The Swans Farewell Club has swung into action again with the departure last Sunday of the Mighty Mr Ed and his sensational wife, Kate.
With Mr Ed, rather than start with the head, let’s start with his incredibly important feet.
Ed prefers to show the world his feet as often as possible – even when he’s on the dance floor of an AusCham Gala Christmas Ball (“Oh mate, I hate shoes”) – or when he’s on the dance floor at Hanoi’s New Century the night the AFL boys had come to town. (The same night, when the main lights came on, we could see the mighty Mr Ed being shuffled gently towards the exit by a bouncer. With his arm around the bouncer, Ed was reminding him that it was all “gowwwwwwwld!”.)
You would think that Mr Ed would try to protect those feet a little more. After all, he needs them to feed his passion for surfing (which has caused him considerable grief in land-locked Hanoi).
He needs those feet to demonstrate silky skills, left or right, to devastating effect on the footy field. “Tommy on the tit”? Not a problem for our Mr Ed. With Ed on our team, we very nearly knocked off those alleged professionals from the AFL.
Those same feet which give him an amazing array of physical skills that enable him to soar, are also well planted on earth. With the footy nestled safely between his feet, Ed will reach out and help anyone and everyone whenever he can.
When the Swans became involved in the Warmhouse Orphanage in Hanoi, Ed took a lead role in spending time with the children – whether that be kicking a footy, kicking a soccer ball, teaching some English, handing over donated sporting goods, raising money for the Orphanage etc – Ed was the man (to learn more about the Swans involvement, check out the Swans ). When it came to getting the students from Hanoi Law University, Ed was the man. When it came to the footy stall at AusCham’s Big Day Out, Mr Ed had his hand up in the air again.
It’s an exclusive group of people that can take “inclusivity” to the heights that Ed does.
Whenever Ed chose to leave Vietnam, it was always going to be too early. It’s an especially big loss that he will not play with us in the Swans inaugural Asian Champs campaign. I’m sure he is one of the few players that Coach Super Savvy Scotty would have allowed to pick his own position on the field.
The Swans salute Mr Ed and the magnificent Kate. We all wish you the very best back in Australia. Perhaps next year when we’re flush with sponsorship dollars, we can fly you out for our 2nd Asian Champs (besides, by then, half of Hanoi’s kids will be driving us crazy with their chants of, “We want Mr Ed!”).
Have a good one.
Surprised many in 2005 when he let his two daughters put soft drink in his beer esky. Went on to win Father of the Year. Diminutive in height, a standout in the showers. 