FOR Nyah Nyah West United president Jarrod Skinner, Saturday’s grand final victory was about more than the game – it was about rewarding the tireless efforts of everyone around the club.
Having been named president just last year, Skinner’s leadership has paid off in spades at the club where he grew up and played his junior football.
While his career has seen him travel as far as the Northern Territory with Palmerstone and just down the road with a short stint at Woorinen, Skinner’s heart has always remained with the Demons.
Skinner was a part of the Tigers’ back-to-back flags in 2018 and 2019 but said those two flags didn’t come close to the heights of Saturday’s win over Kerang.
“This has got to be the most satisfying day in football for me in the 20 years I’ve been playing,” he said following the game.
“I’ve played over two decades of football and all that effort has paid off in spades today.
“I’ve won a couple of premierships before but to do it against Kerang just means a hell of a lot.
“I respect their group of players so much.
“It felt like we had everyone’s support – that everyone would love to see us knock off Kerang.
“But that’s really a credit to them as a club.
“They’re so respected and they’ve been up there for so long.
“I’m just so proud of our group.
“We’ve really earned it through playing some sensational football when it mattered.”
Having missed out on the Demons’ last premierships in the early 2000s, Skinner said this year’s win came off the backs of the often-forgotten members of the club.
“I’m just thrilled for everyone, not just the players,” he said.
“I’m rapt for everyone around the club because they’ve put in the hard work.
“There’s our committee, the past committee before us and the coaches and players and people who have volunteered all across our history.
“That’s not to mention all the families here at our club – to have my kids to see wins like this and for them to know that this is what you play footy for.
“It’s for friendships and to honour the people who have done so much work at a club.
“That’s what gives them something to drive towards.
“As a club we will keep building and we want to be there at the top for a long time, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”
Skinner said the leadership of new coaches Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill was key to building a strong culture at the club.
“We got Murph and Nicko in and they always said we’re good enough to be in this position,” he said.
“There was also this idea that it’s not just about one premiership, it’s about being up the top for 10 years.
“We want to be setting the standard and making sure that we’re at the top for the next decade, and that’s not just senior football.
“We’ve achieved something big here today but we’ve got to get more things right – we’ve got to get the rest of our football and netball club up and going forward.”
