Thursday 5 August 2010
It was fitting that a young man who had been around the Redland Bombers since he was six should play the lead role in inspiring his club to the greatest win in its QAFL history last Sunday.
Pocket rocket Matt Thomson started brilliantly against the Bombers’ nemesis Southport, kicked one of the goals of the season at a key time of the third quarter, and ran himself into the ground as Redland held on for a euphoric eight-point victory.
Thomson was nine years old when the Bombers entered the QAFL in 2000 and they had never beaten the powerhouse Sharks in 25 attempts until last Sunday.
“It’s awesome – it’s been a long time coming, it means everything,” Thomson said. “It was great for all the boys who have been around the club for a while.”
It is almost unfair to single out Redland players because they had 23 heroes who spent every ounce of energy in conjuring up the entertaining 17.13 (115) to 15.17 (107) triumph, but Thomson set the standard from the outset.
He received great support from Justin Myers, Adam Mueller, Jamie Hackett and Adam Boon, fellow Redland juniors who all were blooded in the dark times when the Bombers were the competition punching bag.
“It was tough, but we had good blokes around and a really good culture at the club, so that made it easier,” Thomson said of their baptism of fire in senior football.
The spirit and camaraderie within the Bombers remains, their passion proving just as powerful as their improved skill level in the win over Southport.
Redland led by 26 points midway through the third quarter, but Southport closed to within four points deep in time-on of the last term.
“I always thought we were going to win, I had faith in the boys,” Thomson said. “When the siren went it was awesome. We had a good win up in the NT and that was a pretty good feeling but this one tops that. “
Phil Carse, Jesse Dixon, Scott Clouston, Jason Paxman, James Charlesworth, Daniel Dzufer, Blake Passfield, Ben Weightman, Justin Carey, Paul O’Shea, Adrian Williams, Brad Rees, Will Overs and Matt Ghirardello all played key parts in creating history.
The Bombers, who now sit equal fifth with the NT Thunder, have a tough contract at top placed Labrador on Saturday, but they have no fear.
“We’ve got to win the next couple of games and if we do we’ll play finals and go in with plenty of confidence,” Thomson said. “Our ultimate goal is to win the premiership, so that’s what we’ll try to do.”
*The first quarter from the Redland-Southport game will be replayed on FoxSports Main Event channel from 5.30pm on Friday night
