Kinglake fires with pride

By Tania Martin
EMOTIONS ran high on Saturday as Emerald took on Kinglake in an unforgettable start to the YVMDFL season.
In front of thousands of supporters, it was Kinglake’s day as the fire-ravaged town’s plucky players banded together to do their battered community proud.
Emerald’s football manager Graham Steer said the inaugural CFA Cup, dubbed the Rise from the Ashes clash, lived up to all the hype.
Steer said it was a magnificent day with both Kinglake and Emerald supporters out in force.
The game was also lent some high-profile support by Premier John Brumby, head of the bushfire reconstruction effort Christine Nixon, and Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who sang the national anthem.
“It was a chance for everyone to let their hair down for the first time since the fires,” Steer said.
Backed by the parochial crowd, Kinglake’s division two side set up the club’s first win of the day booting away to a six-goal lead early in the match.
It was enough to have grown men in tears.
“They were playing against raw emotion … the president was in tears after the game, he couldn’t hold back,” Steer said.
In the seniors it was an even affair until half time. However, after the long break Kinglake steeled itself, determined not to let the home crowd down.
In the end Kinglake ran away to a nine-goal win.
Brent Gallicho was the star of the show bagging 10.
Kinglake coach Mick Nott said his boys handled themselves really well.
“We wanted to go out and get the job done, but on the other hand it was very emotional,” Nott said.
“The crowd support was awesome. When we scored a goal everyone went nuts,” he said.
“I reckon the crowd got us over the line … we may have been underdone but we fought it out and won.”
Steer said it was not just an emotional day for Kinglake, but that the match also had a huge impact on the Emerald players.
“A lot of our boys hadn’t seen the devastation before,” he said.
“When we left Emerald it was all laughing and cheers but when we hit the blackness there was dead silence in the bus until we got to the ground.
“To see every fourth or fifth house still standing and the rest demolished … we’ve never see that sort of devastation,” he said.
Following the game, Emerald presented Kinglake with the shield, a $1500 donation, and a signed Hawthorn football jumper.
Steer said the match would become a yearly event.
“They (Kinglake) couldn’t believe the support of the Emerald people with the whole town turning out for the match,” he said.
“They called us their brother club and want to return the favour when we take them on in round 10.
“We already had a great bond between the CFA and our sister club Gembrook-Cockatoo and Kinglake because of Ash Wednesday but now its even stronger.”
Steer said it was amazing to see the support for the fire-ravaged region.
“Everyone was just there for Kinglake to make sure they get up and running,” he said.