Greg Williams was me and my dad's favourite player, I used to go down the back paddock after watching Carlton play on tv and act like I was him, I'd try and do those long sweeping hand balls, kick goals through 4 gum trees that made the shape of AFL posts on our property.
I'd always wait til the channel 7 coverage was over though, just to listen to that closing song, it used to inspire me. I'd watch the post match comments, check out the ladder, it was usually the very last thing they'd show before the closing song came on.
One advantage to watching AFL games on tv on the Gold Coast back in those days was the games were played live, so there was always an hour or so of sunlight to kick my football around, another good thing for Victorian kids with the new tv rights kicking off next year.
I saw Greg Williams at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Melbourne Cup Day when I was about 18, was going to go ask for his autograph but didn't.
Marc Jarman
