Walkerville 8-7-55 D Salisbury North 8-6-54

Last Sunday, the Walkerville Under 15’s played Salisbury North.

It was always going to be a special day with the recent passing of last year’s premiership winning coach, Richard Newman.

2006 had been a stellar year, undefeated all year and grand final winners by 78 points. Richard had galvanized the team into an unstoppable machine.

2007 was different. Richard was too sick to continue and many of our boys didn’t return. The new coach had to resign after 3 games. Fortunately, Paul Stringer was able to take over the reins. After seven games, we were 0-7 and bottom of the table, losing most games by 20 odd goals. Most weeks we couldn’t even get 18 players. It looked like being a very long winter.

This week however, things seemed different. We finally had a full team and the players seemed focused.

The day started on a sombre note with both teams lining up for a minute of silence and the Walkerville boys wearing black armbands.

Once the game started however, it was full-on. Although competitive, we were outplayed and at half time we hadn’t kicked a goal and found ourselves five goals in arrears.

Some deft moves by coach Stringer, turned the game around and in the third quarter, with the wind, we kicked strongly and found ourselves at ¾ time, only two goals down (but heading into the last quarter, kicking into a howling gale.)

Paul Stringer inspired the boys with a ‘Barassi’ like ¾ time speech.

The last quarter will long be remembered. Somehow we held the opposition scoreless and managed to grind out 2 goals and then wind the clock down to achieve a 1 point win. The boys sang the club song for the first time this year with as much gusto as after last year’s grand final.

There were cheers, beers and more than a few tears as we celebrated the day and reflected on our departed coach and friend.

Valé Richard.