The Hornet's Nest No. 7
“I love thee, as I love the first young violet of spring”
Rested, rejuvenated, and in a sublime state of physical and mental health, the Hornet is back for 2006. Lying relatively low for the past month, I have received many emails and calls from concerned readers enquiring as to my whereabouts (most of them female relatives of the players). Living in the humming metropolis that is Melbourne, I have been busy consuming the local delights and festivities.
 The Australian Open has recently been run and won and the city was littered with stars from all walks of life. Again my social calendar was full attending the events and functions that had been scheduled for the influx of big names. It was again a timely reminder of how good I look in a tuxedo.
I kept my camera close by as the star spotting opportunities were immense and you would never know when you would be face to face with a player. I snapped the shot here along the Tullamarine Freeway after a training session.
A big congratulations to Craig Simmons who made his first class debut for NSW. The scene for Simmo's debut was quite fittingly in the northern town of Newcastle. Simmo is not the only young Stag to get a call up in Newcastle, but not all have been at the Newcastle Sports Stadium. Apparently the Blues stayed at the Bimet Hotel except for Simmo who was refused accommodation due to his association with the Stags and Tony Wilson.
 As one of the Stag's first grade players prepares himself for take-off along the runway of love (read JOF), another young player must be wondering if he will ever find love again, after managing to wear a haggard in his melon for the second time in two seasons. I remember James Hosking as a kid with boyish good looks who would not have looked out of place on Brokeback Mountain. Now, he looks as though he has gone 12 rounds with Cinderella Man.
(James Hosking)
With the new year, there will surely be new questions that will need answering from the Hornet's library of life experiences…Remember, the Hornet is here to help.
The Hornet | 
