The Family Men (23 page)

END OF AN ERA AS FUREY QUITS

By Margo Milne-Arthurs

January 8, 2007

Star recruit and youngest member of the Furey football dynasty, Harry Furey, has turned his back on AFL football.

The shy centre halfback says he's achieved everything he set out to in the game and is ready to move forward. He is eager to explore other career options.

“It's not for everybody,” said coach Laurie Holden, who played alongside Harry's father, Club legend Alan Furey, in the 1980s. “We'd love to see him stay but players have to be honest with themselves and if their hearts aren't in it they'll never be any good. Quitting like this takes a lot of guts, but in the long run it's best for him and it's best for the team. We wish him every success.”

Furey and his brother were recruited under the father-son rule but while Matt Furey has thrived in the spotlight, Harry appears to have struggled with the family legacy and with his father's notoriety off the field.

“We are sorry to see a skilled footballer turn his back on such a promising career,” said Ted Parker, Club president. “Harry is part of the family. The door is always open if he changes his mind.”

Furey was recruited from high school, playing his first AFL game at seventeen.

“It's been a wonderful run for the Furey clan,” added Parker. “Let's hope it's not the end of an era.”

A journalist once asked Alan Furey about
his game strategy, what went through his mind when he ran out onto the field. “That's easy,” he said. “Don't let the other team have the ball.”

Harry takes his Sherrin, sticks it on the front seat, then drives out slowly along the familiar streets. Past his mum's. Past his old school. Past the units where the paddock used to be. At the oval, kids run free as birds. He pulls over, turns off the ignition and watches them tear around. Then he grabs the football, gets out of the car and drills it clear across the ground.

A
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many thanks to Clare Forster of Curtis Brown and to everyone at Black Inc., especially Caitlin Yates, who got behind this project from the get-go, Anna Lensky, who got it out there, and Nikola Lusk, whose warmth, wit and expert guidance made working with her such a pleasure. Thank you also to the people who spoke with me on background. I hope I have done your stories justice and that this novel is consistent with your expectations.

For various forms of assistance during the writing of this book, I would like to thank: Anne Andgel, Rachelle Andgel, Mary Archer and family, Barbara Brook, Gillian Cohen, Gregory Day, Amy Espeseth, Jan Goldberg, Anita Harris, Charles Hausknecht, Lisa Jacobson, Patrick Mangan, Ian Syson, Scott Tannahill, Victoria University (and my friends and colleagues there), the Wednesday ladies, and the extremely fabulous crew at Dendy Park.

Elizabeth Cowell, Kate Daw, Phyllis Moritz, Richard Stringer, Maria Tumarkin and Jennifer Zukovsky each went above and beyond and I am deeply indebted to them for their generosity and friendship, without which this manuscript would not have found its way.

Finally and mostly to my main squeeze, Phillip, who saw me through the dirty daily business of the writing and production processes: Thank you, honey, like that even begins to cover it. I am
so
lucky to have you on my team. X.

*

“Small-Scale” © Gig Ryan. Reprinted with permission. “Buttons”: Words and music by Nicole Scherzinger, Jamal Jones, Sean Garrett and Jason Perry. Copyright © 2005 Songs of Universal, Inc., She Rights Music, Universal Music Corp., Showdy Pimp Music, Team S Dot Publishing, Hitco Music and Jason's Lyrics. All rights for She Rights Music controlled and administered by Songs of Universal, Inc. All Rights for Showdy Pimp Music controlled and administered by Universal Music Corp. All rights for Team S Dot Publishing and Hitco Music administered by Bug Music, Inc., A BMG Chrysalis Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard Corporation. Written by Jason Perry. Published by Jason's Lyrics (SESAC) / Reach Music Tunes (SESAC).