Border Mail |
RYAN Hon knows how fortunate he is. While some players can go their whole career without playing in a decider, the 20-year-old has already racked up three senior grand final berths.
After playing his junior football for home town Moama, Hon was thrust into the senior line-up half-way through the 2009 season as a 17-year-old.
The former Bendigo Pioneer grasped the opportunity with both hands and was part of the Magpies’ narrow grand final loss that season against Tocumwal.
He made amends the following season after Moama landed one of the greatest upsets in Murray league history with an 85-point thrashing of raging favourite Mulwala.
After the high of winning his first senior grand final, Hon hit a low half-way through the 2011 season when he suffered a shoulder injury.
He missed the remainder of the season before having a shoulder reconstruction and arriving at Henty last year.
Hon played in his third grand final in four years when the Swampies lost the decider to Osborne by 31 points.
“I’ve been pretty lucky to play in three grand finals but they are not easy to win,” Hon said.
“They say you have to lose one before you win one so fingers crossed that rings true this season.
“The flag at Moama is easily the highlight of my career.
“Having been runner-up the year before and with the side comprising all locals beside two players was something special.”
Hon arrived in Albury last year to study teaching at Charles Sturt University and was on the lookout for a suitable club.
Henty can thank former North Albury and now Wodonga utility Bevan Charlton White for pointing Hon in the Swampies direction.
“I knew Bevan and asked him where I should play,” he said.
“Bevan had played with Brent Piltz at North Albury before Piltzy got the coaching job at Henty.
“He spoke highly of Piltzy as a player and a bloke, so that was good enough for me.”
And Hon is loving it.
“I have absolutely loved my short time at Henty,” he said.
“It’s a nice little country town and the whole community is behind the football club.
“It nice to be part of it and in a lot of ways is similar to back home at Moama.”
Henty is also loving Hon.
The talented small forward was instrumental in the Swampies making their first grand final since 1998.
He was the Swampies most potent attacking weapon alongside Grant Gardiner and Shannon Terlich and finished the season with 65 goals.
Despite Henty going into last year’s grand final with Azzi medallist Jamarl O’Sullivan carrying a knee injury and Hon and midfielder Simon Hillier going down with injury early in the contest, Hon still believes Osborne was the deserving premier.
“Having played in three grand finals I know from experience you need a lot of things to go right to win a flag,” he said.
“As many things that did go against us there is no doubt in my mind they were the best side and certainly deserving winners.”
Hon has started this season in solid fashion, booting nine goals in two matches and said the Swampies were motivated to go one better this season.
“After having such a successful season last year everyone was keen to hang round,” he said.
“Obviously with the talent in the side there is definitely something special there and something to be achieved.
“Most of the blokes in the side haven’t won a grand and are hungry and striving for that elusive flag.”
