Below is the full unedited story provided by Gordon Wiegold on the wrap up of the Tathra-Bega Sea Eagles’ season and presentation night. It’s a cracking read.
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IT WAS late in the day at Lawrence Park in the major semi-final that you got an insight into what makes Natalie Coman and the 2016 Tathra Sea Eagles tick.
It was the club’s biggest hosting game of what had been a long year in all three grades – and it was late in the last quarter of first grade when a Merimbula Digger went down with a horrible injury.
Natalie, who had not only played earlier in the women’s victory, had every right to be switched off and enjoying the ambience in what had already been a full-day effort.
Instead she was chatting to members of the crowd and selling the virtues of the game she now loves, when out the corner of her eye she noticed the injury.
Without hesitation or question she stopped what she was doing, started arranging for cars to be moved to allow the player quick access to the exit and the hospital, and went about making sure that the player’s associates were calm and ok.
Last weekend, Natalie was rewarded with (not only) the Ian and Dot Burhop Quiet Achiever Award, she also picked up the Clubperson of the Year award in a stellar year chockful of overachievers and passion.
Coman’s win was the highlight of a gala presentation night which saw 108 people attend the Tathra Bowling Club (see full list of winners below).
It was a fitting culmination of the success of the newly merged Bega Bombers and Tathra Sea Eagles outfits – two very proud clubs now beating with one heart.
Club President, Greg Coman, sat down to talk about the high points, how the merger quite nearly never got going, and the emergence of a new superpower in Aussie Rules – the Eaglettes.
GETTING STARTED
It was early in 2016 when the Eagles held their AGM which failed to elect a club president.
From there, the club’s brains trust gathered “for a few beers” where club icons such as Ian Joliffe, Kev May and Luke “Bruza” Taylor decided to get Greg Coman and Brad McBain along in a last-ditch effort to get something up and running.
Those few beers eventually led to a big Tathra presence in the SCAFL rep victory, a club presentation night with 100-plus supporters, 100-goal seasons, a coach of the year award, a minor premiership and two well-earn’t premiership flags.
The fire that lay dormant since the halcyon days of 2010-2014 was well and truly alive again.
“Over those few beers in Tura, Macca (Brad) and I got together after originally saying we weren’t going to be involved,” Greg Coman recalled. “But at that meeting he said to me ‘I’m in if you’re in’.
“From there we worked out that Macca would have autonomy over the footy matters, he just simply wanted to run the on-field stuff. That worked perfectly for me as I enjoy the behind the scenes activities a lot more, and I told him I’d take care of the money and sponsors and we simply supported each other over the phone and after training throughout the journey.”
THE GIRL FACTOR
When asked what made it such a special year, without hesitation, Greg said “the women’s team”, now fondly known as the Eaglettes.
The club had already got up off its sick bed and committed to senior footy when the idea of entering a women’s team in the 9s pre-season carnival at the Tathra Country Club was mooted.
“I have to give Sarah Funston a lot of the credit there, she got on Facebook and organised 7 or 8 players, the next thing they went through the 9s undefeated and we thought ‘we could have something here’,” Greg said.
“Social media helped us get a roll on and the next thing we had 20 women ready to play.
“In many respects they got their male partners keen to play and by the end of the season they were training with the men.
“Some clubs are loathe to do that but there was an early night at training when we had 50-plus on the paddock, and from there we had a game of ‘girls v the boys’, then a commando-type fitness match against each other and it ended up raising the level of excitement.”
In the end, the Eaglettes won a minor premiership and lost the grand final with the last goal of the season against a plucky Eden outfit.
But their success was as much about the way they played the game, the way they pushed the learning curve rapidly upwards, and the way coaches Col Funston and David Howard built a culture of enjoyment and improvement before the “win/loss” record.
On many occasions, the Eaglettes lent players to their opposition, on many occasions their own players starred against their own teammates, and on many occasions the scoreboard only had a kick in it thanks to the sportsmanship of the Eaglettes.
This was all done in an environment where they might only play two games in an 8-week period.
“They revitalised everybody with their attitude,” club stalwart David Little said, “I was watching them and I thought ‘I remember when I was that passionate about my footy’ and it made me want to play competitively again – and I’m not the only bloke that would say that.”
INFECTING THE COMMUNITY
It is often said by leaders: “Attitude is infectious – is yours worth catching?”.
That sums up the ripple effect the Eagles and Eaglettes had on the coastal township which is undergoing something of a sporting resurgence in footy and cricket.
“One story that sumps up the level of community involvement happened when approached by local Tathra Bowling Club chef, Djai Lear,” Greg Coman said.
