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Welcome to Episode of Just Havin a Crack

1948 INVINCIBLE

Our special guest this week is the great Neil Harvey who is an Australian test Cricketer who represented Australia between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain of the team from 1957 until his retirement. An attacking left-handed Batter and regarded as one of our greatest ever players. Harvey was also one of the best fieldsmen Australia has ever produced.  Neil was the senior batsman in the Australian team for much of the 1950s Upon his retirement, He was also the second-most prolific Test run-scorer and century-maker for Australia at the time of his retirement.

We chat to Neil about the early days of his career before making his debut in January 1948 in Adelaide aged 19 years and three months. In his second test match at the MCG, he became the youngest Australian to score a Test century leading into the famous 1948 invincible tour regraded as one of the finest teams in history. After initially struggling in English conditions in the lead-up games, he made a century on his Ashes debut. We also talk about the trip on the ship to England in 1948 and chat about his Captain Sir Donald Bradman.

Neil ended up after the 1948 invincible tour becoming one of our greatest ever test batsmen scoring 6149 test runs including 21 100s and 24 50s at an average of 48.41 including a best of 205.

We hope you enjoy this weeks edition of “ Just Havin a crack “as much as we did.

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Welcome to episode 13 of Just Havin a Crack

A GOD CALLED LETHAL

Our guest Leigh Mathews was voted the greatest AFL player of all time. 
From the outset, he had a steely determination to be the best he could. Joining the Hawthorn Football Club as a teenager and quickly establishing himself against men, Giants of the game. You look back in time and Leigh stood tall and learnt from arguably the greatest coaches the game has had.
It was tuff and uncompromising game, Leigh and Hawthorne were the best. It was what it needed to be.
We talk to Leigh about his playing days and then becoming a media personality and coach with Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions.
Right from the start, his voice and how he carries himself is exactly how he played. It is how to become the best at what he did.
When Leigh talks you listen, you buy-in and you want to be the best you can be.

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Welcome to this episode of Just Havin a Crack.

HE IS ALL HEART

We speak to Gavin "Jed" Allen FOG number 72 and great Queenslander. Gavin played football in a tough era of rugby league. Coming down from Cairns to play for Valleys in the BRL competition and winning the best and fairest for the comp in his first year. St George beckoned after that, but not before lunch with the great Arthur Beetson to convince him to go to the Roosters.
Jed is a typical country kid, no-nonsense and just gets the job done attitude. 
Unbeknown to him and following his father receiving a heart transplant before Jed's Origin debut, Jed also carry the same complaint.
Playing his entire career with a heart that had less than 25% capacity.
Jed too needed a transplant which he received a short while ago. Jed talks with pride and passion for that opportunity.
This is a great yarn

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Welcome to Just Havin a Crack episode 10 Peter Anderson.

BLACKBEARD AFGHANISTAN and the CIA

We speak to Peter who was widely regarded as the best wicketkeeper Australia has produced.

As we know Peter was understudy to many exceptional wicketkeepers before he got his opportunity to represent QLD. An injury would also catapult Ian Healy to the test side and well, the rest is history. 

Peter played 1st class cricket, retired and went onto represent QLD again in the Sheffield Shield competition whilst playing in the Bundaberg club cricket competition. This was the first time a player selected from the country, in 40 years.

When Peter's playing career finished, coaching called. Coaching PNG, Afghanistan and the Cayman Islands.

Peter talks in-depth of his time coaching Afghanistan. A country at war, corruption, death threats and eventually a CIA enquiry which sent Peter to Washington.

Peter of recently has battled throat cancer which we can say he is doing extremely well and in good health.

From club cricket in Brisbane to the steps of Washington this is a great story.

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Welcome to this episode of Just Havin a Crack.

42 COURAGEOUS BRAVE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

Sean Mulqueen was 25 when he enlisted in the Australian army, his trigger was 9/11. Like all of us, we remember that day. Well for Sean it was his memory which prompted him to enlist in the Australian Army.
Mully's grandfather was a Rat of Tobruk, his legacy lived with Mully and Mully wanted to do his country proud.
Mully joined the Combat Engineers, doesn't sound much but the storey grows from there.
The combat engineers like all soldiers have an important role to play in combat. Yes, they build infrastructure and support for others, but they also provide clearance for troops when a survey on patrol. You see the engineer is the pointy end of the patrol, looking for mines, explosives and other weaponry that could cause harm to the rest of the troops.
This story we go into the Afganistan conflict and we see it from a solders eye.
The situation was real, the enemy was real.
Mully returned with battle scars but the biggest injury was the mental scars of war.
We named this episode 42 Courageous Brave But Not Forgotten, this is to support Mully's charity which he set up with his mates that served in Afganistan.
42 for 42 represents the 41 fallen soldiers in the Afghanistan conflict and the 42nd is for those who have tragically taken the lives through suicide.

