Pssst: Coburg, from Bavaria to the VFL

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Feathersone had read a bit of Marx when he was doing a law-commerce degree at Melbourne University. In Heathcote he worked mainly as a labourer and quietly maintained his leftist politics. He was impressed when Walesa became the first democratically-elected leader of Poland. When his partner Liz Spillane gave birth to a son he suggested the name Lech.

“He seemed a pretty good guy,” Featherstone said. “I just liked the cut of his jib.”

Featherstone admitted he was taken aback when friends said “Who?” after asking about his son’s name. “We thought everyone knew who Lech Walesa was. We didn’t think it was a weird or unusual name. We thought there’d be more Lechs around.”

Featherstone plays guitar and harmonica in Melbourne’s Dollar 20 Blues Band, while Spillane is the driving force behind the family’s native plant nursery. On the face of it, they lead left-wing lives. But Feathertone said they are not overtly political and Lech’s name was never meant as a form of homage. It’s more a passing nod to a famous figure, and “it’s nice and short – not too complicated”.

Despite the intentions, there has been at least some confusion. Lech himself recalled the first day of school each year. “Every teacher would have a guess,” he said, “You know, ‘Letch’ or ‘Leech’ or, ‘Is that short for anything?’ Or ‘Lachie’. I was all right with it. It’s just a name.”

Featherstone does concede the unfamiliarity of his name when he orders pizza by phone, in which case his name is Tom. Footy club people have rarely asked about his name, but he’s happy to provide an explanation when they do.

Bill Featherstone never misses his son’s games, but Lech gets his footy ability from his mother’s side. Her brother is Dominic Spillane, who in the 1980s played with Old Paradians and was an All-Australian Amateur. Feathersone played with TAC Cup club Bendigo Pioneers, but when he finished with under-age footy he went back to playing with Heathcote. When he moved to Melbourne to study IT at La Trobe University he would drive back to Heathcote each weekend to play with friends.

Featherstone played in four grand finals with Heathcote for two premierships. After he tired of the weekly drives home he joined Pascoe Vale, where he won two best and fairest awards playing at centre half-forward. At the end of last season, by which time he was 24, Featherstone thought he would try out at state level while he was still young enough. Coburg appealed because it had cut ties with Richmond and would be a stand-alone club.

German played the 193-centimetre forward as a lead-up target before bringing him back closer to goal “to give us someone to kick to”. He said Featherstone is one of the many talented local players on whom the club is basing its future.

German said Featherstone had made an impression during a fun exercise in which the players were shown part of an old footy video and asked to describe what happened next. German showed the lead-up to Jezza’s mark in the 1970 grand final and asked who was the unfortunate stepladder. Featherstone said ‘Jerka’ Jenkin.

“No one in the place had a clue except Lech,” German said. “He was the only player who knew.

“Lech’s a bit old school. He understands the past and respects it.”

THE WATCHMAN

4 minutes to midnight before…

… we are all reminded that the Commonwealth Games are a jolly sporting event that should never be inflated beyond what it really is – a kick to kick in the park between friends.

LOCAL HERO

Hooray for AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan who this week killed the marketing-inspired notion of installing player’s names on the back of jumpers. Saying the move made no sense given the names couldn’t be read, the boss said: “I won’t be revisiting it in my lifetime, I don’t think.’’ In protecting the, ahem, fabric of the game, we look forward to more heroic stands in future.

WHAT THEY SHOULD DO…

… is give the big men a run in the grand final sprint. Sandilands, Maric, Merrett and co would make for a giant spectacle, and if the little guys still want to be involved in the race they could stand on the finish line and be skittled by the big men coming through. Now that would be entertaining. – TOM KEEL, Fitzroy

Email your contribution to: sundaysport@theage.com.au or twitter: @sundayagesport

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