At last, that winning feeling
BANNOCKBURN veteran Jason Tom could not think of a better way to finish his career — with a premiership medal around his neck.
A flag is all that has avoided Tom in his decorated career, falling short four times before triumphing in yesterday’s brilliant GDFL Grand Final victory over Thomson at The Gordon TAFE Oval.
It is the perfect full stop to a footy journey that saw him become one of the best forwards in the region.
“You can’t describe it. I collapsed at the end because, you know, I’ve played nearly 300 games, five grand finals and you always dream of that moment . . . and then it finally comes,” Tom said.
“To have all of my family here, it’s great for them. They’ve watched me lose so many and go through so much work.
“I lost my mouthguard somewhere over there (on the outer wing), I don’t know where it is, so that’s gone.
“To finally get it, the emotion definitely gets the better of you.”
Tom has had more than his fair share of grand final heartache, featuring in two BFL losses for Geelong Amateur in 2010 and 2011, a GFL loss with Leopold in 2014 and the 2016 loss to Bell Post Hill for the Tigers.
“I don’t remember feeling that bad after the losses. I’ve always thought that it’s only footy,” Tom said.
“Playing in grand finals is good, but when you win one . . . it’s beyond what I expected.”
He had seemingly retired footy when he did not suit up for Bannockburn last year.
However, with his body feeling good, Tom had the itch to pull the boots back on and his arm was twisted by his Bannockburn teammates to go around one more time.
And isn’t he glad he decided to.
“It wasn’t really a retirement,” Tom said.
“I went and played soccer for a year. My body has always felt fine, but I just got a little bit sick of footy.
“But being away from a footy club for the first time in my life sort of made me realise how much I appreciate the footy club, being involved with the boys and the community and all that.
“I came back and started training and stuff. The body felt well so then the boys put on a bit of pressure and I started playing again.”
Tom’s experience came to the fore in the final quarter, kicking Bannockburn’s second goal for the term to help set up what would be a matchwinning lead.
It was a tidy banana setshot from the boundary that did the job. It was also a shot Tom knew he would kick.
“We practice those every Thursday night from the pocket,” he said.
“I always practice my snaps. I had a look at it and I thought I might have been a little bit far out (to snap), but I was never going to kick it with the drop punt, especially with the way the wind was going.
“It was only Thursday night I was practising that exact kick and I was spraying them. But then I nailed that, so it was a pretty handy one, I suppose.”
So what’s on the radar now he has slipped into retirement?
“I’m going to do some coaching and stuff, and that will keep me busy, keep me involved in the club and with the boys,” he said.
“I missed a couple of games and I did the coaching, and I enjoyed that more than running around.
“I want to help the guys and develop them and that’s what I’ll do with the under-19s.
“I’ll get more out of that than player, especially now I’ve got a medal.”