Wahgunyah, the nation footy staff that turned well-known for dropping, has lastly gained a recreation.
The proud membership from a small Victorian neighborhood on the banks of the Murray River made nationwide headlines for its virtually math-defying losses.
However a renewed deal with its neighborhood core has reinvigorated the membership and on Saturday, the Wahgunyah Lions Seniors recorded their first win in additional than 1,000 days.
A submit on the membership’s Fb merely learn: “We did it!”
Down by some extent at three-quarter time to Dederang Mt Magnificence, the Lions mounted a stirring comeback for an exciting nine-point victory, sparking wild celebrations and tears on the closing siren.
“It was simply mayhem on the bottom, it was unbelievable” president Daryl Hore mentioned.
A central determine within the membership’s battle for survival, Hore could not bear to look at the drama unfolding, and as a substitute was discovered pacing within the automobile park through the closing quarter.
Even on listening to the roar of his neighborhood confirming the win, he hung again and took a second to replicate.
“It is only a feeling we’ve not had in a very long time,” he mentioned.
Proud second for neighborhood
The win marks a big second for the Wahgunyah Lions, whose very existence has been threatened in recent times.
A painful 432-1 loss to Beechworth in 2022 gained nationwide consideration, and years of huge losses and a failed merger try left some questioning whether or not the membership may survive.
When the ABC visited Wahgunyah this month on the eve of the season, there was a palpable sense of neighborhood and a celebration of the people who make the membership particular.
An all-abilities staff had been began to spice up inclusivity on the membership, whereas a brand new “barbecue check” had put a larger deal with the character of individuals recruited to the soccer staff.
A banner had been erected over the bottom that learn: “It isn’t over whenever you lose, it is over whenever you give up.”
Had been there some extenuating circumstances within the win? Maybe.
Dederang Mt Magnificence themselves had suffered important losses within the first two rounds.
Wahgunyah have been additionally in a position to name on a minimum of former AFL star and quantity two draft choose Harley Bennell.
The Gold Coast, Fremantle and Melbourne participant had beforehand represented Wahgunyah in a one-off recreation and stored in contact with the membership, providing help and encouragement because the seniors endured two years of 200+ level losses.
He starred on Saturday with six targets, however it was off the sphere the place the membership president was most impressed with Bennell.
“He hung across the rooms, went from desk to desk having chats with supporters and youngsters and juniors. He is been unbelievable with everybody,” Hore mentioned.
The win coincided with a 2004 Wahgunyah premiership reunion and was cheered on raucously by previous gamers who had travelled a whole lot of kilometres to the match.
A number of spine-tingling renditions of the membership music, scarcely heard of late however not forgotten, have been belted out within the change rooms.
The celebration, by all accounts, continued deep into the night time.
“It simply means a lot to them to show that we will battle,” Hore mentioned.
“We will win a recreation. And we predict the membership will survive.”
