By David Nagel
Tooradin’s first premiership in nine years meant so much too so many people on Saturday…from a fresh-faced 17-year-old Tyler Evans right through to 78-year-old club legend Barry Freeman.
Gazette Sports Editor DAVE NAGEL caught up with Freeman, and all the players, as the celebrations began on Saturday night.
First up was Tooradin’s skipper:
Cal O’Hare (Captain) – Opener
“It’s starting to sink in, it means so much, obviously it’s been nine years ago since we won it and honestly, I thought we would have back here a bit quicker than now. It’s just a massive relief now to be the best team this season and to finally get the job done…it’s an incredible feeling.
“We knew they (Cardinia) were going to be up-and-about and intense, that’s the sort of side they are, they play good hard cricket and that’s what it’s built on.
“Goose (Russ Lehman) probably didn’t have the year that he would have liked but he came good when we really needed it. Over the last four or five games, if we were giving three votes, he’s been man of the match every time, he’s an absolute star.
“And Brad (Butler), for him to come out and get 46 not out, that changed the game big time.
“It means everything, when we won it nine years ago, we thought it would just happen, but it’s not that easy, you don’t just click your fingers and it happens.
“To everyone at Tooradin, from the committee down, this is for you and we thank you for all your support.”
Tom Hussey – Opener
“It’s unbelievable…seriously I can’t believe it.
“It shouldn’t have taken this long, but across that period (nine years) there have been some good sides.
“But coming back this year and seeing some of the youth that has developed, players that can hit the ball like Brad Butler and Dylan Sutton, I always felt we were lacking that in the past.
“The skillset has improved, we just needed to play a simple game and the rewards are here today.
“In the past we would have panicked today, thrown our wickets away and be bowled out for 120.
“The amount of times Cal (O’Hare) and I have sat around the barbecue, having a few beers, Azza as well, talking about how we get back here, how do we win it…it always felt so far away, especially getting beaten in finals.
“(Leadership) is something I probably learned being away from the club, playing at Langwarrin, they’re lucky to have a number of great leaders. There’s a mentality they bring where our team, generally speaking, is very introverted.
“When we got (Jake) Prosser) I just took that opportunity to get up the boys and say, ‘This is it, we’ve trained every night for this, it’s so close we can touch it…so let’s keep fighting.
“I’m just ecstatic; this means that much to me I can’t really put it into words.”
Russell Lehman – All-Rounder – Lex Duff Medallist
“Yeah, it’s right up there, obviously losing six semi’s or whatever we’ve lost, and the way we went about, only defending 160, yeah, it’s right up there as far as feelings go.
“A few of the boys have got a bit older and a bit more mature, like Sutto and Butsy, they get a bit older, a bit better, and that makes us a better side.
“My plan was to bat as long as I could and take it as deep as I could.
“Every time I felt like it was time to get going, and start playing a few shots, we’d lose one or two wickets so I had to nudge them around for a bit longer. But Butsy played a good knock and got that score to 160.
“(With bowling) I don’t even know how I move it off the seam, just bowl it and hope for the best.
“It was a big wicket (Alex Nooy) because we haven’t been able to get Alex out for the last three or four hits, he’s looked awesome, so we knew if we got him early we would be in the game.
“I’m proud of the team; just winning the game, more than I am about myself…I couldn’t give a crap about the individual stuff.
“This is why you play, to win flags with blokes like this.”
Josh Lownds – All-Rounder – Batted at 4
“It’s pretty surreal, pretty exciting. I’m trying to keep my emotions in check, just getting around and having a chat, but in a few hours it might sink in a bit more.
“We’ve worked hard for this, lost four or five semis; a lot of work has gone into it. We’ve been the best team all year, everyone has done their job…the jobs done now and it’s pretty amazing.
“I’ve backed myself most of the year, we all have really, we all know our roles, we know our shots, our boundary balls, and we know what each other can do.
“I was confident heading in and batting with ‘Goose’ (Lehman) was great. We spoke to each other about backing ourselves, getting through to drinks and setting the game up for the middle order.
“It’s unbelievable. I’ve been with those three guys (Avery, Hussey and O’Hare) for six years now, they were the three that got me across. They put a lot of time into me over the journey and to be premiership players with them is probably the best feeling I’ll have for a very long time.
