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SOUTH Barwon paid injured co-coach Casey Tutungi an emotional tribute after outplaying Bell Park in their GFL grand final rematch at McDonald Reserve today.
Lorne footballers, who had the bye this weekend in the CDFL, joined South Barwon on the field in the tribute to Tutungi who is hospital with severe damage to his spinal cord.
Players and supporters stood arm-in-arm to sing the team song while facing the crowd which had gathered in front of the clubrooms.
The post-match tribute came at the end of an emotional week following Tutungi's horror injury late in the match against St Joseph's last week.
It was clear to all just how respected Tutungi, who remains in the intensive care unit of the Austin hospital, is in the Geelong community.
South Barwon, being the powerhouse it is, regularly brings in a healthy sized crowd, but today they were there for their mate Casey.
To see South Barwon and his junior club Lorne came together as one was a sight that would warm the heart of anyone.
One heart that was warmed by the amazing show of support was James Garvey who is South Barwon's other co-coach and a close mate of Tutungi.
"He's a Lorne boy through and through and that was his junior club and now obviously he coaches here but today just shows how widely respected he is," Garvey said.
"It's good to come together as two clubs and two communities now.
"It's a real tight community down there in Lorne and that was obvious with all of them that came and watched today."
While Tutungi was in hospital and not playing for the Swans today, it was obvious he still played a big part in the 49-point win.
After the game the respect for Tutungi was also highlighted as Bell Park co-coach Ben Armstrong made his was to the South Barwon huddle and spoke to the group.
He said after the game he felt it was the right thing to do and just wanted to show the South Barwon players he and his club were thinking of Tutungi and those close to him.
"We are all just wishing Casey all the best and hoping he gets better, everyone not just in footy but in the town and in the community are as well," Armstrong said.
According to Garvey, Tutungi was listening to the Geelong Football League's broadcast of the match from his hospital bed.
The 27-year-old is ``making slow but steady improvements'' in the Intensive Care Unit at Melbourne's Austin Hospital, his family said in a statement yesterday.
``The medical staff are very happy with his progress and say he may be moved from ICU to the spinal ward next week sometime'' the statement read.
``Case is slowly getting his cheeky grin back and even managed to convince the nurse into putting the footy (West Coast v Essendon) on TV for him last night.''
St Barwon co-coach James Garvey said during the week that football was the furthest thing from the minds of South Barwon players.
- With Nick Wade
