FROM A PROUD Grandpa

On the 5th of July, at the MiddleSex University Hospital Lisa had a unisex baby boy, Jackson Ryan Woodhead.

He comes from a good pedigree; Adelaide dam, Lisa (nee Miller) and Halifax (Yorkshire) sire, Ian Woodhead, so that little body is already packed full of hybrid vigour.

The little fella came in at a bit over 7 lbs and from the photo you can tell he's lying there dreaming of pulling on the No. 17 Guernsey for West Torrens. In years to come when the history of the West Torrens Football Club is finally written you'll see in bold capitals the names, Hank(s), Head, Hawke, Bills, Liversey, Kingston, Clingly, Coverlid, Shearman, Morrel, Roberts and Woodhead.

You'll be able to detect from the photos that he looks like he's already spent a lifetime working down at the pellet plant, but that's just a  reflection, of his Whyalla roots. You'll also notice that he bears an uncanny resemblance to the immortal Colin Richens; so I guess that after an illustrious career as a nuggety little rover he'll finish up his playing career in the back pocket.

If that's the possible career outline, it's more than likely that after 110 games with the Brisbane Lions he'll get a mid-career transfer and end up in Parkville, to complete the full circle. In fact he may be one of the only players of the modern era who plays both A Grade football and cricket for Carlton.

Like Richens he'll probably be handy with the gloves, the bat, the racquet and the pedals, and, like his Mum and Dad exceptionally good at maths and handy with the keyboard and the mouse.

Ian (Woody) sounded chuffed last night and, not that it's got much to do with me, I'm walking around with a tear in my eye and my chest puffed out.

If you want to get in touch with the little fella, phone his mum on 0011 44 7786 330 775

John Miller

6/7/06