Jon Buchanan and two-time premiership player Tim Natusch say goodbye to Wynnum Manly

EMOTIONS were flowing at Kougari Oval on Sunday as Jon Buchanan and two-time premiership player Tim Natusch said farewell to the Seagulls.

Jon Buchanan and Tim Natusch. Picture: JOHN GASS

THE emotions were flowing for Jon Buchanan and Tim Natusch on Sunday as they farewelled Wynnum Manly fans at Kougari Oval.

Buchanan, who has coached the Intrust Super Cup team for the past four seasons, is moving on to take over at the Souths Logan Magpies, while Natusch is hanging up the boots after seven seasons in the green, red and white.

Their finale did not go the way they wanted with Natusch unable to overcome injury to take his place in his team’s 28-16 loss to the Ipswich Jets. Buchanan said it was a tough afternoon.

“I feel really lucky to have coached such a proud club with such great support from everywhere,” he said.

“It (the last game) was pretty emotional to be honest – I was pretty short with everything I said and I’m not normally like that.

“I imagine it was the same for Timmy (Natusch), too, because it’s not the way either of us wanted to go out, not making finals but you don’t always get what you want in sport.”

Buchanan said he and the playing group felt some relief after Sunday’s game.

“Our bad start put so much pressure on the back end of our season, every week knowing you have to win to keep your finals hopes alive,” he said.

“So after last week when we lost and knew were no hope, of making finals, there was a sense of relief in a way. There was so much mental pressure on the whole group.

“It was good last week just to be able to go out and have some fun.”

Natusch, part of the club’s back-to-back premierships in 2011 and 2013, also received praise from former coach Paul Green.

“He’s just a great guy and player to have around your group. Timmy is really tough as well and played a big role in those premierships,” Green said.