Captain’s Corner – Marie Keating

Well since the last blog post life has been a buzz of activity, on the field winning 2 tough games against our neighbours in the ACT and the new kids on the block in Tasmania. Off the field we’ve been in and out of ice baths, doing pool recoveries, entertaining guests to room 1313 and keeping up with my roommates singing and dancing antics as well as late night chats!

The seasoned Blues players agree there has been an exceptional atmosphere on the trip and the rookies wishing they had known this type of sporting experience was available before. But I think it’s been a credit to everyone that it has been so good. It’s not just the friendliness, enthusiasm or the many one-liners, but I’ve been so inspired by the way everyone is playing above all, with such work ethic, commitment and teamwork.
Day 3 was a rest day for all teams and a change to the routine. Many of the squad took the opportunity to dine out and smell test the wines of the Adelaide Hills. See some great photos from the trip taken by Annie in the Gallery.

I took my old aged pains to Glenelg for a dip in the sea and to see how I’ll go with a burst of sea air in my lungs! Of course I wasn’t warned about the sharks until after I came back!

And there was still time for a laugh as the following conversation reveals:

Lara (going into the lift): Hello Keats

Keats (sitting on the lounge): Hello Lara

A few minutes later and Lara comes out of the same lift flustered because her key wouldn’t work to get up to the pool and she had thought she might have left her missing tracksuit there.

Keats: I’ll use my key and buzz you up

Another few minutes later and no tracksuit found after a thorough search of the pool

Lara: Oh this is so annoying

Keats: Where did you last have them?

Lara: Well I took them off when I changed for the opening cermony and put them in my bag

Keats: Did you search your bag?

Lara (uncomfortable silence)

Keats (groan)

Lara: (trying to explain) It’s because I had too much sleep last night

Keats:  😀

At least too much sleep is a good thing for the bodies as we prepare for the Northern Territory and a possible final on Saturday! To copy Roxy I’ll end on a quote, this time from the famous American football coach Vince Lombardi: “I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline… I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour – this greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious.”