BFL ex-players are continuing to enjoy premiership glory in 2012 with the Mackay Football League.
BALLARAT Football League ex-players are continuing to enjoy premiership glory in 2012 – only a little bit warmer and further north than Ballarat, with the Mackay Football League.
Anthony Kilmartin, a Redan ruckman up until last year, and past player and life member of Ballarat Football Club David Johnstone won the grand final for the Mackay City Hawks this September.
Johnstone coached the Hawks to their victory but misses Ballarat’s enthusiasm for the sport.
“The Ballarat standard is a lot better. Our grand final and whole final series was of a high quality,” he said.
“The grand final day attracted big crowds, with a marquee, AFL is stepping up in the area.”
The club has now won back to back premierships in both the seniors and reserves, after failing to win the flag since 2000. Johnstone took over the seniors coaching this year.
Kilmartin said he enjoyed his year at Mackay as well, but followed Redan closely as they came runner up in this year’s Ballarat Football League’s grand final.
“My father was at the game, and he was sending me quarterly updates as to how they were going,” Kilmartin said.
“If I had the time off work and the money, I would have loved to be there.
“If I were still with Redan, I definitely would have played my hardest, but it’s hard to say whether it would have made a difference.”
If any Ballarat players are looking for a change to go up north, they can contact David Johnstone through the Mackay City Hawks website.
