The 2008 Kiewa-Sandy Creek (KSC) premiership side will celebrate a decade since its grand final victory over Dederang-Mount Beauty (DMB) this weekend.
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After keeping DMB goal-less to half-time, the Hawks withstood a late fightback to prevail 14.18 (102) to 11.12 (78), redeeming themselves for their one-point loss to traditional rivals Mitta United in 2007 – who they happen to be hosting on Saturday.
A number of members from the Simon Bone-coached outfit are still playing football at the club in 2018.
Jason Bartel, Scott Bartel, Mal Vogel, Tim Kindellan and Cal Turner are involved with the seniors, along with Wylie Jackson, Marc Lewis, Travis Knight and Leigh Cameron in the reserves.
Hawks’ games record holder Robbie Barber retired from senior football after the 2008 flag with 370-plus appearances in the brown and gold.
It was his second premiership and came 13 years after his first in 1995.
Incredibly, it was just days after he celebrated his 40th birthday.
Barber, who turns 50 later this year, still has many fond memories of the clash.
“I got cleaned up and kicked a goal which pretty well sealed the game,” Barber said.
“I didn’t train as hard because I was an old fella.
“Tuesday nights I’d have a light run and Thursday’s I would do an hour of training and that was it.
“Simon Bone was coaching and I said to him, ‘this will be my last year, so let’s have a crack.’
“We recruited a couple of good fellas and came good.
“My first flag was in 1995, so to win one as a 40-year-old was pretty special.
“It was a good bunch of blokes we had, so it will be good to catch up with them on the weekend.”
Simon Bone was coaching and I said to him, ‘this will be my last year, so let’s have a crack.’
- Robbie Barber
Barber is still involved with the club as an umpire and is likely to look after the reserves game on Saturday.
Reunion organiser Wylie Jackson admitted it will be good to have everyone back at the club.
“At night, after the awards, we’ll have a bit of a presentation and get together to talk about the good old days,” he said.
“There’s a fair few of them still around which is good.
“Tim Kindellan, Scott and Jason (Bartel), Malcolm (Vogel), Callum (Turner) and Dane Hallinan, who’s at Culcairn now, were all pretty young in that grand final.
“Work and family commitments have sort of put a back-burner on trying to push for senior footy, but I’m still happy to get out and muck around in the twos.
“The A grade netball actually won that year as well, they beat Yackandandah by a point.
“Some of the girls are still playing there as well.”