WILL Farrer believes he’s taken better marks than his spectacular grab for Ouyen United last weekend, they just weren’t caught on camera.
The high-flyer’s massive leap against Red Cliffs was the talk of the Mallee on Saturday.
Since then, thanks to photos by Jo Morrish, the amazement has spread far and wide.
In consecutive frames, Farrer can be seen catching a ride on the shoulders of Red Cliffs’ Liam McGlashan before extending his legs fully upright.
McGlashan’s brother Jarrod, who from the back of the pack also hitched a pretty substantial ride, was quickly overshadowed by a soaring Farrer.
A screengrab of yet-to-be-released video footage further illustrated just how high he got.
‘He couldn’t have put it in a better spot and I just flew for it’
IT was another Farrer, Will’s brother Josiah, who set the whole thing up.
The two Northern Territory-based Kangas had teamed up earlier in the year for an impressive mark against Wentworth, but the grab against Red Cliffs would eclipse that.
“My brother Joey had the ball and he sort of gave me the little nod and I put my hand up to call for it,” Will said this week.
“I’d say he couldn’t have put it in a better spot and I just flew for it.”
Will said it was a case of perfect timing, including a bit of air drift giving some assistance.
“I aimed for his shoulders and sort of jumped up there and he gave me an extra boost, because I think he was trying to jump for it,” he said.
So where did the weekend’s effort rank? Was it his best ever mark?
“I’d say it’s up there,” Farrer said.
“Since I started playing when I was 17, I reckon I’ve taken a few better ones, but never got them on footage.
“I’ve certainly taken some up in the NTFL before the TV games, but they’re just the ones people would’ve seen with their own eyes and there’s no footage of it.”
Sunraysia fans aren’t unfamiliar with Farrer’s leaping ability, which has even been on display in grand final goal celebrations.
Farrer said while he has done some high jump – his record was 1.86m – most of the skill comes naturally.
“Up where I come from in Kununurra, especially in the Kimberley region, there are heaps of boys that have possessed similar vertical leaps,” he said.
“My family certainly does – I have an uncle that can probably jump 2m higher than I can.”
‘About 10 shots after that the battery went flat’
JO Morrish has been taking football photos for about six years, both in the old Mallee league and after the newly-merged Kangas joined Sunraysia three years ago.
She uses a second-hand Canon camera and lens, and mainly takes photos so others not at the game can enjoy them.
Morrish knows to keep a close eye on Farrer’s movements when the ball heads his way and that’s just what she did on Saturday.
She followed along using continuous fast shutter speed as it unfolded.
After the big mark mark, she quickly checked to make sure she got the shot – and that it was in focus.
“There was lots of applause, of course, and then everyone around me, who know I take photos, was like, ‘Did you get it? Did you get it?’,” she said.
She had indeed got it.
“It was all over pretty quick,” she said.
“Then about 10 shots after that the battery went flat in my camera – it was lucky.”
Morrish said the resulting snaps were probably the best she’d taken.
‘I thought he went way too early’
BOTH of Farrer’s Ouyen United co-coaches had the exact same first thought when they saw him go for the mark.
Andy Jardine, watching about 20m behind where Josiah had kicked from, said: “My initial thought was ‘oh, he’s gone a bit early here’.”
Luke Nathan, on the bench, echoed the sentiment: “I thought he went way too early, but he managed just to keep going up and up.”
At this point, Jardine thought Farrer was a chance to spill the mark – he had simply never seen someone get that high up before.
But take the mark Farrer did, leaving Nathan – like many others at Blackburn Park – in awe.
“To hold onto it as well was just sensational, unbelievable,” Nathan said, who rated it the best mark he’d seen.
Many others, including Sunraysia Daily football writer Bernie Kelly, agreed.
Ouyen United president Tony Keely said Farrer after the game was “chuffed” that it was his brother who had delivered the ball.
“I’ve seen some absolute rippers in my time but that’s equal to any mark you’d see,” Keely said.
“Other than someone running backwards kamikaze and taking the mark, that’s as good as you’re going to get.
“For absolute straight up, straight down, it was perfect, it was textbook.”
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