Gradually, then Suddenly

I don’t think much more need, nor can, be said about the career achievements of Jimmy Bartel. If you’d never seen him play at all, the accolades and statistics – the premierships, Brownlow medal, Norm Smith medal, various media awards, AA selections, the sheer number of games played and goals kicked – would safely, and correctly, tell you that he was an all-time great of the game. Watching him, and seeing the class, nous and unswerving courage with which he played the game, left you no doubt.


Instructively, no occasion ever seemed too big for Jim, and his best games often came on the biggest stages: Nullifying a rampant Lenny Hayes in the 2009 Grand Final; bagging 3 goals and the Norm Smith in the 2011 Grand Final; the countless clutch last quarter efforts and wet weather, long sleeve classics. The moment never got to Jim, because, typically, he got to it first.


Jimmy’s versatility saw him go from Brownlow winning midfielder to Geelong’s Mr. Fixit, plugging holes wherever a leak sprung up. And while this may have been detrimental to his own game late in his career, and even though he did it admirably and without complaint, it is worth placing him at his 2007 peak, the peak; the best player in the best team the AFL has ever seen.


Corey Enright’s greatness, conversely, initially required closer attention. Unnoticed, perhaps, rather than underrated, Enright’s greatness was the kind that once you saw it, you wondered how you’d missed it to begin with. And it was the kind that stuck around – Enright was amazingly and rightly named in the All-Australian team for 2016, his final season, eight years after making his first (which was overdue).


For us Geelong fans we knew Boris’ name was the first one on team sheet for over a decade. He was a mistake free footballer who was ahead of his time: A terrific ball user who rarely if ever turned it over; a defender who knew precisely when to attack; a player who didn’t halve contests but won them. Repeatedly.


These days we are quick to anoint the next big thing after 3 good games, but you probably couldn’t find 3 bad games among the 330-odd Corey Enright played. To put it plainly, nobody played better for longer.


Importantly, Bartel and Enright were both exceedingly fair on the field, and gentlemen off it. There was no scandal attached to these two, which may sound like scant praise but please remind yourself of the times in which we live. Enright has stayed out of the spotlight but is often cited as the consummate teammate behind closed doors. Jimmy has used his celebrity to become an inspiring voice in the fight against domestic violence.


Gradually the facelift of the Geelong Football Club has suddenly become a full-fledged transformation. The Cats have lost two all-time champions of the club, and two good people.


Thanks Jimmy. Thanks Boris.