Re: Things that you rate!
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 9:13 amvalleys07 wrote:Failed Creation wrote:I rate witnessing @valleys07 captain his beloved Hope Valley to a flag yesterday.
It was also good to see @Booney, @Footy Chick and @The Bedge at various stages.
Firstly dude - I cannot thank you and your lovely wife enough for offering to come out and take photo's of the day. I have admired your work behind the lens for many years, and I was incredibly grateful that you chose to come and support my club and I and capture memories of the day that we will all treasure for a lifetime. Based on what you have already sent me, we are all hanging for the completed album!
On to Saturday. Where do I even start?
Clubs are measured on success at A Grade level. It's not quite the be all and end all, but it's close. I have played at Hope Valley for 16 seasons, played over 200 games, achieved life membership and have played in flags prior to Saturday. I have also witnessed my club's A Grade lose 3 Grand Finals, from losing on pretty much the last kick of the day, to 100+ point beltings. I grew envious of blokes who had either played in A Grade flags themselves, or had witnessed their clubs have success in the top grade. Not just your Goodwood Saints of the league, but even bloody Mitchell Park has tasted A Grade success in recent times. In recent times I have found myself wondering when it would happen at my club..
On Saturday, it wasn't about me or any of the C grade lads. Whilst our game was important to us as individuals, most of the blokes in our side (except for the few who hadn't played in a flag before) would have given up a win in order to have the A Grade break their 25 year hoodoo, myself included.
Describing the scenes at Salisbury Oval at 4:30pm simply won't do it justice. When that siren went, it was utter pandemonium. Champagne and beer spraying everywhere. Hundreds of teammates, friends, wives, girlfriends and proud relatives just mobbing the 22 victorious A Graders. Plenty of cheers, and many, many tears. In December 2018, the club adopted the hashtag #timetoendthedrought. What season 2019 delivered was a shift in standards, a culture change, and the Grandest Flag of them all.
As for me - it might sound ridiculous, but like all kids who are footy fanatics - you dream of being an AFL star, on the big stage hoisting up the cup on the last Saturday in September. Whilst I didn't get close to fulfilling the first part of that dream, to be captain of a premiership team is something that I will hold dear to my heart for the rest of my life, even if it was only at C5 level. I missed out on the opportunity in 2018, my body not quite getting me to the finish line. Having to withdraw from that Grand Final side the night before was probably the hardest call I have had to make in sport, and I sort of feel like I was rewarded for my decision - not missing a game in 2019 and winning the Flag on Saturday. Premierships aren't easy to win, so going back-to-back is seriously special, and the C Grade became just the 2nd side in the club's 115 year history to achieve the feat.
I'll probably get mocked for the above post, but **** it. Saturday was a truly special day for me and my footy club. I am as aware as anyone that there is much more to life than a game of football, but from a sporting perspective, nothing will come close to 14.09.2019.
Up the Mighty Valleys!
Well written mate. I had a chat to Duggy after the game and was happy that he finally got his reward for his effort. Hopefully it's our turn next year now that you pricks are gone.