“I’ve never played in a grand final, so been working for this for a long time.
“I’ve pictured this for a few years, winning against Kooweerup two weeks ago was brilliant, and then to top it off today with a premiership is just amazing.”
Aaron Avery – Club Stalwart – Batted at 5
“The biggest feeling is just relief, absolute relief that we’ve finally done it.
“There were years when I felt like we were the best team in it, but to finally win it, absolute relief.
“I made a duck, feel like I’ve been carried a bit…but the feeling is absolutely awesome.
“Just ride on Russ Lehman’s coat-tails and you’ll be right (laughs).
“We had a batting plan all year, and we batted to that today, and 160 was a good score considering the condition of the ground and how well we’ve been bowling lately.
“We defended well against Kooweerup, that was massive, and then today it went to new levels, the boys were fantastic.
“Everyone has chipped in, the whole year has been about everyone contributing and that’s why I believe this is the strongest team I’ve played in.
“What you know about Russ (Lehman) is he’s going to rock up and compete. He might have a bad day, but more often than not he’s going to put it in the right area and it moves, whether he means it or not. That’s all we ask for, for everyone to rock up and do your best. Do that, and days like this come around.
“With Cal and Huss, we’ve been here from the start, all we wanted was a photo at the end of the season, with a medal, and our kids, and we got it today.
“It’s just special.”
Dylan Sutton – All-Rounder – Batted at 6
“I played in the 2013 premiership with some of these guys, I was a bit of a pup back then, very raw, and obviously felt part of it, but this one…I’ve been through the heartbreak with those guys and to be back here is a great feeling.
“2013 was the best day ever, we won the under 17s in the morning then the seniors in the afternoon on the same ground, but this one is special as well.
“I didn’t get the job done today, played a terrible shot, but Brad (Butler) was fantastic.
“He got a full toss on leg stump and worked it into the gap, and that got him going.
“He’s a weapon, he’s got all the confidence in the world, the same with footy, he just runs through blokes. He bowls the odd bad bowl, doesn’t mean to, but nothing worries him and he keeps on attacking.
“We were happy with that (160), the ground is a bit slower so I thought 160 was a good score.
“Someone has got us out of the shit all year, whether it be Tyler Evans, Buts, or whoever, I don’t know how we got to 160 but it made all the difference.
“I love sport, but I really enjoy my life as it is, love my job, all that sort of stuff.
“Just enjoy every moment, and just enjoy experiences like these when they come around.”
Brad Butler – All-Rounder – batted at 7
“It doesn’t get any better than this really, it’s my first senior flag so to get it in Premier Division is really special.
“I guess I’m pretty lucky, I don’t really get nervous, I’ve got that on my side, and with my game I seem to either make a few or not many, so I just have to back myself and go in with positive intent.
“Having Russ (Lehman) at the crease when I came in was a huge help, he settled me down and I was able to take a few balls to get my eye in and then attack with the breeze late.
“It’s a boring enough game as it is, especially in our comp, some old blokes just rolling the arm over and playing straight (laughs), but I like a bit of action and I’ve always played like that even through juniors, so it’s a bit hard to change now.
“With blokes like Cal, Az and Huss, it’s great to be able to pick their brains throughout the year and they’ve always been more than happy to listen, they dish out advice, even take advice, they’re great to have around and to win a flag with them is even better.
“It’s a great feeling, unbelievable, and it’s hard to believe what’s happening to be honest. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Tyler Evans -17-Year-Old – Batted at 8
“It’s good, at Tooradin we sort of pride ourselves on trying to achieve success, so it’s really good to captain the under 18s to a flag and now win one in the seniors.
“Nervous, yeah, bloody oath, I’ve never played in a Premier grand final before but it was really good, I really enjoyed it out there, the atmosphere was good.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to do all year, just turn it over, but it didn’t really come off today…but it doesn’t matter now, we’ve won the premiership.
“The senior players at the club have been great. At every training session they get around and show care for the juniors, they’ve been great and it’s good to share it with those great players.
“It means a lot for the club, not just me, and how could you not love what’s just happened it’s…it’s great, really good.
“I’d love to play at Tooradin for a while, but we’ll keep training hard and see how we go.”
