ON A TIGHT MCLEISH
DAVE McLeish may not be a well-known name in local footy.
But he has slowly emerged as one of the GDFL’s most prominent taggers.
The 28-year-old was given the sizeable task of nullifying Bell Post Hill’s Whitley medallist Matthew James in last weekend’s preliminary final.
It proved to be a job well done, as his presence on the speedster allowed teammates Reece Holwell, Matt Egan and Brendan Wall to dominate the centre clearance count in the opening half.
“Matt (James) got me the first time we played him in the qualifying final, because he’s really quick,” McLeish said.
“Our main emphasis as a group was on winning the ball and not letting it get out to him, so he was on my mind for a bit but that’s over now.
“He (James) let me know about half way through the quarter about his ribs, how they were sore because he fractured them, but I didn’t care.”
McLeish will line-up for his 50th club game in today’s GDFL grand final after crossing to Thomson from Edenhope-Apsley at the start of 2016.
While he only made five senior appearances in his first season at the Godfrey Street Oval, the former Horsham DFL interleague representative has looked lively in recent months.
“I had a broken wrist during my first pre-season and we had a pretty handy midfield group in 2016 with Brent Macleod, Reece (Holwell) and Justin White as well,” he said.
“They were all playing my position so it was hard to break in, but then I had a better pre-season in 2017 and then another good one ahead of this year.”
McLeish will now aim for his first senior flag today, six years to the day after his Edenhope-Apsley side surrendered an early 27-point lead to Kalkee in 2012.
“It was pretty painful because we were clearly the best side all year,” he said.
“I also lost two or three preliminary finals as well, so there’s an understanding that these (premierships) are hard to come by.”
Before reaching the premiership dais, the Tigers’ must first rectify previous losses to Inverleigh — the premiership favourite that boasts a star-studded midfield.
“They have a very good midfield and they’ll be hard to stop, so we have to get on top of them early,” McLeish said.
“Simon Seddon has been playing forward but if he goes in the middle then I suppose I’d have a crack on him because he’d lead you to the footy. Blake Hutchinson is another one who is just as important — he gets them going as the bull in there, so needs to be watched as well.”
Regardless of the result, the loyalty, patience and workrate of McLeish has proven to be a key ingredient in the Tigers’ four-year turnaround from wooden spooner to grand finalist.
“If we can get up, then the reflection will be on all the hard work that’s been taken to get there,” he said.
“But right now all the boys just want to enjoy the week and the preparation that comes with it.”