Geelong Advertiser |
QUEENSCLIFF celebrates as a town, but spare a thought for the unlucky few who missed out on the glory.
Coach Tom Limb likes to describe the premiership side as the "lucky 22" who get to run out and bring the cup home for the community.
This year, there is a long list of players who could be deemed unlucky to have missed out.
There's Ash McDonald, a great club man who supported his beloved Coutas by taking on the role of runner. The big man was unlucky to miss out but was a part of previous successes at the Couta Bowl.
Relatively unknown names such as Aaron Jones, who has been a vital part of the Queenscliff forward line all year, missed out on the big dance.
Limb is the one entrusted with making these hard decisions and he does not make them lightly.
"Aaron Jones played all year, played the first final and was very stiff, but you get to these positions and you have to make these decisions," Limb said.
"Quinten Gleeson is another one, a very talented older, experienced player who's won league best and fairest in the Amateurs, but due to a corky he couldn't get his body right.
"When you've got a good side like this, which we do at the moment, you're going have unlucky people."
These sorts of players create the depth at a club and depth often translates to success.
"It's not easy for them either. They're in there enjoying it and you try to get them involved as much as you can and make sure they feel a part of it because they definitely are."
Players of this ilk may have to step up to permanent senior roles in 2014, as many of Queenscliff's stars have been linked with their former coach Heath Jamieson at St Joseph's.
"Those that want to go try GFL, we'd encourage them to do that," Limb said.
"We won't hold a grudge and, of course, with the connection with Heath we would be more than happy to send them that way.
"We think that they don't necessarily need to go to the GFL, as we want to keep building up the profile of the BFL.
"It's a good league because you've got good communities involved in it."