Ben Parrott – Keeper – Batted at 9
“It’s mixed emotions playing against (old club) Cardy, I’ve got life-long friends there, I love them, they will always hold a special place in my heart, but this is something I’ve been working for all my life.
“To win it at Tooradin, the way the boys have accepted me, that feeling when we won it, it’s hard to put it into words…it was a kitchen sink full of emotions.
“These guys wear their hearts on their sleeves, Aaron Avery, I couldn’t be happier for guys like him, Cal, even with their families, that’s probably the bigger picture stuff today.
“Russ makes me look very silly at times, the way he moves the ball…I’ve never seen a bloke do more with a cricket ball, with less effort, he’s incredible.
“Not everyone is a superstar and in one-day cricket you don’t play for personal accolades. If I could play my role, and get Butsy on strike, I can hang my hat on knowing I played a role in a partnership that helped get us across the line.
“Always the bridesmaid, never the bride until today, there’s blokes older than me that have been waiting longer, but it does feel like a long time in the making.
“I played the game a million times in my head. I was planning a Ben Parrott hundred at nine (laughs) but it’s awesome.
“When everyone was running on, I had my mum here as well, it brings tears to the eyes, and it’s an absolutely awesome and unreal experience.”
Steve Hamill – 43-Year-Old Pace Bowler
“It’s pretty good man, pretty good.
“Batting at 11 I didn’t need to worry about too much early, just left it to the ball, and how good was Russ (Lehman), it’s unbelievable what he did, and what we did today.
“I rate this pretty high. 2012/13 was really good but obviously I won’t be around for much longer so this one will be appreciated that’s for sure.
“I won a flag with Koonwarra last year, but was away from my mates and didn’t have as much fun doing it, so I wanted to come back, play in the twos, but found a bit of form at the right time and found myself in the ones.
“That’s what I came back for, hopefully to sing that song with my mates, and we’ve done it, it’s unbelievable to think we’ve done it.
“The plan was to bowl in the channels, but I got carried away and bowled a few bouncers…I can’t help myself sometimes, I just got them both a bit high.
“I’m stoked, it’s unbelievable, we were methodical with the ball in our last two games and I couldn’t be prouder of the cricket club right now.”
Kallan Braid-Ball – Opening Bowler
“It’s unbelievable to be honest, I’ve played cricket for a lot of years now and it’s my first one’s flag, I’m just so proud, it’s fantastic.
“I played second fiddle today, to Russ, he bowled the house down, it was a pleasure to watch, I just played my role up the hill, into the wind, and I was rapt to see him get the poles.
“I was nervous, only defending 160, but I had faith in the boys, we’ve been bowling so well over the last few weeks…I can’t put the feeling into words, it’s just amazing.
“The confidence from (Kooweerup win) that was massive. We’ve been making 200 every week so to defend 185 or whatever it was, then bowl them out cheaply, that was great.
“We’ve bowled in partnerships, and the bowling group played a big role towards the end of the season.
“I haven’t been able to sleep for the last week, I’ve been a nervous wreck, but at the same time, at the top of my mark, it comes back what you’re there to do, and to concentrating on executing those plans.
“I feel privileged to be a part of it to be honest.
“I haven’t been here for as many years as those boys but I’m just glad I can be a part of it.
“It was pretty emotional when we won, because it just means so much to all of us.”
Barry Freeman – Club Legend – 50 Years’ Service
“It’s special because a premiership in Premier Division is the ultimate goal for all clubs.
“We’ve been around the mark since 2013, played in so many close finals, so it was great to see them get across the line today.
“I was nervous today, but Brad Butler’s runs gave us something to bowl at and Russ getting those early wickets put Cardinia under pressure.
“It’s a great sport, it can sway quickly, Butler’s innings, Cal’s great catches, and things can change in a hurry.
“It’s fantastic what they’ve done today, but it’s even better to see them evolve as people. They’ve got their families now, they love the club, we love them, it’s a generation coming through together and that’s fantastic.
“It’s great for the town, just to have people come together, I just like to put in and help out where I can.
“I turned 78 on Wednesday and, while I feel good enough, I’ll continue to help out with the juniors, they’re my priority…just helping out is number one.
“I’ve coached a few of those young blokes who played today, and it’s just nice to put the time in and see them get the rewards like this today.
“To get the medal from Cal was very nice, but it’s just great for the club and well worth the effort that we all put in.”
