Saints to relive premiership
Coughlin Park will be abuzz on Saturday when Horsham Saints Football Netball Club pays tribute to the heroes of yesteryear and welcomes home the victorious 1988 St Michaels premiership side for a 30-year reunion.
Stories and memories of the running, high-flying Saints that were not rated to have a successful finals campaign against the might of Rupanyup and Homers will surely be spread around.
The team carried several injuries before making short work of Homers, with an 11goal win in a qualifying final on a muddy day at Wombelano.
The Saints then marched on to meet the season’s powerhouse, an undefeated Rupanyup, in the second semi-final.
In a gutsy team effort on a on a cold and blustery day, the Saints kept the Panthers scoreless in the second quarter to set up a 45-point win and have them unexpectedly launched into the HDFL grand final of 1988.
The Saints, led by inspirational coach John ‘Jack’ Magee, went into the final Saturday with plenty of confidence.
An all-in brawl in the opening stages of the game against Homers could not shake the concentration of the marching Saints. They produced an opening term that would make any coach proud, keeping the Pigeons scoreless for the opening quarter.
The Saints were in full control and continued to keep the pressure and momentum going to run out eventual premiers by 46 points. The final scores were St Michaels, 5.2, 8.2, 8.4, 11.8 (74) to Homers, 0.0, 0.4, 0.7, 3.10 (28). Best: St Michaels, J. Magee, M. Irwin, J. Martin, P. Magee, R. Burns, G. Mcrae, P. Clough, C. Manserra, L. Mckinnon; Homers, M. Iacovantuono, R. Baker, S. Tinker, C. Heard, R. Heard, R. Argall.
Past players will celebrate with a get-together on Friday evening at Coughlin Park, before meeting for a pre-game lunch on Saturday ahead of watching the Saints current day team take on Southern Mallee Giants.