Respect!

AussieRulesBlog heard a story from Dermott Brereton a couple of weeks ago on SEN Radio before a Friday night game. It was after the Montagna-Curnow incident. Brereton suggested the most appropriate penalty for Montagna was “the you dog rule.” He went on to explain, and we’ll paraphrase as best we can remember. He said he’d never told this story publicly before.

 

The young Brereton had developed the habit of sagging at the knees when tackled, causing the tackle to connect above his shoulders. He’d got a lot of free kicks this way. One day, playing against North at Arden St, he was matched up on John Law. Law wasn’t a star, but Brereton respected him as a gritty and determined opponent. Early in the game, Law had applied two tackles, Brereton had sagged and been awarded the free kick. On the second occasion, standing on the mark, Law said to Brereton, “Stop cheating, you dog! Stand up and take the tackle!”

 

Brereton claims he never again used the sag at the knees strategy. Losing the respect of his opponent was a greater penalty to him than a penalty from the tribunal.

 

As much as Brereton hated and respected Essendon, we Bombers hated and respected him. Like Leigh Matthews, Brereton handed out his fair share of physical punishment, but when the time came for some return fire, he didn’t flinch. AussieRulesBlog respected him then as a fierce and fearsome opponent.

 

These days, we think he’s about the best analyst going around. It takes guts to tell the story that he did to a radio audience. The hate has long faded. Now it is simply RESPECT!