To hell and back

By Paul Pickering
THE EMBATTLED Powelltown Football Club received a welcome kick from a famous red-leg on Saturday, with a morale-boosting visit from football legend – and fellow Demon – Ron Barassi.
Barassi, whose playing-coaching career included six VFL premierships with Melbourne, was the guest of honour as Powelltown hosted the Victorian Country Football League’s WorkSafe Game of the Month against Emerald.
The event was billed as a ray of light in an otherwise gloomy season on-field for the winless Demons.
While the presence of the one of football’s most celebrated winners could not inspire Powelltown to an unlikely victory, Barassi was eager to recognise the spirited resurgence made by the club this year after failing to field teams in 2006.
After addressing more than 100 invited guests at a gala luncheon, Barassi was given a rousing reception as he took the field for the coin toss – where he congratulated acting Powelltown captain and 483-game stalwart Peter McConachie.
Pre-game festivities also included a stirring didgeridoo tribute to the club’s indigenous influence – provided by two young players to the delight of Powelltown coach and former-North Melbourne star Phil Krakouer.
Mixing jovially with the crowd during the match, Barassi even manned the canteen for a while, prompting a spontaneous spike in sales.
Powelltown secretary Paul Mainey said Barassi’s visit was just the tonic for the resolute club.
“Ron was very generous with his time and his engagement with people,” he said.
“It was a quite a morale-boosting day, and a great opportunity to get people back to the club.”
While the Demons battled admirably throughout the match, Emerald’s superior class saw them emerge 176-point winners.
Powelltown president Doug Cole was keen to praise the undermanned Demons, hailing Saturday’s performance as their most competitive this season.
“To see the spirit in the rooms before the game you would’ve thought they’d tear the opposition apart,” he said.
“They’re certainly still full of beans.”
Mr Cole said that the support from the local community during the day – and at the after-match social function – was indicative of Powelltown’s characteristic family spirit.
“All year the other clubs have been really supportive,” he said.
“It’s just about building the club at the moment, and Saturday was just an excellent day in every way.”