Former teammates of Darryn McKimmie have rallied behind the ex-Lavington star after his family home near Corryong felt the full force of the bushfires.
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McKimmie's kick after the siren famously took the Panthers to O and M glory in 2005 in one of the all-time great grand finals.
Tim Sanson coached that side and was among those to pitch up at the Tintaldra property.
Also on hand was Matt Pendergast, another Panthers legend and professional CFA firefighter.
"It's really sad," Pendergast said.
"You hear on the work radio and you get a bit of an appreciation of what goes on but until you go up there, it blows your mind on how much country has been burnt and the actual devastation it's caused people up there.
"We went up there to do some fencing and they're broken, they're definitely broken.
"Darryn's old man has had some tragedy over the years; they lost their Mum a few years ago and they've lost the house.
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"It's the time where the tragedy happens (when people turn up) but it's now where they need the help.
"When everyone goes home and gets on with business, now they need our help up in those places.
"We would have had 10 to 15 ex-Lavi footballers and Brock-Burrum guys out there over the weekend, maybe more, and that's the footy community.
"Even though the fences mightn't be overly straight a lot of the time - I blame that on Tim Sanson - we had a good day.
"A lot of us haven't done a lot of manual labour consistently over the years so it rattled a few but it was satisfying.
"We had a few beers and tried to readjust the mindset of Darryn's old man, Dave.
"He looks very weathered and tired from it all but they'll rebuild.
"They're survivors and we've got their backs."
Pendergast is determined to see that sort of camaraderie passed down to the next generation.
"It's bigger than football," he said.
"I've coached the rep sides and the girls and my kids now and it's all about getting the values and good morals in life, the little things, to help each other out when it gets tough.
"To be part of something like that was really satisfying and we want to get up there again.
"They're very 'that's enough, that's enough' but we need to help them.
"It's all on the back of pre-season after pre-season, functions ...
"It's a big part of your life and if you're in trouble, they're the first ones there."
