The loyal Magpie brothers

The Quirk brothers, Ryan (left), Dylan (right) and Dylan''s son Wil soak it all in on Friday. 198315 Pictures: ROB CAREW

By Nick Creely

It was impossible to wipe the smile off the faces of Dylan and Ryan Quirk as they stood on Toomuc Reserve soaking it all in.

The hugs from family and friends, the quiet moments to reflect on the achievement and a chance to relish exactly what having that premiership medallion around their necks actually means.

Only 30 minutes prior, the ground was bursting with supporters as Narre Warren – with determination and incredible confidence – hoisted the premiership cup aloft on the dais, finally trumping Berwick, a side that has provided the Magpies with its share of pain in the last two grand finals.

It was a game as tough as it looked on paper.

But it was a game that they both won’t forget in a hurry.

The Quirk brothers are Magpies through-and-through, fiercely loyal to their club, and above all else, have a certain humility that draws people to them.

As club skipper and a senior coach waiting in the wings, Dylan has been through it all – grand final losses, premiership wins, injury, the highs and lows of a football season, and now finally, a personal third-senior premiership that will go down in Narre Warren history as one of its finest considering the challenge that faced them.

Almost lost for words, the relief was palpable in the aftermath of the club’s stunning victory.

“It’s absolutely unreal, third times the charm, isn’t it?” he said.

Dylan – who actually coached his first senior game in the qualifying final against Beaconsfield only a few weeks ago when coach Matt Shinners was ill – told the Gazette that the rollicking rain and wind, combined with a genuine hunger and willingness to band together, spurred his team to an incredible victory.

“We did like it, the wet did suit us, we played really well the week before against Beacy – it really helped us, with that clear game plan and defending to the boundary,” he said.

“We knew that if we could get possession, keep inching forward, and more importantly believe in each other, we’d be a chance.

“We knew they’d come, they’re a good side and with genuine stars, so we knew they’d come, but we hung in tight.”

The skipper praised an impassable backline that held the Wickers to its lowest score in a number of years, pointing out two players for their selfless team games. It’s been a mantra for the Magpies all year, that team-orientated brand of footy at all costs.

“I reckon our backline was as good as it’s been all year,” he said.

“Putting Nathan Foote and Richo (Jake Richardson) down there really shored us up, and the job Foote did on (Harry) Money was unreal, he’s a star, and I wish we had a couple of him.”

Quirk played one of his finest seasons to date in an impressive senior career so far, with the 25-year-old learning to manage the injury issues that have plagued him in the past, and find a way to flourish as one of the supreme leaders of the competition.

“It was good to get back to where I thought I should have been – I had a lean year and a half, and probably the second half of last year I thought I came back into my own,” he said.

“But I got a full pre-season under my belt, and that means you can start by Round 1 and be fit instead of playing catch up and getting fit later on, so hopefully I can keep my body right, manage myself, and keep going.”

For Dylan’s brother Ryan, his influence was just as vital in his first senior football premiership.

The young defender flew for his marks with his trademark bravery going back with the flight, and used his razor-sharp foot skills to be a weapon all day in repelling the Wickers.

It didn’t matter the stage that he was on, the composure told the full story.

Ryan said that the Magpie family stuck together through thick and thin, growing from the pain of the last two years on grand final day to find a way to overcome every obstacle and emerge as a premiership unit.

Quirk believes that not only the players, coaches and support staff were decisive in clinching its first flag since 2013, but the supporters who came out in full voice to really give the group a lift.

“It doesn’t feel real (winning the premiership) – we’re extremely tight, we stuck together, and we’ve been through a couple of those really tough, hard losses in the last couple of years,” he said.

“But you can just see all the supporters around, everyone loves it – the crowd was absolutely electric on the day, every little thing, every spoil, tackle, it gives you a chill, and it really lifts you.”

Quirk – part of an incredible backline that played one of its finest games in recent memory – praised his side for its suffocating pressure up the ground, allowing him to float across and impact the contest when needed.

“I thought our team defence was absolutely unreal – without the other boys coming in and doing their jobs, I can’t jump across and get it, so all credit to my teammates, they helped me out,” he said.

Selected in the 2018 SEFNL Team of the Year, Quirk had a slow start to the season, but returned to his best footy in the second half of the season, adding another dimension to the side and providing plenty of composure down back.

“I absolutely think I was able to get back to it (his best form by the end of the year) – the Thursday night before Round 1 I tore my AC joint, so it wasn’t a great time to do it to be honest, and set me back a bit” he said.

“I missed a couple of weeks, got back to training, but match fitness is completely different to training, so I had a tough start to the year, but I thought that myself and the team just built into the year really well.”

With that premiership medallion fixed firmly around their necks – and the Quirk name continuing to be etched into Magpie history as one of its most famous names – there is a sense that there are plenty more stories to tell for the loyal brothers who will stop at nothing to see their beloved Narre Warren succeed.