By Sam Thomson
Do things ever really sink in anymore? I have heard the term so often on talkback radio over the last few weeks. “It hasn’t sunk in yet.” But can it ever really happen anyway? Our lives are so busy. Our minds are always racing. What am I doing next? Where are my keys? What time do I have to be at that appointment? Life is constantly getting faster I reckon. And with everything a mouse click away these days, it becomes impossible to slow down and let things sink in. And maybe for this… Shane Warne not being around anymore. I don’t want things to slow down and really think about it… I don’t want it to sink in.
My brother messaged and said he had got us some second level tickets to The Shane Warne Memorial Service. I really was in two minds about going. I was always going to go, however the reservations were around how I would handle it. This was off the chart stuff, going to the ground for something like this wasn’t in the script. You went to the MCG to cheer your team. To watch heroics. To have fun with family and friends. To listen to great music. You didn’t go to say goodbye to your heroes. I remembered back to lockdown 2020 though, watching Dean Jones final lap with nobody in the stands. Deano deserved a crowd that night. So of course for Shane Warne, I was always going to go. Here is how my night went. It was a once in a lifetime type moment that I’ll always be grateful for.
I had a hard time telling my five year old where I was going. “I’m off to the big footy ground in the city,” I said.
“Are the Saints playing?” was the reply.
It was odd she used that term, as she had never said that too me before, and later that evening when that trumpet player started and I really lost it, I thought back to what Soph had said. How prophetic five year-olds can be.
I walked from Fed Square over the bridge. A woolly long sleeve Big V jumper on and a three sizes too small 1990s one day shirt in my hand. A fairly sizeable crowd walking with me around one hour before the service started. Quiet. Not the usual ‘who’s going to win?’ banter. However people were making eye contact, half smiles with complete strangers. Everyone was there for the same reason. We were all on the same team.
I took my seat, looked down to watch Merv, Michael Clarke, Gary Ablett Junior and many other distinguished guests walking out to the middle. I kept wondering what was going through their heads. It was I believe, seven years to the day that Michael Clarke had finished his one day career on the same ground, as a world cup captain, wearing the number twenty three. 100,000 in the stands. The exuberance and feeling of that night, so different to the one we were all experiencing tonight. Again the surreal feelings kept washing over me. My brother arrived minutes later. Two pies and two Cokes with him. “The King Combo!” as he dubbed it. I laughed out loud for the first time. I was glad he was here with me.
The celebration of Shane’s life is caught forever on film. Particular highlights for me were the way Eddie handled the moment with grace and poise. Being so close to Shane and having that duty must have been one of the most challenging nights for him. Aaron Hamill, one of my favourite St Kilda players, recounting the story of Shane being his best man. Robbie Williams’ song, which has been present at so many of my own life’s celebratory moments, again ringing in my ears. Shane’s kids, doing so beautifully with so many eyes on them. It was a rollercoaster of emotion. One that I’m so glad I got to share with my brother and will certainly be one of my special memories of being at this magical place.
I don’t think Shane will ever be really gone. There are just too many images, too many youtube clips, too many memories for him to not be here. For anyone that has been to Australia Zoo, you will know what I mean. Another great Australian, Steve Irwin is just so frozen in time there. Like he could just jump out at any moment and do the crocodile show. I feel it will the same walking into the `G from now on.
For me, it’s picking up anything small and round. An apple, a tennis ball, a balled up piece of paper. I always do the same thing. Two fingers up. Two fingers down. And how hard can I spin it up in the air and catch it. I’ve done the same thing since 1994, and probably will until my fingers don’t work anymore. I’m sure I’m not the only one who does this.
Rest easy King. And thanks for a lifetime of memories.
Sam Thomson has been a member of the MCC since 1998, receiving full membership in 2015. Originally from Horsham in Western Victoria, he is now a Physical Education teacher in Melbourne’s south-east. He played his junior footy at Horsham and Kalkee, with some cameo appearances at Sebastopol in Ballarat while completing his teaching degree.
Sam enjoys a few off the wood with his family and friends at his second home, the Melbourne Cricket Ground - whenever he can. Among the many football and cricket matches, concerts and even wrestling events Sam has attended at the MCG, he counts the 2015 Cricket World Cup final as his favourite event.