Last Friday night the Melbourne Storm's night of nights, the 2005 Presentation Dinner, was held at the Grand Hyatt. I wasn't too sure how it was going to go at the beginning of the night. The venue was very different from the previous six years as the players were well separated from us plebs. And there were no Place Cards with guest's names on them. Every year since the '99 Presentation Dinner we have collected our favourite player's place card. It was very much a tradition... until this year.
Despite the above it was still a fantastic night. Close to one of the best. (Nothing could beat 2001!) The food was nice, although we didn't get a choice at all and there was plenty of drink especially if you are partial to a Crown Lager or a drop of red.
It would seem that the night was all about retiring Captain Robbie Kearns and all-round nice guy Matt Geyer with the two boys becoming the inaugural Life Members of Storm. They are two of only three players who have been with Storm since it's first season in 1998. It's interesting that that the third player, Scott Hill, was overlooked...
For me the night was all about catching up with Steve Bell for one last time before he joins Manly. It's not going to be the same next year without seeing Steve take to the field for us or waiting for him in the Social Club after the game. He may not have been with the Storm since the beginning of the club but he's certainly been a very big part of the Storm for me for the past five years. How strange will it be having my favourite player playing for an opposition team. Oh well, at least he's not playing for St.George. I can handle barracking for Manly on the odd occasion... So long as they aren't playing Storm.
No comments:
Post a Comment