When Cameron Simpson was encouraged by his mate Jake Mills to join Lancaster during the season, the talented on-baller was told there was an opportunity to claim premiership success.
Four months on and the talented midfielder lived out his dream of winning a maiden senior premiership as the Wombats downed Murchison-Toolamba by 10 points in Saturday’s gruelling Kyabram District League grand final.
Simpson, who crossed from Northcote Park, was one of Lancaster’s most influential players in the memorable triumph and that resulted in him walking off with two medals draped around his neck.
“It’s unbelievable. You can’t even really put it into words,” he said.
“It’s my first senior grand final win and it’s just amazing.
“I came here halfway through the year and I had my doubts on finals, I knew it was going to be a tough hill to climb, but we got a few wins together and found some belief.
“The club’s been so welcoming to me and I’ve loved every moment.”
Simpson was at the forefront of Lancaster’s early dominance in the rain-soaked contest.
The smart mover booted a goal in the opening term and seemed to have a hand in most passages of play.
If he wasn’t winning the ball at ground level, he was pushing forward and working hard defensively.
One of his many highlights came during the second quarter — as the downpour reached its peak — when he marked and hit up a teammate with precision.
Simpson said the conditions were some of the hardest he had ever played in.
“It was biblical conditions at one point. It was absolutely ridiculous before half-time,” he said.
“I think when we got a few goals up we sort of felt a little bit confident due to the weather and that goals were going to be hard to come by.
“I haven’t played in conditions like that in a while ... to play in those conditions and get the job done is pretty unbelievable.”