After a couple of years of pain and concern over the club’s future, Rushworth celebrated its 2004 premiership in style on Saturday afternoon in round 15 of Kyabram District League.
The 2022 floods that caused so much damage across the region also nearly brought Rushworth Football Netball Club to its knees.
Although Saturday’s performance was just one victory, it gave the club and its supporters a reason to cheer.
Coming into the match, the Tigers were in 12th place on the ladder with four wins from 14 games, with their opponent Merrigum one place higher in 11th.
Rushworth had two notable inclusions for this round 15 fixture: St Kilda legend Stephen Milne and former North Melbourne and Gold Coast midfielder Daniel Harris (two goals for the match).
The Tigers started the game in blistering fashion, kicking 4.2 to the Bulldogs’ 1.3.
Milne (who kicked 574 goals for St Kilda) played a starring role for Rushworth, with the pestering small forward kicking a bag of five in an imposing performance for the Tigers.
After Rushworth’s fast start, the home side never looked back.
The Tigers led by 39 points at half-time and 30 at three-quarter time before storming away further in the final term.
Rushworth couldn’t be stopped on its home deck, with a large crowd cheering on the players until the final siren.
The Tigers eventually won the match 15.12 (102) to 5.7 (37).
Rushworth coach Mark Wheatley said the additions of Harris and Milne to the squad for this sole match were beneficial for the club on and off the field.
“They are brilliant guys,” Wheatley said.
“That was the first time I met (Harris), but obviously a Rushworth local, and just his way of engaging with the players was outstanding.
“I know ‘Milney’ quite well and his ability to engage with his teammates (was fantastic).
“They were signing autographs and doing photos and all those sort of things and everyone got a real buzz out of it.”
According to Wheatley, the excitement at Ironbark Stadium after the victory was palpable.
The Tigers coach said it was good for the supporters to see the club was on the right trajectory.
“It was a bit of a carnival atmosphere,” he said.
“We had the sportsman’s night last night with Stephen Milne and we had probably 200 or 300 people there and they were pumped.
“The boys from the reunion were up and about, especially from where the club has been and thinking that they could potentially be the last ever premiership heroes of our club.
“We were probably nearly ready to shut the doors and they were just really proud and it was pretty emotional and quite cool to see.
“Everyone was really wrapped with what we are building and, obviously, still a lot to go, but it was really positive and encouraging, which was great.”
Milne suited up earlier this season in the Picola and District League, linking up with Mathoura on Good Friday for the Cutters round one clash with Picola United.
On that day the Blues were too strong, with Milne restricted to just one major in a 28 point defeat.