The Coodabeen Champions . . Pharaohs of Fate
22 September 2001
Finals footy can be like exploration in space. Everyone knows about Apollo 11 where Neil Armstrong followed by Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin were the first to walk on the the moon in July 1969. Armstrong could be like Andrew McLeod in the 1997 grand final or James Hird last year. But does anyone ever remember Michael Collins, the bloke stuck at the controls of the Apollo 11 capsule?
The football equivalent of low-profile Collins was Steven Handley who had a solid game in the 1995 grand final. Handles had an unusual background. Born in Victoria but his family shifted to Perth. As he grew into a tall quick athlete Stevo played with Swan Districts in the WAFL. 73 class games. Brisbane had a look but didn't proceed. Geelong selected the 194 centimetre 95 kilogram key position player and ruckman with 1991 mid-season selection 24. The Cats needed someone to bridge the gap left by Darren Flanigan and also to help the injury prone Damian Bourke. The Moorabool Streeters gave their tall blond the number 14 jumper made famous by Les Borrack and Graeme O'Donnell and Ian Scott and David Clarke senior and Flanigan.
Handles learned the arts of trajectory in the flight simulator of the reserves. Made his senior debut in 1992. But it was in 1994 that he stepped from the dark side of the moon. The round 1 debacle against Melbourne at the MCG. Jakovich may have kicked seven but half way through the third when the Cats were in disarray, Handley stood his ground to take a gutsy mark. He calmly booted a 45 metre goal down the Punt Road end. Demons easy. 26.18 to 16.13. Round 3 versus Carlton at the O. In the second SH took a pack mark. Then goaled from 40. 10 minutes into the third stanza he showcased the speed of a redstone rocket. Bent down to a loose ball and slammed through a major from just outside 50. Later in same quarter Handley had a set shot from 30 metres. It fell in for a point. Blues won 14.15 to 10.10.
The close encounter of the 1994 first qualifying final. Geelong v. Footscray. The one and four displayed some ticker when he ran back into the unknown for a mark. Copped a splashdown. Injured his shoulder and went off the ground. Cats won with the last kick of the night by Brownless.
1995 was a launching pad for consistent form. Culminated in his grand final performance against the Blues. At centre half back he worked hard to put the wheel clamps on Kernahan. But Williams popped up with goals. Ayres moved Handley forward in the second half with results as instant as rolled out turf. Floating across half forward he surprised Micky Sexton with a pair of ionospheric marks. Goaled from 40 metres directly in front and same distance but on a 60 degree angle. Steven was the wild card. Early in the last he marked a low fast kick from Pickering. Played on dodged McKay and Dean and slotted another snag. Carlton won by light years. 21.15 to 11.14. Handles booted nearly 25 per cent of the Geelong final score.
The big bloke produced some honest football during 1996. Round 18 against Adelaide at Geelong. As a tall forward he proved his agility and strength with two soccer goals. Cats victors. 15.14 to 10.9.
Steven was delisted at the end of the '96 season. 73 games for 28 goals. He then transferred to GFL club St Albans where he kicked stacks of goals.
Steven Handley, captain of the capsule.