By DAVID NAGEL
A WEEK can be a long time in sport so just imagine how long the last 12 months have been for Tooradin captain Aaron Avery, and his Seagulls, after last season’s grand final loss to Kooweerup.
His side was criticised for the way they played that game, then throw in some off-field dramas that include parting ways with its coach in the early part of this season, and you begin to understand how much the Seagulls win over Merinda Park, in the weekend’s West Gippsland Premier Division Grand Final, really does mean.
“Last year really cut us deep,” Avery said, struggling to keep his emotions in check immediately after the game on Sunday.
“It’s been a tough year, we’ve had some off field s*!* going on but this group has just gelled together. To come back from all that, and now to do this, is just unbelievable, they’re the best bunch of blokes. This is just the best feeling in the world right now.”
Avery was understandably proud of his whole team but made special mention of his two grand final stars, century maker Tom Hussey and his five-wicket hero, Steve Hamill.
“Huss didn’t have a good finals series last year and it’s been eating him up all season,” he said. “To come out and do what he did in the biggest game of the year was just an unbelievable effort.”
“Stevie Hamill was just unbelievable today. He’s got Osteitis pubis but he just bowled through it. We had runs on the board and the plan was to just bowl in the right areas, dry them up and let them come to us. He did that perfectly and got five wickets in his first flag, in a lot of ways this is for him.”
Avery also heaped praise on Merinda Park and their sensational effort to make this season’s big dance after being promoted from District Division.
“I can’t say enough about them. They came at us hard and it’s a great effort by them, a great season. Jamie Smith has really led that club well and they should be proud of what they’ve achieved.”
And the feeling of finally getting his hands on his first premiership cup?
“It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet. I’ve been watching all the other guys in the club come back with premiership cups over the last couple of years, and now we’ve finally got one,” he said.
“It just means the world to me, I’m so happy and can’t wait to have a big night tonight (Sunday) and then we’ve got a Mad-Monday dress up tomorrow.”
So what are the chances of getting back to work before Easter?
“Nah mate … no chance.”
