STICKING FAT

By Matt Fotia

Reward for effort.

That’s the message coming out of the Healesville Football Netball Club after the Bloods senior football side grabbed its first win for the 2019 season, coming from behind to upset Upwey-Tecoma by nine points 8.14(62) to 10.11(71) on Saturday at Chosen Avenue. 

Speaking to AFL Outer East media partner GameFace after the game, Healesville forward Rodney Woodford couldn’t help but express the immense pride he had for his fellow teammates, who have all stood together during this lean period for the club.

 

“We’ve been in a few games at half time this year but have faded away in the second half, so I’m super proud of the boys,”

“We’ve had a pretty tough year with blokes dropping off, going away and getting injured – but for the blokes that have stuck fat it’s a good reward,”

“I’m just bloody thrilled that we got there in the end.”

Woodford has been one of the standouts for Healesville this season, leading their goal-kicking with 21 majors along with four appearances in the best players. He kicked six goals and was best afield in the drought breaking victory for the Bloods.

However he would rather the attention be put on the clubs coach Simon Gordon. 

“I’m just delighted to do my bit, there’s been blokes like Gordo (Simon Gordon) who have stood up this year and said ‘I’ll help the club out’ and the blokes that have stuck around really deserve this win so I’m just wrapt for everyone,”

“We haven’t won many games this year but it’s been one of the more enjoyable years – the boys turn up to training with the right attitude every week and no one has had any big expectations with wins and losses, everyones just having a crack and thats all we can ask for.”

Gordon, also speaking to GameFace after the victory, says this win comes close to the Bloods 2016 Premiership triumph. 

“It’s my first win as a coach so it’s pretty high, it’s pretty close to the grand final we won a couple of years ago.”

Despite Healesville trailing Upwey-Tecoma at the final change, Gordon was confident that his side could overrun the Tigers, with The Bloods ability to finish games one of the positives of their 2019 season so far. 

“One thing we’ve done all year is run the game out really well, so I had the confidence that we had the legs.”

Another member of the 2016 premiership, Casey Adams, says that whilst this season has been a long one, it could be the start of something big for the club. 

“It’s been a long year, we’ve been carrying the club for about ten years but now we are starting to see the youth coming through – these boys are the future and they really stepped up today,”

“This hard season is going to really see them succeed in the next few years.”