The tight five configuration
It was a Nanna tight five configuration. Gill in goal, Tao carousing up front, Chassy and Cocky fiddling in the middle, and I, James, sitting in behind deep, just the way I like it.

Waiting for the kick off someone was overheard to say, ‘surely this is the tightest of the tight fives.’ There was no response, except after a while, another was heard to mutter, ‘that won’t please the captain.’

Nor will it please the coach, who has spoken before in none-too-happy tones about Nanna splinter groups. The Chassy–Cocky splinter group, not to mention Captain–Coach upper management group have always created unnecessary jealousies.

The game—first half.
In the first half the tightest of the tight fives stuttered somewhat. Sure we went in 3–1 up at halftime but all of us knew we were somewhat fortunate to have such a lead. Cocky was the first to score, with what seemed like to me all hussle. But asking him about it, he shrugged his shoulders and stated, ‘all arse’.

After that, apart from some nice work from the Chasm, our passing, or should I say my passing, was very shit. But on the plus side, our D was holding the opposition in check very nicely, except for one occasion when they tore us open pretty good, and Gill was exposed and subsequently beaten.

The game—second half.
The second half was much better from a Brown point of view. The half-openings that we had managed to cock-up in the first period due to shit passing, started to come together (I know I am mixing my metaphors here but I can’t think of anything else to say). There were at least five or six times when at least half a dozen passes were strung together resulting in goals or near misses.

In the first bit of the second half, the brilliance of our play put us 5–1 up, and we were cruising. But as often happens we became a bit over confident and over committed up front. The opposition pounced and pulled a couple of goals back, to bring it back to 5–3 with about 8 minutes to go.

But then I got the easiest goal of the season. The opposition goalie left his line to put a ball into touch. He and all his comrades walked lazily back into position leaving a gaping goalmouth. It was here that Cocky, who had seen the opportunity, pounced. Like a man possessed he ran to collect the ball and placed on the touch line. And just as he was thinking that no other brown had had spotted the open goal, I, James, ran past all the opposition players, whereupon Cocky fed the crucial pass. The loser opposition keeper sensed the danger but could not get back in time. I slotted home. The loser keeper complained to the ref, but the ref said fair play and the goal stood.

Special mentions
Special mention goes to Chasm for being the most beautiful and busy man on court.
Special mention goes to Cocky for a four goal feast and some scintillating passing.
Special mention goes to Tao for telling the ref where to shove it, earning a yellow.
Special mention goes to Gill for putting many shots on goal, and not once hitting the roof—I suspect some backyard practice may be going on.
Special mention goes to me, James, for scoring the easiest goal of the season.