By RUSSELL BENNETT
“THE one thing I want to hear is Gembrook going in and singing their song, and I want to make sure it’s loud. We’re here to celebrate this game we play, and we’re here to celebrate each other. We’ve spent our time in silence, and Gembrook has every right to sing that song loud, and with passion.”
These were the spine-tingling words from Caillin Porter, whose Emerald side had just lost to Gembrook Cockatoo by three points in the latest chapter of their famous Yarra Valley Mountain District Football Netball League (YVMDFNL) rivalry, 5.6 (36) to 4.9 (33).
As Caillin spoke, every Brookers or Bombers player stood arm-in-arm next to an opponent or opposition club person – forming a ring around the centre circle in the middle of the Gembrook footy ground.
For these two clubs, today was about so much more than football and netball. It was a way for them to come together as one, as part of the same hills community grieving over the loss of three precious young lives – Sharn Walker, Jason Breakwell and Felisha Allen.
The events of the past week have put sport – at every level, whether it is AFL or YVMDFNL – into a real context.
But it’s not “just a game”. Not really. What happens on the field or on the court fades into insignificance at times like these, but sport itself provides an outlet for binding a whole community together in its darkest hour and providing an overwhelming amount of support for those doing it so tough.
Earlier in the morning, with cars beginning to pack out the ground from well before 9:30, footy and netball players from both the Bombers and Brookers converged on the netball courts to pay a special tribute to Sharn. Amanda Paull, her coach and great mate, spoke prior to the gathering of well over 100 people releasing balloons into the wintry sky.
Pick up a copy of this week’s Gazette for so much more on an incredibly moving day up at Gembrook – where the warmth in the hearts of everyone wearing Brooker green or Bombers red and black would outlast the bitter cold and rainy day.
Click on the videos below – the first of Gembrook Cockatoo and Emerald footballers, netballers and club people standing arm in arm as a show of support for each other after the tragic loss of three young lives; and the second of the Brookers belting out their theme song – just as the Emerald boys wanted.
Note: videos come with a language warning.
