Chiltern's Wayne Shannon bidding to go one better after losing 2006 Tallangatta league grand final

The 38-year-old has been almost ever-present for Chiltern as the Swans have emerged as one of the season's surprise packages in the Tallangatta league.

Shannon was part of the last Chiltern side to reach a grand final, 15 years ago, only to taste defeat at the hands of Mitta United.

So he's making every moment count as the finals of 2021 draw closer.

"I've definitely enjoyed it," Shannon said.

"It hasn't been ideal (with COVID) but we've made the most of it.

"Building on 2019, I felt we had a pretty good group with the potential to give it a real shake-up.

"We've just got the right mix of younger players and some experience.

"I bring a bit of experience to the group and to win it this year would be the icing on the cake.

"We all strive for that level of success so it would be the holy grail.

"I believe this group can go all the way."

Shannon's football career has been unorthodox, which goes some way to explaining his longevity.

After the 2006 defeat, he moved to Queensland for work and barely kicked a football over the next few years before returning to Chiltern in 2012.

Shannon captained the club for three years and has also coached juniors, with Swans coach Luke Brookes thrilled to still have him in the senior side.

"His leadership is crucial to us" Brookes said.

"He's the oldest bloke on the list but he's super fit and looks after himself.

"He sets some very good standards around the footy club, which is great for the younger blokes to look at.

"You know what you're going to get with Shanno each week.

"He's played with some horrible injuries that other blokes wouldn't play with.

"He's a pretty hard bugger and I'm happy to have him playing for me."

Shannon's injury history is not for the faint-hearted.

"I've had a few good ones," he said.

"I copped a knee in the back when I was 16, going back with the flight and my kidney exploded.

"It definitely made me crook for a while and I was a month in hospital.

"I also broke my fibula.

"I was on my back and my toes were facing the ground so I had to straighten that up myself."

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Chiltern will be second on the ladder when the Tallangatta league resumes, one win behind Yackandandah and level on points with Kiewa-Sandy Creek and Barnawartha.

Shannon's contribution has been central to their 9-2 record and his coach is daring to dream of a fairytale ending to this particular story.

"It would be huge," Brookes said.

"I want nothing more than blokes like him to do well.

"There's a lot of blokes around that club that deserve it but he'd be one of the blokes that thoroughly deserves, hopefully, to go out on a winning note."

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