FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By LIAM DURKIN
ALL premierships are special, memorable and surrounded by euphoria.
It’s just that some are even more so.
Bonds between premiership teammates often last a lifetime.
It is not often however a bond between an entire team stands the test of time.
A bond that could well be tighter than family.
These teams have something extra, something romantic, something even magical.
Traralgon 2005 is one of them.
The Maroons have won the most premierships of any club in the Gippsland League.
So full is their trophy cabinet, there literally isn’t enough room to house them all in the clubrooms.
Only one premiership however has its own sign, greeting all who enter the Maroons’ headquarters.
Traralgon 2005 is commemorated with that sign.
The team was commemorated further recently, as Traralgon Football-Netball Club gathered for a reunion celebrating the Maroons’ quarter century.
While the night acknowledged all Traralgon FNC success since the millennium, it was clear the team of 2005 was held in the highest esteem.
When Tony Lane, coach of the victorious team, and whose name adorns the grandstand at the Maroons spoke, total reverence was reserved.
“It is so special. That day, 17th September 2005 is the best day of my football life. I’m indebted to you,” Lane said facing players from the game, 19 of whom were at the reunion.
“The longer the years go, the stronger that bond is, you appreciate it more as time goes on.”
The Maroons of 2005 were not the best team Traralgon has ever had, but they completed the greatest performance the club has ever seen.
In doing so, they proved that no team is unbeatable, nothing is impossible, and that anything can happen on Grand Final day.
For a truly magical against the odds triumph, there can surely be nothing that compares to what Traralgon managed to pull off on that September day in 2005.
Even beyond Traralgon it is one of the most famous Grand Final victories in Gippsland football history
Coming into the decider against a rolled gold Maffra on the hunt for a league-record fourth consecutive premiership, the signs could not have been more ominous.
The Eagles went into the decider with a league record 45 consecutive wins under their belt, and had beaten Traralgon by 64, 51 and 81 points in their previous three encounters – the 81 point margin coming in the second semi-final just a fortnight earlier.
In that game alone Maffra kicked 11 goals in the last quarter.
This was the Eagles at the absolute peak of their powers as well. The Burgiel brothers, Adrian and Hayden, and Trood Award and Rodda medallist, Garry Jones just some of the stars of the show.
“They’re best eight-nine players were as good as you would get,” Lane said.
“They were an incredible outfit, just a wonderful side.”
Traralgon appeared to have little in their favour for the Grand Final, other than a home ground advantage and the beautiful uncertainties of football.
The Maroons however had a few tricks up their sleeve.
“That second semi-final we had five players out of the side, four keys players, the McCulloch boys and Tommy McQualter,” Lane recalled.
“At three quarter time we were 30 (points) behind and kicked the first goal of the last quarter, so five minutes into the last quarter we were within four goals of them.
“I don’t think we were going to beat them that day, it was probably a blessing that we didn’t.”
As the result of the semi-final became obvious, the Maroons took the strategic step of resting a few players, after which time the margin bled out beyond 80 points.
Incredibly, Maffra kicked 10 goals in 15 minutes.
“But that was fine. We set ourselves for Moe (in the preliminary final), had a recovery week, had a terrific contest with Moe at Morwell, it was a wet day,” Lane said.
Little was anyone to know how much Traralgon’s conditioning to wet weather footy would benefit them just seven days later.
If the Maroons needed a gift from the football gods, their prayers were answered when the heavens opened up on the Friday night before the Grand Final.
Rain carried over to Grand Final day, and continued to fall throughout.
Taking a “you only need to beat them once” approach, Lane felt something special was brewing.
“Grand Final week you could just sense we weren’t going to die wondering,” he said.
“You can sense as a coach in the rooms before the game, I just thought ‘we’re a real chance here’.”
Conditions on Grand Final day may well have been best summed up in the Thirds match, as Sale defeated Maffra in a scoreline of 2.4 (16) to 0.2 (2).
By the time the seniors started it was clear the game was going to be an old-school slog.
Traralgon stayed with Maffra in the first quarter, before taking a handy nine point lead at the main break.
With the sniff of an upset, the Maroons carried on in the second half and were 16 points ahead with one quarter to play.
“The energy at three quarter time – they weren’t going to lose. I get emotional thinking about it now,” Lane said.
From there, Traralgon was able to fend off some nervy moments early in the last, before Dane McGennisken booted the sealer with five minutes remaining.
A goal to Jarrod Zuehlke from the goal square courtesy of two 50 metre penalties then made sure of it.
The end result: a 23-point win to Traralgon. A result that shocked even the most diehard Maroons supporters.
While the rain was undoubtedly a factor, Lane rightly pointed out there was still 16 goals kicked for the match.
“Although it was wet, slippery and greasy, you’ve just got to adjust to the conditions, I don’t think Maffra did,” he said.
“They were a very skilful side and had a set way that they played, and I don’t think they really deviated from that to adjust during the game.
“We just played the percentages, cracked it, it was just contest by contest by contest.”
In those moments, as much as strategy and theory are important, Lane said mindset was the deciding factor.
“Every one to a man at some stage put his body on the line when he had to,” he said.
“It was a surreal day. We were rank underdogs, but if your heart’s full of belief and your mind’s full of belief you can achieve anything, and we certainly did that day.”
Accepting the premiership cup and addressing players and supporters, Lane, who enjoyed a 20-year playing career for Traralgon, told players and supporters he “couldn’t be prouder” following the win.
Adding to the subsequent storyline, the Maroons proved they didn’t need assistance from the elements to beat Maffra.
In Round 2 of 2006, the Maroons defeated the Eagles on a dry day.
The football gods were at work a few years later in 2009, this time helping Maffra win the premiership against Traralgon with a kick after the siren.
The football universe certainly has a way of levelling out.
