It was
Eric Johns Cup Day and I must admit at the end of the day I was exceptionally
proud of the Curra Swans Football Club as an entity, as footballers, and as
supporters despite the way the results went. The reserves lost by a
solitary goal and the seniors just fell short.
Seniors
Unfortunately things didn't go to script and it wasn't
that the players didn't have a dip because they did. In reality it wasn't a bad
game of footy. Certainly the Bear dared to dream at three quarter time that we
could upset the Tigers. Again a bit of a last quarter fade out saw our team
fall short at the end.
What was pleasing from the Bear's furry eyes was the fact
that some of the young blokes are starting to step up and deliver what we knew
they had.
In general with good contributors all over the ground the
Bear can see massive improvement and refuses to hibernate in case he
misses the win when it comes.
Reserves
For the
reserves the standout performances came from Tyson “Westy” McNeill, Ben Morris,
Toby Craig,
Shane “Sticks”
Lindgren, Richard Mann (again), Michael “Tom Cruise Control” Roverts, Jimmy the
Demon, and of course Trevor “The Terror” Rial.
Our
three junior sides tried valiantly but were unable to come away with a win.
Finally
can I just acknowledge the overall day from a club perspective and say that I
could not have been prouder of the players, support staff and supporters
throughout the day. The Swannies have come a long way in the little bit
of time that I have been at the club and on Saturday really showed what it is
to respect your own club, respect your opposition and show due reverence for
such a special day on the football calendar in recognition of a great proponent
of Townsville AFL, Mr Eric Johns. As I said, despite the results the club
carried itself professionally both on and off the field for the entire day and
showed what a club built upon respect and old fashioned effort looks like,
which is, I feel, starting to stand us apart from some clubs, setting a good
example similar to the way other clubs already do. We might not have the
access to greater finances like other clubs, but we bust our arse to get ahead,
and it shows. We may not have the facilities of other clubs, but we train
in the dark to try and improve. We may not have the number of players of
other clubs but everyone who is pulling on the Swans Guernsey of late looks
like they are providing the effort of two men. On Saturday I was as proud
as I had ever been on the football paddock....Well done to absolutely everyone................Leo
Lahey
Pictures of the Seniors game in photo album.