Sport
12 July, 2022
Demons celebrate 2002 flag
AN enthusiastic crowd gathered in Timboon last weekend to celebrate Heytesbury Demons’ 2002 premiership flags.
AN enthusiastic crowd gathered in Timboon last weekend to celebrate Heytesbury Demons’ 2002 premiership flags.
The past players day was well attended by many of the former club’s premiership players and supporters who took the opportunity to share stories and watch Saturday’s clash with Dennington.
While the premiership flags (in both the seniors and reserves) were won 20 years ago, for those at last weekend’s game, the memories and friendships have proven lifelong.
Premiership coaches from 2002 Paul Marshall (seniors) and Mick Hunt (reserves) were among the crowd at Saturday’s celebrations.
“It was a terrific day, full of laughs and stories that got longer as the day went on,” Marshall said.
“It was great to catch up with some of the blokes from those two sides, many I’d hardly seen since."
“The likes of Joe Clover (who was manning the gate on Saturday), Doug Trigg, Barry Rippen and Noel McKinnon they were all there and just as cheeky as ever."
“Clinton McLeod was another bloke there on Saturday; he coached some of the lads in the under 17s who were playing in reserves and seniors last weekend. And Huey Worrell, who was a three-time Maskell medallist, was there umpiring the seniors which was special too.”
The 2002 premiership (played in the Heytesbury Mt Noorat League) was extra special for Marshall, who had joined the Heytesbury Demons just two years prior.
“I always wanted to be just like my dad (Ian). He coached Heytesbury under 17s to a flag in, I think, 1986 or 87 and half those blokes I coached some 30 years later,” he said.
Recalling the 2002 grand final day, Marshall said there was a lot of pressure on the seniors to bring home the flag.
“They were a fit and talented group but we had been hen pecking the ressies and when they won there was a lot of pressure on the senior side to also take it home."
“The reserves defeated Simpson and the seniors ran over Otway Districts by about 60-odd points; I was pretty relieved about that.”
The following year, in 2003, the Heytesbury Demons and Timboon Saints amalgamated to form the Timboon Demons and entered the Warrnambool District League.
“It’s a great atmosphere at Timboon and the future looks bright for the club,” Marshall said.
“I spoke with the playing group before they ran out last Saturday and just encouraged them to keep going; they’re struggling abit at the moment but their time will come again.”
