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IT was described on the premiership dais by co-coach Rory Cunningham as “the job nobody wanted”.
Nobody except Casey McPhail, who became Glenrowan president after the 2012 wooden spoon. That started the chain of events that led to Saturday’s historic win.
“It was a day we always thought would come — just not quite as quickly,” Cunningham said.
“When I took it on, I just had a feeling I could do something.
“I’d been at Glenrowan for 13 or14 years and I’d lost a grand final there too so I actually knew what we had to do.
“I knew we’d get there but we had a five-year plan — we got there last year and that was sort of a fairytale, and we built on that.
“Getting Rory and Nigel was a good stepping stone and, as soon as we ticked that box, I knew good things would happen quickly.”
McPhail dedicated the win to the stalwarts who have held the Kelly Tigers together through the tough times.
“Just a few of the older supporters around the club have been vital,” he said.
“They need success and the town needs success and the netballers have been successful, so the football had to have success and today was the day we had to have success.
“Johnny Booth, Lenny Holden, Peter Booth, Peter Scott, these guys have been around the club for 20-30-40 years. Johnny still mows the grass and marks the lines.
“He presented the cup today and just to see him do that was unbelievable.”