THE Tatyoon juggernaut came to an abrupt halt on the biggest day of the Mininera and District Football League season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Coach Damian Cameron had his Hawks outfit flying throughout 2015, with the senior squad dropping just one game in the home-and-away rounds and that was to Lismore/Derrinallum in round 10.
Tatyoon turned the result around in round 16, recording a resounding 73-point victory against the Demons.
In the lead up to the finals series, the Hawks smashed Great Western by 182 points and they put Moyston/Willaura to the sword in the final home-and-away round, defeating the Pumas by 79 points.
Cameron’s men suffered a scare in their second semi-final clash with Lismore/Derrinallum, although the minor premiers managed to book their place in the Mininera League grand final with a 16-point win.
A fortnight later, the two teams would meet again at Willaura. Tatyoon went into the premiership decider warm favourites, understandable given their recent form against the Demons.
Cameron had won the MDFL’s highest individual honour, the Lewis Medal, on the Monday night prior to the big dance while the Hawks claimed the reserves premiership.
Although the fairytale ending for Tatyoon wasn’t meant to be.
Tatyoon trailed the Demons by 15 points at half time of the grand final, and started to stage a comeback but they weren’t able to hurt their rivals on the scoreboard. Lismore/Derrinallum was always able to find an answer, even in a tense final term contest.
It would have been a bittersweet moment for Cameron when he was presented with the Lewis Medal following the 27-point grand final loss. The Hawks coach had to accept the medal on the day, given he was not in attendance at the League’s vote count.
The experience of 2015 will be relished by the likes of exciting youngsters in Tyler and Mitch Cronin, along with John Butler.
Cameron himself has now played in five losing premierships – 2005, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015, and will be looking to bounce back and go one further next season if he decides to stick around.
AMONG THE BEST PLAYERS:
- Damian Cameron: Reached the grand final in his first year as Hawks senior coach. MDFL 2015 Lewis Medalist, Noel Heard Memorial best and fairest winner with 71 votes from 19 senior home-and-away and finals games. Need we say more?
- Sean McDougall. Runner-up in the Hawks’ senior best and fairest vote count, polling 65 votes from 17 matches. McDougall starred at the pointy end of the season, taking home the best in finals honours.
- Arthur Armstrong. Strong defender that stood tall throughout 2015. Armstrong was rewarded for his consistency at the club’s best and fairest with the most valuable award.
BIGGEST WIN:
Round 17 v Great Western – 182 points: Steven Butler booted seven goals and Tyler Cronin contributed six majors as Tatyoon romped to a huge victory against the Lions at Great Western. Sean McDougall and Damian Cameron led the way, while Jock Laidlaw and Cronin proved handy.
BIGGEST LOSS:
Round 10 v Lismore/Derrinallum – 50 points: The one that hurt the most would have been the grand final, however the Hawks did lose to the Demons earlier in the season. Again, Sean McDougall was best afield while Tyler Cronin booted three goals.
