THE man responsible for the biggest recruiting coup in the 72-year history of the Ellinbank and District Football League clearly remembers how people reacted when he first revealed Mal Michael wanted to play for Nilma Darnum. "I was at a wedding for a mate of mine when it came up," Jihad Talgi recalled with a chuckle last weekend. "A bloke who was associated with Nyora was on our table. He said, 'There's no way. Mal wouldn't go to Nilma Darnum. Why would he go there? It's a struggling club. He wouldn't want to embarrass himself'."
The doubter thought Nilma Darnum's assistant coach was big-noting. But he had underestimated the depth of the friendship between Talgi and Michael, which extends back to the days when both were involved with Collingwood — the former providing security for the players, the latter a rookie trying to find his way in the big league.
During his latter years at the Brisbane Lions, where he played in the 2001, '02 and '03 premierships, Michael had made a commitment to his mate. "He told me he would come here for a season, and I knew he would do it," Talgi said.
When Michael retired from AFL football in 2006, he repeated his desire to head bush. However, Talgi's hopes were dashed when then-Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy convinced Michael to restart his career at Windy Hill.
Talgi bided his time and, two years down the track, having retired from elite footy for good, Michael has proved to be a man of his word.
Despite fielding offers from around the country, the 31-year-old is spending his first post-AFL season playing footy for a tiny club, situated among dairy farms in east Gippsland.
"The talk was that he'd only play 10 games," Talgi said.
"But he's committed to 15 and has said he might play the whole 18 games. That's just music to my ears."
Michael's arrival has been a massive boost for the hard-working folk who are trying to revive one of Victoria's most unsuccessful clubs.
"I've gone around the clubhouse and I've noticed there aren't too many pennants hanging on the walls," Michael admitted.
"That's another reason why I came here. I'd like to try and get some success for the community."
It is 58 years since Nilma Darnum last won a premiership. The Bombers' most recent appearance in a grand final was way back in 1978. They have not made the finals since 1995.
"At one stage, we had crisis meetings," said former club president Shane Price. "We went and met with other clubs to talk about merging.
"We went down the track of nearly folding but, at the last crisis meeting, 76 people came on board and away we went again."
Now Nilma Darnum looks set to shed its loser's tag, and credit is due to third-year president Andrew Patterson. A mathematician and semi-professional punter, Patterson has helped bankroll a bold recruiting spree.
Five of the new players are from Sale, which last year won the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League premiership.
Nilma Darnum's beefed-up combination started the season in impressive fashion, with Michael among the best in its round-three win over Neerim-Neerim South.
"I grew up playing in Brisbane, where it was very competitive, very physical footy," Michael said.
"In the last couple of years in the AFL, it became a very athletic contest and the way my legs had gone it suits me playing this sort of footy now."
Last weekend, the Bombers faced a big test when they travelled to Cora Lynn for a clash with the reigning premier. As his side went through its warm-ups, senior coach Brad Sinclair admitted it was hard to build an expectation of success at a club that has been down for so long.
"Last year we lost five games under five goals," Sinclair said. "They just didn't know how to win." A self-acknowledged football journeyman, whose playing career included stints in the reserves at Sydney and St Kilda, Sinclair had a simple pre-match message.
"Good players can get 30 possessions against the lowly sides," he preached to his men. "But great players stand up in big games."
Nilma Darnum bolted out to an early lead. Michael was among the scorers, although he copped plenty when a few Cora Lynn barrackers decided he was taking too long to have his shot for goal.
"They've taken the photo, you can get on with it Mal," one wag shouted.
Michael is pleased to be playing up forward. "I'm really enjoying trying to kick a few goals and I'm glad the coach has resisted the temptation to play me in defence," he said. But as Cora Lynn mounted a comeback late in the first term, Sinclair duly sent his main man to the back line. At quarter-time, the coach insisted it was a one-off.
"I've done it once, but now you other blokes have to stand up," he told his battling backmen.
As it turned out, Nilma Darnum's makeshift defence rose to the occasion, with Sale recruit David "Poison" Ivey playing a starring role.
Late in the last quarter, with the game on the line, Michael was sent back once more where his sure hands and precise skills proved invaluable.
The final siren brought a 19-point win and an outpouring of emotion. Cheering the boys from the field, Nilma Darnum life member Mary Knersch could hardly contain her delight. "It means so much to everyone," she exclaimed. "If Nilma and Collingwood both win the flag, I might never recover!"
The visitors' rooms were overflowing as the players belted out their song. "I'm blown away," Sinclair told his team. "We've arrived."
Having finished the game with two goals and a bandage around his head, Michael soaked in the raw emotion.
"I've always loved the social aspect of footy," he said, as he signed a footy card for a young fan.
"The thing I've enjoyed most is that the blokes really want to be here. In the AFL, it's like work to them. Here it's about enjoyment and fun. That makes it a really special experience."
By Adam McNicol
Article first appeared The Sunday Age, May 10th 2009
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