Duo’s fine character shines through
CHARACTER is something you can’t coach and that fills Ian Willmett with so much pride when watching Billy Slater and Scott Bolton go about their business.
The Innisfail Leprechauns life member coached both players in their formative years and said their upstanding demeanour shone through in their on-field exploits. Both gentlemen of the game, both down to earth country boys and win or lose, you won’t hear them carry on.
“It’s going to be a great game,” Willmett said.
“You’ve got the two Innisfail boys, Bill and Scott. It’s great for the town. I can’t wait.”
The tradesmanlike Bolton was a late bloomer and Willmett’s biggest challenge was keeping him moving in the right direction despite his love of fishing.
“What you see is what you get with Scott. He was a great kid, a big kid but eager to learn,” he said.
“Scott didn’t really start playing until under-12s through to under-16s but he was always a big, strong, strapping lad and he enjoyed his football, but more than that he enjoyed playing with his mates.
“At the time a few clubs were interested in him but being a country boy at heart, Townsville suited him.”
Slater was considered small but undoubtedly a talent, but Willmett was just as proud of what he did with it as the standing he now holds as one of the game’s good guys. “Mate he’s exactly the same. The qualities these boys have show they’re just good country boys through and through,” he said.
“He never gives up on anything and he set a goal to come back and worked hard and it took him two years but now he’s in a grand final and it’s great to see.”
It will not only be a divisive occasion for Innisfail, but also for Willmett’s sons. Darren shared the field with Billy and the two remain good mates, while younger son Glenn is in the Bolton camp and one of the big fella’s fishing partners.