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Welcome to this episode of Just Havin a Crack.

42 COURAGEOUS BRAVE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

Sean Mulqueen was 25 when he enlisted in the Australian army, his trigger was 9/11. Like all of us, we remember that day. Well for Sean it was his memory which prompted him to enlist in the Australian Army.
Mully's grandfather was a Rat of Tobruk, his legacy lived with Mully and Mully wanted to do his country proud.
Mully joined the Combat Engineers, doesn't sound much but the storey grows from there.
The combat engineers like all soldiers have an important role to play in combat. Yes, they build infrastructure and support for others, but they also provide clearance for troops when a survey on patrol. You see the engineer is the pointy end of the patrol, looking for mines, explosives and other weaponry that could cause harm to the rest of the troops.
This story we go into the Afganistan conflict and we see it from a solders eye.
The situation was real, the enemy was real.
Mully returned with battle scars but the biggest injury was the mental scars of war.
We named this episode 42 Courageous Brave But Not Forgotten, this is to support Mully's charity which he set up with his mates that served in Afganistan.
42 for 42 represents the 41 fallen soldiers in the Afghanistan conflict and the 42nd is for those who have tragically taken the lives through suicide.
We hope you enjoy this podcast.

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Giday and welcome to Just Havin a crack.

A ROCK N ROLL OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL

Today we talk to Olympic Gold Medalist Natalie Cook. Nat was one part of the Olympic Gold Medal winners of the Female Gold Medal for Beach Volleyball in the Sydney Olympics. One the same day in 2000 as Cathy Freeman won gold in the 400m.
The Volleyball at the Sydney games was given rock star status. Located on the beach at the famous Bondi Beach, 10,000 people crammed into the grandstands to watch Nat and Kerrie Pottharst win gold against the red hot Brazilian team.
Nat's gold medal was Australia's 99th gold medal and Cathy's famously being the 100th gold medal.
Nat has her podcast series "On My Day" which is consecutive days on which the Tokyo Olympics which have been cancel due to COVID. We talk to Nat about her guests, her series is a great insight into an Olympic Athlete.
Nat is a five-time Olympian and is still heavily involved in the Olympic movement.

This is a story of can do and you will have a smile on your face the whole way through.

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Giday and welcome to this episode of Just Havin a Crack.

STUART LAW THE SHERIFF OF QLD CRICKET

Blakey and Banger sit down to talk with Queensland great Stuart Law. Stuart was an outstanding batsman in an era of cricket where competition for spots in the Australian side was hard-won.

Stuart did represent Australia in one Test match but doesn't have a test average, but does have a test half-century. He went on to represent Australia in a world cup and many one-day internationals.

Stuart held the Sheffield Shield aloft as captain of Queensland's first-ever shield winning side. That was the start of a dynasty of Queensland cricket dominance.

Stuart is a great Queenslander, a passionate Queenslander and this shines through in our chat with Stuart.

Family man, international cricket coach, test cricketer, one day cricketer, county cricketer and QLD great, Stuart is the Law.

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Giday and welcome to this episode of Just Havin a Crack.

STUART LAW THE SHERIFF OF QLD CRICKET

Blakey and Banger sit down to talk with Queensland great Stuart Law. Stuart was an outstanding batsman in an era of cricket where competition for spots in the Australian side was hard-won.

Stuart did represent Australia in one Test match but doesn't have a test average, but does have a test half-century. He went on to represent Australia in a world cup and many one-day internationals.

Stuart held the Sheffield Shield aloft as captain of Queensland's first-ever shield winning side. That was the start of a dynasty of Queensland cricket dominance.

Stuart is a great Queenslander, a passionate Queenslander and this shines through in our chat with Stuart.

Family man, international cricket coach, test cricketer, one day cricketer, county cricketer and QLD great, Stuart is the Law.

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Giday and welcome to episode 7 of Just Havin a Crack.

IMRAN, MUGABE & CLIFFORD

Our guest in this episode is Peter Clifford. Peter was a country kid that went to Sydney to follow his dream to play cricket.

His journey is understated to those who don't know him. Peter was a run machine and a deep thinker of the game. Peter played for NSW and Queensland during his career.

Whilst playing for NSW topped the First-class averages in his first two years of Shield Cricket. Won a shield final for NSW and went on to represent Australia under 25's and toured Zimbabwe and meeting, Robert Mugabe.

Peter is a deeply respected figure in Brisbane Club cricket, his knowledge of the game is second to none.

He grew up in an era when Australian cricket was strong and he more than held his own.

He is proud of his achievements and this is a ripping yarn.

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