Boort faces finals in style

BOORT will want to write a stirring final chapter to the team’s tragic season today by claiming the club’s first North Central Football League premiership in 26 years.The season was born in despair after the small Mallee community lost one of their own little more than six months ago.Coach Haldane “Whitey’’ Nelson was killed on his way to pre-season training in February when his car was struck by a freight train at Mitiamo.The much-loved coach was survived by wife Shelley and baby daughter Emmersyn.He was just 32.Like many Boort Magpies, vice-captain Mark Perryman made his way to the senior side from junior ranks, playing alongside Nelson.“We were gutted. My first reaction after it hit home was that this club wouldn’t survive,’’ Perryman said.“I didn’t think we’d ever pull through this, but we’re just such a close-knit club.“I’ve played 15 seasons at Boort and all my junior footy with Haldane. We’ve dedicated this year to him, and to win it for him would mean everything to us.Perryman said Whitey put his heart and soul into football and his coaching role, which his brother-in- law has now taken on.Shelley’s brother Chris Beattie had tried many excuses to put Whitey off his campaign to coax Beattie out of retirement - not least a five-year spell on the sidelines and three shoulder reconstructions, let alone hundreds of kilometres separating his Melbourne home from Boort.But after Whitey’s death, Beattie knew keeping the family closely involved with the football club would help ease their burden.“When Whitey passed away, we became pretty determined to put in a good effort this year,’’ he said.“Shelley will be there on the weekend with Emmersyn. Because of our family’s involvement in the club and obviously because of Whitey, she’s remained very active in the club too.While Beattie was named captain in his comeback season, he played only six games before breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle.Perryman has led the team since, and will do so again today. The league’s leading goalkicker has no doubts the Magpies have been driven by Whitey this season - his nickname and favourite number 11 adorn the left side of their jumpers.Three Boort players - Ash Byrne, Brett Jeffrey and Aaron Wilson - have pledged to return to the club, Byrne coming out of retirement as senior playing coach at the age of 38.Jeffrey - a Melbourne draftee in 1992 - left Northcote Park to make the weekly pilgrimage north, while Wilson played as often as possible when not with Geelong’s VFL side.After the initial shock, probably the first week or 10 days, we were back on track - we had to - we had practice matches to play and the footy season was upon us,’’ Perryman said.“The influence of Ash and some pretty switched-on committee men, and the president Tim Byrne, helped us pull through.As players struggled with Whitey’s death, Byrne, who is president of Boort Football Netball Hockey Club, questioned the importance of winning, premierships and small-town rivalries. In the weeks after the tragedy, he realised the club remained the constant - allowing those who were hurting to move forward.“It brought the footy club into perspective - it’s not the main thing, a game of footy, there’s a lot more important things in life,’’ Byrne said.“But, in saying that, it makes us realise how important our football netball hockey club is for our community.“Everyone comes together and supports each other, and we’ve got through the situation,’’ he said.Byrne said the club would field seven sides in the grand final today.“Haldane was big on looking after your mates and contributing, on and off the ground,’’ he said. “Being an active member of the club... he’s had a real influence.’’Fellow player Ash Byrne doesn’t baulk when asked if there was added incentive to claim a premiership this season.“I don’t think anyone had any idea at the start of the year how we would go,’’ he said.“It certainly hasn’t been until at least past mid-year that there’s been any talk about finals and achieving in finals - that wasn’t a focus initially.’’The former Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears player, who is credited by the president and Perryman for throwing himself headlong into the club just weeks out from the start of the season, remains confident Boort can defeat the ‘Burners, who beat them in the second-semi to secure their grand final berth.“There’s been a lot of people who have given support, locally and from outside Boort, so that’s been pretty positive,’’ Byrne said.“We’ll be aiming to win it and I think we can.’’As Whitey’s brother-in-law, Chris Beattie could have a few reasons for being upset if the side doesn’t win today. His father played for the last flag in 1982 - but 1989 and 2006 grand final losses would be all but forgotten if Boort triumphs this season.“It’s fantastic that we’ve made the grand final and we can be very proud of that in itself,’’ Beattie said.“I think the way the community and the club has responded is probably the most important thing.“Football is just part of the picture - it’s made us more unified as a group.“And to be successful, have a good year and make the grand final on the back of Whitey’s death is just an unbelievable effort.“At the end of the day, it’s just a game of footy, and they’ve responded bloody well to adversity just to get there.’’