He wasn't coping with the spotlight of being an AFL star in Melbourne. In Sydney he had almost anonymity.
We became more settled as a team and I think Sydney (the City) suited him better than Melbourne for personal reasons.
Yes, very sad to see him go but I think it was for the right reasons and would not begrudge someone who had been such an amazing player for us, trying to sort his life out. He was an absolute champion for us and should be remembered that way!

[stinger]

Any audio?

He was my fav player... We did not do well in his trade IMO

we actually ended up with nothing of value after smith also walked....

[plugger66]

Any audio?

He was my fav player... We did not do well in his trade IMO

we actually ended up with nothing of value after smith also walked....

Yep your right but 2 years after he left we made a GF. Plugger was clearly my biggest hero but I learnt from the time he left that clubs recover from players leaving and also the club is much bigger than any player. Even our best ever. That is now why I dont care if players leave because you can always recover.

[stinger]

Any audio?

He was my fav player... We did not do well in his trade IMO

we actually ended up with nothing of value after smith also walked....

Yep your right but 2 years after he left we made a GF. Plugger was clearly my biggest hero but I learnt from the time he left that clubs recover from players leaving and also the club is much bigger than any player. Even our best ever. That is now why I dont care if players leave because you can always recover.

one we would have well and truly won had he stayed ....so spare me the homily ffs.....

[plugger66]

Any audio?

He was my fav player... We did not do well in his trade IMO

we actually ended up with nothing of value after smith also walked....

Yep your right but 2 years after he left we made a GF. Plugger was clearly my biggest hero but I learnt from the time he left that clubs recover from players leaving and also the club is much bigger than any player. Even our best ever. That is now why I dont care if players leave because you can always recover.

one we would have well and truly won had he stayed ....so spare me the homily ffs.....

How would we know. As usual your lack of footy knowledge is funny. How does Buddy a left footer usually run to the right when kicking for goal. That is amazing. maybe you are funnier than I thought or maybe you are just very old. ffs ffs emoticon roll roll old cleaner eyes.

[stinger]

Any audio?

He was my fav player... We did not do well in his trade IMO

we actually ended up with nothing of value after smith also walked....

Yep your right but 2 years after he left we made a GF. Plugger was clearly my biggest hero but I learnt from the time he left that clubs recover from players leaving and also the club is much bigger than any player. Even our best ever. That is now why I dont care if players leave because you can always recover.

one we would have well and truly won had he stayed ....so spare me the homily ffs.....

How would we know. As usual your lack of footy knowledge is funny. How does Buddy a left footer usually run to the right when kicking for goal. That is amazing. maybe you are funnier than I thought or maybe you are just very old. ffs ffs emoticon roll roll old cleaner eyes.

if he is on the left side of the field kicking for goal...he always runs out to the right.....have a look sometime before opening your mouth and talking s***....it's something that has occupied the minds of the commentators for some time ffs....

[plugger66]

Any audio?

He was my fav player... We did not do well in his trade IMO

we actually ended up with nothing of value after smith also walked....

Yep your right but 2 years after he left we made a GF. Plugger was clearly my biggest hero but I learnt from the time he left that clubs recover from players leaving and also the club is much bigger than any player. Even our best ever. That is now why I dont care if players leave because you can always recover.

one we would have well and truly won had he stayed ....so spare me the homily ffs.....

How would we know. As usual your lack of footy knowledge is funny. How does Buddy a left footer usually run to the right when kicking for goal. That is amazing. maybe you are funnier than I thought or maybe you are just very old. ffs ffs emoticon roll roll old cleaner eyes.

if he is on the left side of the field kicking for goal...he always runs out to the right.....have a look sometime before opening your mouth and talking s***....it's something that has occupied the minds of the commentators for some time ffs....

So he runs inside out to kick it. You are again wrong. Doesnt matter what side of the field he on he always runs to the right. Do you actually watch footy because it is becoming increasingly obvious you have no idea about the game. Runs to right, that is hilarious. Please tell me you arent serious.

[stinger]

So he runs inside out to kick it. You are again wrong. Doesnt matter what side of the field he on he always runs to the right.

no he was running to the left when joey was pinged....all i'm saying is that he runs to whatever side opens up the angle :roll:that too hard for you to grasp albert???

[plugger66]

So he runs inside out to kick it. You are again wrong. Doesnt matter what side of the field he on he always runs to the right.

no he was running to the left when joey was pinged....all i'm saying is that he runs tp whatever side opens up the angle

It is impossible for a left footer to run to the right. use the brain and actually think about it. He would have to slice the ball when he kicks it.

[saintbrat]

Any audio?

He was my fav player... We did not do well in his trade IMO

very small amount here
The Rub Sunday July 25, 2010
1. Kyle Hardingham interview. 2. Matthew Knights. 3. David Hale interview. 4. Spud crying. 5. Justin Koschitzke. 6. Gold Coast. 7. Fremantle turn up at wrong ground! 8. Crawf's issues. 9. Ricciuto and Carr on Ramsgate incident.

http://austereo.castmetrix.net/podcast/ ... 252010.mp3

16 min in small snippett- Spud's tears and Plugger's " it's good to be home, It's good to be home'

[Milan Faletic]

How is plugger's arm injury? There were great concerns that he had lost most of the use of his left arm after a motorcycle accident. Did Sandy inquire?

Yes Sandy asked him WW. I think from memory, Plugger said he had 7 ops in 10 days. Mainly wrist. The wine was kicking in by then so can't quite remember. He tried to play it down but it didn't sound great. Made a joke that he'll be back on the bike in a month or so. Said life is too short. Loved it.

[kosifantutti23]

Was it his first appearance at a club function in 16 years?

According to the Herald Sun

Lockett, always the reluctant hero, made his first appearance at a St Kilda function since leaving the club at the end of the 1994 season.

According to The Age

Attending his first function with the Saints since he controversially left the club in 1994, the AFL's greatest goalkicker was given a standing ovation at Crown Casino.

Even Enrico Misso who I would trust more than either of the above two sources said it but I'm 99% sure he was at the team of the century dinner in 2001. Can anyone else confirm this?

And as I said above Rohan Connolly saw him.

The Age

Friday April 6, 2001

By ROHAN CONNOLLY

It's been seven long years since he left, but three more ``tons" down the track, plus the attaining of immortality with the breaking of Gordon Coventry's goalkicking record with Sydney, St Kilda favorite Tony Lockett was last night finally reunited with his former club