Heart pulls Meesen back to where it all started
a stellar under-18 season with the Geelong Falcons.
Before that he had played in an under-16s flag at Modewarre and was only eight when his dad, club legend and games record holder Paul, held the premiership cup aloft after knocking off Bannockburn by 74 points in the GDFL division two grand final.
He does not really remember how the game played out or who did well for the Warriors that day, but he can recall vividly the actions of a Tigers’ player and the impact it had on
him. “They were playing Bannockburn and the ball was down one end of the ground and dad was playing in the forward line up the other end of the ground and his opponent just walked up behind him and king hit him in the face a couple of times from behind, it was completely unexpected,” he said. “So I remember being at the ground and the ambulance having to come and dad going to hospital — it was pretty scary at the time.
“That is the only memory I have of that day, I don’t remember the game, I just remember that incident.
“But that was all I knew, and you grow up idolising your old man and he was a premiership captain of the footy club, he played in another premiership and coached the club when it was struggling.
“He is a games record holder and put his heart and soul into the footy club, so I never had any thoughts of leaving at any stage until I got invited to the Falcons and went down there.”
Among Meesen’s teammates from the under-16s premiership were Nathan Ablett and Josh Finch, who will run out alongside him this afternoon when Modewarre attempts to break its drought for a second time in three years.
Ablett famously played in Geelong’s 2007 flag-winning team while Finch has carved out a successful career for the Warriors, where he has won four Les Ash medals and has coached for the past three seasons.
Having broken a deal he had with Meesen to play with him in Melbourne, Finch joked this week he did not know if his best mate would return to Modewarre, but said the club had benefited on and off the field since he had.
“He was my best man at my wedding and I will be best man at his wedding in six weeks’ time,” he said.
“We grew up and were playing footy together from when we were about eight. His father was playing there, so I naturally just followed him, and he went on his adventure to the Falcons and playing AFL so it took a bit of time to get him back to the club.
“It was something we joked about years ago about eventually co-coaching together and it just so happened that the timing worked out for him and in terms of me and my workload the timing was right to get a co-coach in as well.
“He has been unbelievable for the playing group in the way that he reviews and reflects on games and just his general knowledge in improving our game plan has been massive as well.
“In terms of the calibre of player, Modewarre has never been fortunate enough to have a genuine ruckman. They are certainly hard to come by, so while we have him up and running we will take full advantage.
“But I remember through high school we were so close and he did come back to the club in 2012 and 2013, and I said to him if he gave us a couple of years I would give him a couple of years somewhere else, but I never left and he has always held that against me.
“I managed to get him back a second time though, so hopefully it all ends well.”
For Meesen, it is the connection he has with the people at Modewarre that has made his return so enjoyable.
The hours of work he puts into reviewing games and providing feedback to the playing group is a sacrifice he is more than willing to make because seeing them perform on Saturdays and winning finals puts a smile on his face.
There is now only one step left in the journey, but irrespective of today’s result, he said it had all been worthwhile.
“I have been lucky enough to get drafted and play SANFL, VFL, up in Darwin and metro footy in Melbourne as well, but the reason I wanted to come back was because I thought I could still provide something and help out and give mates like ‘Finchy’ and Leigh Anderson and ‘Bocca’ (Brendan) Wemyss the opportunity to taste some success,” Meesen said.
“It is not just about me but I think the club has made massive inroads over the past four or five years into changing the perception of the club and the culture of the football club, so it was a really easy decision to come back.
“It is hard not to think that it’s a full circle. Home is where the heart is and my heart is clearly here, that is why you do what you do and put in the time that you do, because you love it.
“Regardless of what happens I am proud of the boys and really proud of the football and netball club for the way everyone sticks together and looks out for each other.
“So if we go out there and play well and we don’t get across the line I’ll still be proud, but if we go out there and play well and we win, I will be the happiest man in Moriac.”