Glenelg fans turn out to see the yellow and black on top of the West End chimney as they celebrate grand final victory over Port Adelaide Magpies
Glenelg fans had to rub their eyes to believe what they were seeing on Tuesday as the yellow and black went up on top of the West End chimney. And after a 33-year wait, every one of them had their own story to tell. See the pictures and video here.
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Every Glenelg fan at the West End Brewery on Tuesday had their own story to tell.
How their grandfather was at the 1934 grand final when they beat Port Adelaide, or their dad was there in ‘73 when they beat North Adelaide.
How they were there for the back-to-back triumphs in1985 and 86 but had sat through the last 33 barren years waiting for the next, which finally arrived at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon.
They were united in black and gold - scarves, hats, t-shirts, flags, beanies and badges - but they’d all experienced the agonising premiership drought differently.
There were elderly fans with wheelchairs and walkers who’d sat through the full three decades and babies in prams and carriers who’d waited six months to see a Glenelg flag. And then everything in between.
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If Sunday was the elation and Monday the celebration, then Tuesday after the SANFL grand final is when the reality sets in and as hundreds turned up to see the black and gold sit atop the black and white on the West End chimney, they had to rub their eyes to believe what they were seeing.
Still dancing to the clubsong which was blaring over the speakers, they cheered for out-going president Nick Chigwidden and the incoming one in Peter ‘Super’ Carey. Even the three field umpires from Sunday’s grand final got a cheer not surprisingly.
The faithful cheered coach Mark Stone and then captain Chris Curran on stage, but the biggest cheer was reserved for the team as a whole who were introduced one by one by the entertaining Liam McBean and Michael Virgin.
Virgin had his own incredible story to tell.
The son of the current North Adelaide president, he spent nine years at Prospect but watched the Roosters win the flag from the stands last year and wondered what that might feel like.
Twelve months later he now knows for sure.
The only man who wasn’t cheered, but was met with a respected silence and then applause, was Port Adelaide’s football manager Shane Grimm who turned up to represent the Magpies.
“We’re very disappointed,” Grimm told the crowd.
“Despite what many people might think, we are very passionate about our involvement in the SANFL and were desperate to win the grand final.
“But the best team throughout the year won on the day, and I’m sure you appreciate beating Port in a grand final.
“We’ll dust ourselves off and keep having a crack at it.
“Maybe we’ll beat you in a grand final.”
Cue the jeers. They were inside every Glenelg supporter somewhere who’d been tortured by the Magpies over the years.
Stone spoke about taking a few days to enjoy the moment and encouraged the 21 players who will never all be in the same team again, to do the same.
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Interviewed on stage by MC Mark Soderstrom who was dressed in a bright yellow jacket, Stone said among the contributions from so many people, two key factors underpinned their success this season.
“Guys were emotionally invested in the footy club, and egos were left at the door,” he said.
Stone wanted his players to invest in the footy club and in turn he invested in them.
He has no ego and if he does then you have to look pretty hard to find it.
When Stone was given the microphone to thank whoever he wanted on Tuesday, the crowd cheered for 30 seconds, like a wave that seemed as though it would never break as it approached the shore.
“That is humbling,” Stone told them when it finally did.
“To you fantastic supporters, it’s overwhelming to see so much black and yellow day after day. Thank you.”
Aaron Joseph played 73 AFL games with Carlton before joining Glenelg and said he was still coming to terms with the Tigers’ triumph.
“I’ve been saying to a few close family members, I just want to sit down on the weekend and soak it all in,” he said.
“It’s a proud club, I reckon my second game in we played Port six years ago and they beat us by 180 points. To come from there and to win means a lot more.
“I’ve formed 25 best friends over the weekend and I’m already looking forward to seeing them in 10 years for our reunion.”
If it’s also a 10-year wait for Glenelg’s next flag then you sense that after 33 years between the last drinks they might still be partying and celebrating this one in 2029.
reece.homfray@news.com.au