Footy has always had a love/hate relationship with its mongrels.
Loved by their own supporters; yet loathed by opposition fans. Fremantle’s Hayden Ballantyne and St Kilda’s Stephen Milne are two greats from other clubs that spring to mind.
For our part, the Swans have been light on for gun mongrels. Big Mummy was an enforcer, too big for mongrel status. Mitch Morton’s 2012 finals cameo earned him cult figure status, a ranking several tiers below genuine mongrel. Jared Crouch would be pretty close, but perhaps was short on the flair required.
Enter to the SCG, Tom Papley.
As a Bloods member, you can’t help but love him and the way he goes about his business of terrorising opposition defenders. He is a classic ‘in your face’ operator not built for these modern times of social distancing.
At the Swans Shop, when all of the number 23 guernseys sell out, I’m sure the number 11 is the next to go.
I’m just as sure, the most commonly uttered question amongst opposition fans when playing the Swans is, “who is that bloody number 11?”.
Earning the ire of the opposition and their fans is just one of the prerequisites of being a great mongrel. Being small doesn’t hurt either.
You can’t be an elite mongrel unless you can cash the cheques your mouth writes. They walk as well as they talk.
The hallmark of a great mongrel is not dirty play, but crafty play. Like a handball over the head to set up a James Rowbottom goal in the crucial third term.
It is not staging for free kicks but making sure the umpire is clearly aware that an offense has been committed. Like a regulation high tackle that is accompanied by a classic Vaudeville hook manoeuvre that will earn you free kick in front goal when desperately needed to settle things in the first term.
The mongrel provides energy and spark – to their teammates and to the fans – with raucous celebrations and fist pumps.
Importantly, they provide as much opportunity with their commitment to defence as they do with their penchant for offence.
They don’t cross the line but are proficient at walking the tightrope.
Papley was by no means the best player on the ground on Saturday afternoon against the Roos, but his contribution was so important.
He kicked two goals – both from free kicks – and had an equal team high, seven score involvements for the game including two crucial goal assists in the third term that set up Rowbottom and Taylor respectively. He had four tackles inside the forward 50 – a highly valued stat in modern footy.
He brings excitement and passion and for all of the things that make a great mongrel, he is a must watch any time the Swans play.
The great irony of course is that this mongrel has impeccable red and white pedigree.
Grandfather Max played for South Melbourne in the ‘60s and was fine player, winning a best and fairest and topping the goal kicking.
It’s just another thing to like about the Papley story.
As the Swans forward line continues to function without some of its heaviest artillery, it’s comforting to know there is a gun little mongrel leading the way and bringing the energy each week.
