Sport
28 July, 2022
Campbells Creek bag first win on the field since 2018 as club continues to rebuild
It was one of the most memorable days in Campbells Creek’s recent history on Saturday afternoon, with all three of their football teams tasting victory, and the club is now keen to aim for greater heights coming off their breakthrough successes on...
It was one of the most memorable days in Campbells Creek’s recent history on Saturday afternoon, with all three of their football teams tasting victory, and the club is now keen to aim for greater heights coming off their breakthrough successes on the field.
The club’s under 11.5, reserves and senior teams were all successful against Maryborough Rovers, with the senior side’s win their first since round 13, 2018 made extra special by the fact that the club had fought for their return from recess at the start of the 2022 season.
The senior win will live long in the memory bank for any Magpies supporter who was at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve on the weekend, coming from 16 points down with just five minutes remaining in the game to record a memorable one-point victory, sparking scenes of jubilation and delirium post-game.
Now, senior coach Kris Bagley wants to take advantage of the feel-good result for the club and move it forward.
“It was a very good win, and it was a massive relief for the guys, the club, and particularly the committee, who have worked very hard to get back to where we are now. For me, it was a reward for the journey we have been on,” he said.
Bagley reserved special praise for both the under 11.5s, who recorded a three-point win over Rovers, as well as the reserves, who triumphed by 45 points.
“It was awesome to see the under 11s get a win too, it was the main part of us coming back as well, getting the juniors back into it,” he said.
“One of the senior guys, Tyson (Williams), who coaches them, he put a lot of time and effort into getting enough kids to get a side together, and it was great to see the smile on his face and the parents as well.
“The reserves, they earned every bit of their win. They get no reward turning up each week, they don’t get paid obviously, but it was a massive reward to get the victory. You could see how much it meant to all of them when the siren went.
“It just reiterates that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that there was reward for the boys after all the hard work they’ve done this year.
“Going forward, it just means there’s a bit of belief and knowing how to win — that was the main thing, to bring it home so we know how to win, and continuing to be positive around the place. With that win, the positivity went up even more, and the mateship around the place has made everyone closer, so it was important to get there on the weekend.”
Campbells Creek’s last scalp in their 2018 win was Dunolly, a side who have since gone on to rebuild to a point where they now currently sit inside the top eight. Bagley sees the Eagles’ current recovery as a beacon of hope that the Magpies can likewise return to finals action under his tenure, and maintains faith that the club’s long-term plan that was brought to fruition upon the club’s return from recess last year is very much on track.
“When we first got together, we created a five-year plan — within five years, we’d like to play finals footy, but also have a sustainable list with plenty of youth around, including through our juniors,” he said.
“We do look at Dunolly and say that it can be done. It’s not easy, it doesn’t happen overnight, but we have a plan to get up there, be consistently competitive and play finals footy.”
Before then, Campbells Creek will negotiate the rest of the 2022 season with great confidence from the weekend’s result, starting with a trip to Harcourt this week, before rounding out their season with games against Lexton, Avoca and Natte Bealiba.
“The next steps for the club is that we’d love to take another scalp in the last few rounds when we play out the season. Looking forward, we’ll recruit wisely — it’s all about making sure that everyone is happy and they fit into where we want to go. We’d also like to keep the coaches in position, so that there is stability and direction there for everyone. As we say to each other, there’s only one way to go from the bottom — and that is up,” Bagley said.