By Tara Murray
Roxburgh Park captain Harley Short gave everything he had to get his side across the line to finally win an Essendon District Football League division 2 premiership.
Short, who had been part of the Magpies’ grand final losses in 2014 and 2016, didn’t want to feel that sort of heartbreak again.
The skipper led from the front and helped guide his side to a 6.11 (47)-5.11 (41) victory.
There wasn’t much surprise when he was awarded the best-on-ground medal.
Speaking straight after the game, Short said winning the premiership was a great feeling.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I came back five years ago for this sole reason. It’s been a long journey and we’ve finally got there in the end.
“It’s been five years in the making for a couple of us. We had like eight or nine guys from the first grand final and eight or nine from the second grand final and a new bunch of boys this year.
“We just gelled at the right time.”
Short said they knew they were the more experienced team and it showed out on the field.
Short said there were a few nerves in the final quarter knowing the Thunder was kicking with the wind.
He said that experience showed through when it was needed the most.
The premiership is a long way from 2017, when the Magpies missed out on finals. Short said that year really brought the group together.
“We had a bit of a hiccup at the start of the year and in the middle of the year a few of us went to Europe,” he said.
“But in terms of coming together the solidarity was there.
“Faz [Michael Farrelly] has brought that into the club – he’s brought a little bit of professionalism and I think the boys have thrived off it this year.”
As for being best on ground, Short didn’t expect the award to come his way.
“It could have gone to any of the 22 of us, we all played our role,” he said.
“I started cramping up towards the end of the third quarter. I was starting to struggle.
“I had to go deep forward in the last five minutes and I was hoping that I didn’t have to do too much hard running as I was stuffed.”
For more on the grand final:
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/roxburgh-parks-flag-last/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/east-sunbury-president-lauds-massive-effort/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/east-sunbury-bows-out-at-final-hurdle/
