Sport
‘It’s like a big family’: Congupna stalwart buzzing with excitement ahead of grand final
You will be hard pressed to find a prouder person than David Gee on Saturday when Congupna takes on Mulwala in the Murray Football League decider.
Affectionately known as ‘’Digger’’, the Congupna stalwart will have his two sons Jordan and Brodie line-up in the club’s first senior football grand final in 25 years.
But for Digger, a former coach, a premiership-winning under-17 coach and current head of recruiting, he isn’t just cheering on two sons this weekend.
The club legend is a much-loved figure among the seniors and reserves footballers who will run out on Saturday and for Digger, watching them attempt to claim premiership success will mean more than anything.
“I’ve got two sons out there playing, but I’ve also got 40 other sons as well,” he said.
“It’s such a pleasure. Just to see the boys enjoy each other’s company ... it means everything.
“We’ve been able to keep a lot of our local juniors who played fourths and thirds and even the ones who have left they’ve come back and they’re all mates, they are all so close. That’s a huge part of it ... it’s the players who are the best recruiters.
“Their mates (Jordan and Brodie) who they play footy with are also mine and Jules’ (wife) mates too, it’s like a big family.
“It’s not very often you get to play in a grand final ― it’s super special.”
Before he set up shop in the Goulburn Valley, Digger’s exceptional footy credentials had him travel and see large parts of the country.
From Brisbane to Warrnambool, it’s been a long journey for Digger, one that has ended in The Road capturing his heart for the past two decades.
Digger’s fondness for Congupna is one that many other long-serving volunteers at the club share as well.
“It’s not just meaningful for me, it’s everyone else at the club who have done the hard yards as well and we’ve got a lot of volunteers that do thankless hours,” he said.
“Sometimes the footballers and netballers get it pretty easy and it’s the people in the background that make the club what it is.
“We’re very lucky that we have good footballers, netballers and committee people.”
One of those in particular is president and reserves footballer Jack Hicks.
It is a rarity to see a 25-year-old head up a footy and netball club, but as Digger explains, they’ve got the right man for the job.
“For him to manage his work and also be a president of a footy club and then still be able to play footy is mind-blowing,” he said.
“He’s so genuine and so approachable and he runs a tight ship and that’s why, that’s a big reason why Congupna is in the spot it’s in.”
And that spot is two football sides placed in a grand final for the first time in “a long time”.
It has the small community club buzzing with excitement.
“The messages that are coming in from people who used to play at the footy club, or once followed the club or had involvement here is just amazing,” Digger said.
“It just shows how strong the club actually is and how much it means to people even though they’re no longer involved.
“It’s been a long-haul and a lot of people around here deserve that (success).”