The celebrations were well underway in Boisdale Briagolong changerooms, the players dancing and singing along merrily to Sweet Caroline, as two lone figures sat in the trainers’ room soaking up the atmosphere and moment together.
Veterans Andrew Quirk and Toby Leeds have been here before, senior premiership players with Sale in the Gippsland League under the coaching of ex-Hawthorn player Adrian Cox when still eligible for the thirds back in 2008.
Quirk added another premiership in 2012 to his collection under the tutelage of former Saint, Matthew Ferguson, before joining Boisdale where he has played 59 impressive games over the past four years, the defender rarely beaten in a one-on-one marking contest.
Both have battled plenty of injuries over the years, Leeds with a dodgy back and Quirk with persistent knee problems, Leeds in particular spending huge amounts of time out of the game, his body unable to cope with the rigours of training and game day.
The duo sat and chatted, reliving the memories of 2008 and how hard premierships are to win.
“I was blessed back in 2008, I played in a premiership in my ninth senior game. You think that it’s going to happen every year. 2012 is such a long time ago, but the feeling of being rewarded for the commitment and hard work is still great,” Quirk
said.
Well managed through 2024, Quirk said his body felt surprisingly good.
“It’s held up well this year, looking forward to having a rest,” he said.
The thought of playing in another premiership hadn’t even been in the equation until mid season for Leeds.
He decided to give football another crack after concentrating on cricket in recent years.
After putting together five reserves game in the back half of the season, he was thrust back into the limelight with his surprise selection for the vital preliminary final clash with Wy Yung.
The Bombers were mindful they needed another experienced tall in the line up if they progressed to the grand final, given Lucknow’s intercept marking specialist Andrew Nelson had been dominant in his club’s semi final effort.
“I was just filling in playing reserves, I really didn’t see this coming. Sam Bedggood was continually checking on me, I didn’t realise that I was in the plans, but the body has got better and better each week,” Leeds said.
Leeds was an important player across half back in the torrid first quarter, he and Quirk’s efforts both pivotal in keeping the Bombers within striking distance of the Magpies who came out running.
Despite carrying a corked thigh in the second half, Leeds continued to provide assistance to Matt Wilkinson in the ruck while taking a key defender roaming across half forward, his efforts in the ruck allowing the bearded giant to get forward and become a target in attack.
Quirk was reliable all day in back six, marking when necessary, or punching the ball away from dangerous Lucknow opponents.
