28 July 2001
A lot of people believe in the conspiracy theory. Dark and sinister forces that pervade every major incident. Lee Harvey Oswald took the rap for murdering JFK even though the entry of the bullet was not from the Book Depository building where Oswald was said to have been found. Conspiracy theorists have views on the disappearance of Harold Holt from Cheviot beach in 1967. Spirited away by a waiting Chinese submarine. You come across guys who argue the 1975 sacking of the Whitlam government was a CIA plot. The same characters also assert that athletes only break world records through extended use of performance enhancing chemicals even if the breakers may have passed a hundred tests in and out of competition.
There is a footballer whose career was shortened by a conspiring of events. Justin Wood. A gifted youngster with Tassie club Glenorchy that Peter Hudson kicked 200 goals for in 1978. Woody represented Tasmania at Under 17 level. He impressed AFL onlookers with his fine aerobic capacity in the midfield. Just what Geelong needed. Yet the Cats reflected a modern history of apple islers unable to establish themselves long term in the seniors. Another Glenorchy boy Adrian Fletcher had a chequered career at Kardinia Park. 23 games between 1989 and 1991. Geelong selected another Taswegian Gerrard Bennett with 1996 national draft pick 18. Originally Bennett wore the number 42 jumper. He showed solid form in the reserves. Critics said GB was a bit slow but ran straight at the ball. Bennett busted his knee in 1997 and struggled on his return. The Cats dropped him off. Gerrard is now on the senior list at Sydney.
Geelong got Wood with 1997 national pick 54 which was traded by the Dogs for Matthew Robbins. As soon as he arrived for pre season Justin Wood impressed the Geelong coaching panel with his performance in time trials and beep tests. Did well in intra club practice games. The Cats gave their new player the number 42 guernsey. Same original number as Bennett. Another piece in the jig saw for conspiracy connoisseurs. Wood played good football in the reserves through 1997. He made his senior debut 1998 round 9 against the Eagles at KP. Kicked a goal of Geelong's 5.14 to 9.11.
Justin played another two games. Ran all day. Created opportunities for blokes such as Derek Hall and Brett Spinks. Round 19 versus the Bulldogs at Optus could have been Justin Wood's middle name. Played on the wing. It was a hard, in©close encounter. 20 minutes into the second Buddha split a pack and got a handpass to Wood who had all the time this side of Greenwich. Popped through a major from 40. 15 minutes into the third term Wood grabbed a spillage from a pack and snapped another snag from 30. Five minutes later a Darren Milburn kick hit the Wood chest. The young Cat split the middle from 35. And at crisis time in the last quarter Justin took an uncontested mark. No one within cooee. Booted a pressure six pointer. The last 5 minutes goal for goal. Final siren. Cats a great win by one point 14.13 to 13.18.
Wood then had some form and injury troubles. Geelong released him at the end of '99. 7 games for 5 goals. No wonder the Dogs added the J man to their rookie list in 2000. He had most of the season with Williamstown. Copped a busted jaw that kept him out 8 weeks. He is still at Willy performing well on the backline.
Justin Wood is now in control of events instead of them controlling him. Not a sniff of conspiracy theory.