By Tyler Lewis
For Nathan Foote, a ‘sneaky suspicion’ during the week turned into a defining performance.
When Foote, one of the competition’s most consistent midfielders, stood next to Berwick superstar Harry Money on the last line of defence, heads swivelled around Toomuc Reserve on Friday.
Initially it seemed like a tactic that was going to be changed, but in a matter of moments Foote was storming out of defensive 50, making Money accountable and resisting the Wickers’ strongest avenue to goal whenever they went forward.
It was a coaching ploy by Matt Shinners that Foote saw coming.
“I had a sneaky suspicion,” he said.
“I played a lot of footy down back earlier in my career at TAC and VFL level.
“It has been a while since I have been back there, but after last week I had a sneaky suspicion.
“He (Matt Shinners) gave me the heads up on Wednesday.
“It was a challenge – credit to Harry Money he is a really good player, (he is) hard to play on – but you do what you have to do to win a flag.”
Foote – who was awarded the best on ground medal for his performance – said it wasn’t about beating him hands down, but acknowledging the talent of his opponent and walking away from every contest possible with an even ledger.
“It was just about halving the one-on-one contest,” he said.
“He (Money) is a very dangerous player, he plays very well.
“Credit to Berwick, you can’t beat him every time – they will always get a run on every now and again.
“But it was really just maintaining the one-on-one contests and halving that.
“I felt that I halved a few one-on-ones, he got on top a bit, but at the end of the day we got the points which is the main thing.”
A piece of paper was hung on the door in the Narre Warren change rooms with the message to have fun and enjoy the moment, a message Foote said was led by those who have achieved the glory before, and it helped when it mattered the most.
“So a few of the older boys like Michael Collins and Col McNamara have played in a lot of flags before – they came out Wednesday at training and said ‘enjoy it, we have worked so hard to get here’.
“Being nervous is fine, but really go out there and celebrate the day, and the season.
“We celebrated the little things throughout the day, kind of like the little efforts, and as a club we are really tightknit so it was easy for us and it worked.”
With two well-deserved medals draped around his neck, Foote said although it hasn’t quite sunk in yet, the monkey is off the back.
“It is still very fresh, but obviously really exciting,” he said.
“I think, as a playing group, we had a really good feeling coming into the week.
“It really started with the reserves earlier in the day, a whole lot of relief and a whole lot of excitement – (it was) a great day.
“I think we had a really good four-quarter performance, we brought a young kid into the ruck, Connor (Wilkins) on debut, so it was a really big game from him.
“And we went really well through the middle, around the ground, around the stoppages – Connor was able to get his hands down to some in the ruck.
“We really kind of halved the contest and didn’t allow them clean passage they usually get through the middle of the ground that really helped the defenders.
“I think so (the monkey of Berwick being off the back) – we were due.
“So I think there is a lot of relief, especially for the coaches.
“A lot of relief for the players, it was a long time coming and we were due for this one.”
Foote also joked about his newfound role as a key defender, and whether it would become a permanent role.
“We will see what the coaches think – I don’t mind playing through the midfield, but it is not my decision,” he said while laughing.
Foote’s performance will now be etched into Narre Warren’s history books, and has demonstrated the risks that need to be taken to achieve premiership glory.
