Once were warriors- Tooradin-Dalmore president Derek Genoni is adamant that the Seagulls will

“YOU make no mistake about it, mate, this club will be back as a power and winning premierships … and sooner than later,” Derek Genoni bellowed when quizzed about what the Casey Cardinia football league ladders say.
“Look, we know where we’re at – and where we’re going.”
Genoni had a fixed glare – not of a madman, rather of a man who’s mad. And if you were the president of a footy club that hasn’t looked like winning a game, and cannot put a “stepping stone” side together, you’d probably feel a little mad also.
In its opening four games this season, Tooradin-Dalmore kicked 207 points and had 576 points kicked against it.
The story is grimmer for the reserves, who have kicked just 55 points (including no goals in one game), and had 532 points scored against them.
The percentage of the two grades is 35.94 and 10.34 respectively.
The club hasn’t fielded an under-18 side this year, forfeiting all matches. Known as the Seagulls, the club has advertised for players for this season and beyond.
However, if the players have the resolve, steely determination and focus of their president, one day the story will be different.
The name Genoni is synonymous with Tooradin and football. In fact, Genonis have been flying around the town for longer than seagulls have. And there seem to be more of them.
“There has been three or four generations of us. My grandfather (Lew) started that,” Genoni said, while looking over the other side of the South Gippsland Highway to an agricultural business.
“We’re only a small town (1500 people), but that’s no excuse for us being down.
“We’ve got about eight kids for the under-18s and have had offers of assistance from Berwick (opponents this weekend).
“However, before we put an under-18 side out there, we need more numbers in our seconds.
“Then the kids can drop back. And though we have got good under-9s, 11s, 13s and 15s in the Dandenong District Junior Football League, we lose our better kids to bigger towns.
“That hurts us, but we’re trying to do something about it.
“We’re down and need some money to market the club and show benefits to sponsors.
“But we’ve got to be astute with money. We’re not looking for a quick-fix, I’m looking for groups of, say four mates, who will come here for a few years and fit in well.
“I want them to become a part of the football club.”
Tooradin-Dalmore started in 1947, though Tooradin was formed four decades before that.
Its 10th, and last premiership, was in 1997. The Seagulls won the first three flags of the 1970s, and four of the first six premierships of that decade.
Its best player, and arguably one of the best to pull on a boot, was Bill Morrison.
“We won many sweet and glorious victories throughout the years.
“It is us against them – and we are the best,” is a Morrison quote beside his photograph in the eye-catching Tooradin Sports Club.
Morrison coached the Seagulls to four premierships and played in five, he was a two-time winner of the league best-and-fairest (Walker medal), won four club best-and-fairests and was president for three years.
These days, Morrison lives in Ballarat and, despite being limited in movement because of “war” injuries, still works as a plumber.
He attends an annual players reunion at Tooradin.
Also in the “show and tell cabinet” at Tooradin, are two awards – both from police.
In 1993, the boys in blue based at Bunyip judged the Seagulls the best conducted junior football club in West Gippsland. Six seasons later, Victoria Police awarded Tooradin-Dalmore the “most disciplined football club/team”.
This recognition was for understanding and abiding by the rules, for demonstrating sportsmanship and encouraging its ideals, for showing respect to players, officials and supporters and for promoting an awareness in the community for a safe and enjoyable lifestyle through discipline and sportsmanship.
As comforting as the recognition from the lawmakers was, Genoni has his eyes more on the now and the tomorrows, rather than the yesterdays.
“We’ve got an active website and produce ‘Seagulls Chatter’, an eight-page newsletter for home games,” Genoni said.
“Everything is cyclical and our turn will come again.
“There’s passion here and we’re having a crack. You watch this space.”