Having just won his record 11th club best and fairest, Nyah-Nyah West's Matt Curran said he'd happily swap the award for another tilt at a premiership.The indefatigable 35-year-old says team success is what football is all about and it was the toughest of years for United, with just one win all season.
Normally a midfielder, Curran was forced to fill in both at centre half back and centre half forward. He's been known to play at one end all day, depending on which way the wind is blowing - a little like star St Kilda key position player Bob Murray in the 1960s!
Curran, an accountant, says he was able to finish the season far fresher than ever before, as he was up and about on Sundays helping with Auskick and the little tykes.
"Normally Sunday you'd be a couch potato and put the feet up but having to move around has been good for me. I feel pretty good," he says.
Football has always been a big part of country life for the Curran family and Matt says it is a privilege to be a Demon, no matter the results.
"Success tends to go in cycles," he said. "We've been struggling to hold the kids as invariably they've been going to university and not coming back.
"But you only need one or two to return and they'll bring their mates with them. Certainly we had some terrific kids come through again this year and they gained some valuable experience.
"They started off pretty quiet and wouldn't put themselves forward much, but it was different scenario towards the end of the year. They were a big part of it, loved being involved and we loved being out there with them."
Curran says every country team, no matter how powerful, needs to remain firmly focused on nurturing their kids and giving them the best opportunity.
"It's a part of it. You want them to mature and for the best of them to play in the big leagues. It's fantastic for the town when that happens."
Curran has been a regular Central Murray representative player and while he loved the recognition and the chance to play alongside some excellent country footballers, he says nothing will ever be ranked ahead of NNW's two premierships in 2000 and 2001.
"September is such a special time. You've done all this work and we were lucky enough in those years to have some good sides and go all the way.
"We had a few boys down from Darwin, including Jason Cockatoo who'd played in Melbourne. They made all the difference."
Asked for any tips for young fellows about to play in their first Grand Finals, he said they had done all the training, why not go out and enjoy themselves, be risk-takers and really make an impression when it counted most?
"The skies are bluer, the stakes are higher. There's everything to play for," he said. "But don't be daunted. Take it on."
He reckons Kerang has as good a chance as anyone of taking Central Murray League honors this year, especially with the presence of returned local boy Luke Livingston from Carlton via the VFL.
"They're pretty settled and will be hard to beat," he said.
By Ken Piesse
Article first published 02 September, 2009
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