“The idea was raised about making maroon and white scarves and Djai ended up donating the wool and yarn required to make them. On our reunion weekend they sold out and we had to make more and we ended up with scarves and beanies in club colours.”
As we spoke at the café, Djai approached our table and we quizzed him about the scarves and his business’s support.
“That’s right, and next year we are going to make lap rugs to help keep supporters warm, I am even starting my own fitness program and I’d love to get up there and have a kick myself and be a part of it,” Djai enthused.
He’s been infected by the Eagles bug - and there are many more in the town with similar stories of support and commitment to the cause.
THE BEAGLES
One of the affectionate nicknames bestowed upon the merged entity was the “Beagles” a combination of Bega and the Eagles.
Marrying of any sporting entities is perennially like walking a tightrope but Greg said it has been a fruitful exercise with many examples of how the merger has made footy stronger and how it has helped grow athletes and people.
“Had we both gone on our own we would have been spiritually strong but the on-field results would have been mediocre and perhaps counter-productive to the volunteer spirit of the hard workers at both clubs,” he said.
“Alex Nicol from Bega and myself kept the lines of communication open and we have similar natures and worked well together.
“There were many great moments - watching the teams run out in the Bega Bombers colours at Bermagui in honour of the late club legend, Andrew Lemon, was an emotional highpoint of the season. Andrew played a big part in the merger talks.
“And to watch young players like Dennis Paratene and Kel Evans get valuable experience in first grade goes to show how the merger has helped develop them as footballers.
“Kel was Best on Ground in the SCAFL representative fixture and I believe is considering his future as an AFL player in Melbourne, it would have been much harder to reach that point from the development grade without the merger.
“There is no doubt the merger has been better for both clubs and Aussie Rules has been the big beneficiary.”
GRAND FINALS AND THE SUPPORT NETWORK
Sitting back and watching all three senior grades on grand final day at Berrambool Oval was as enjoyable as it was nerve-wracking for President Greg.
“It was hard to enjoy it as I was concentrating but I did get to appreciate the full effort of people like the runners and the coaching staff,” Greg said.
“But all that on-field success was a direct result of having helpers.
“In the past, at times, we have had to ask people to help, but this year we found a lot more people doing the silent but important things, a lot more were putting their hand up and volunteering support.
“In fact there was a mile of support – having the Val and Rob Little around the edges, Ian Burhop fixed our trailers, Shirley Rixon was our timekeeper and took a million photos, Kev May was always working away behind the scenes and assisted with the coaching, Dot along with Mick Caddey and Kerry Parberry were just always there when needed.
“And that is without mentioning the players’ girlfriends and wives who assisted and brought along meals on Thursday training nights – we were only going to do that once a month but we had it nearly every week.”
Whilst it will be nice to look forward to a rest, Greg says that footy never sleeps.
He has attended two meetings in the past week and is already planning the Christmas party and associated functions.
“It got to the conclusion of everything and Bruza said to me: ‘what am I going to do now it’s the end of footy season?’
“I told him to go and reacquaint himself with his family and children – while he can.”
THE 2016 HONOUR ROLL
Below is a list of all the winners from the club’s night of nights, held at the Tathra Beach Bowling Club on Saturday, September 17:
Women’s Best and Fairest: Tyjana Blacka
Women’s Runner-up Best and Fairest: Lindsay McLeod
Women’s Most Improved: Isabelle Jones
Women’s Coach’s Award: Bec Foster
Women’s Players’ Player: Lindsay McLeod
Reserves Best and Fairest: Kiah Beruldsen
Reserves Best and Fairest Runner-up: Ricky Woods
Reserves Most Improved: Harry Price
Reserves Most Consistent: Wayne Flinn
Reserves Leading Goalkicker: Ricky Woods
Reserves Coach’s Award: Michael Gallagher
Reserves Players’ Player: Kiah Beruldsen
Seniors Rob and Val Little Best and Fairest Award: Troy O’Loghlin
Seniors Runner-up Best and Fairest: Adam Blacka
Seniors Most Improved: Nick Forrester
Seniors Most Consistent: Scott Hay
Seniors Most Improved: Nick Forrester
Seniors Leading goalkicker and 100-goal Award: Adam Blacka
Seniors Coach’s Award: Tom Lipshaw
Seniors Most Improved: Nick Forrester
Seniors Players’ Player award: Kel Evans
Women’s Player of the Finals: Tarni Evans
Reserves Player of the Finals: Baz Manning
Senior Player of the Finals: Scott Hay
Appreciation Award: “Bluedog”
Ian and Dot Burhop Quiet Achiever Award: Natalie Coman
GWS Medal Award: Shirley Rixon
President’s Award: Kevin May
Clubperson of the Year: Natalie Coman