Aussies Accounts: Matt Bevilacqua was a late call up to the 2013 Mooloolaba board relay team

Matt Bevilacqua is widely recognised as one of the best board paddlers in Australia, if not the world. But back in 2013, he couldn’t even get a start in the board relay.

MATT Bevilacqua is widely recognised as one of the best board paddlers in Australia, if not the world.

But back in 2013, he couldn’t even get a start in the board relay.

AUSSIES REVIVED: THE DAY BREE WENT FROM ROOKIE TO MASTER

Fresh faced and eager to impress, a then 21-year-old Bevilacqua competed at the North Kirra Aussies under the maroon Mooloolaba cap.

The three-prong dream team of Ali Day, Cam Cole and Kendrick Louis had combined to qualify for the board relay final but when Day fell ill, Bevilacqua got the late call up to take his place.

Action from the final day of the Australian Surf Life Saving Titles, held at North Kirra beach, Gold Coast. Shannon Eckstein of Northcliffe congratulates Josh Minogue, ironman winner Cam Cole and Matt Bevilacqua of Mooloolaba.

Cole, who went on to win the Australian ironman title that year, got the Mooloolaba boys out to a strong lead at North Kirra before Louis held on, leaving Bevilacqua to finish the job.

“I wasn’t even supposed to be there but I was the anchor leg,” Bevilacqua said.

“When I saw Cam leading, I started to feel the pressure so I went and spoke to Matt Poole who was injured at the time.

“He said, ‘you’re probably going to be leading so edge off slightly and just look for the runners coming home’.

“He said you’re probably going to be leading so just look for

“I dragged the whole field out but probably backed off around 10%, still going extremely hard though, and started to look for the runs coming home.

“Just off the apex, I caught a tiny little runner all the way into the beach and ran up by myself.”

AUSSIES REVIVED: DAY’S DREAM TEAM STANDS THE TEST OF TIME

Not bad for a ring in.

The victory would be Bevilacqua’s first Aussies medal and pave the way for more to come.