It matters not if you are 17-year-old rookie Tristan Xerri, former AFL player Brian Lake or 36-year-old veteran David Cavanagh – a premiership with Caroline Springs in the WRFL division 2 on Sunday is equally special to each and every one of the 22 players who took to the field in the club’s first senior flag.
For Cavanagh, this was likely a last chance to taste premiership glory with the Lakers, and he undoubtedly took the hard road to the top.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” Cavanagh told Star Weekly amid the post-game celebrations.
“We went in confident, but anything can happen in a grand final.
“To get away with a win [against Yarraville-Seddon] is awesome, I’m relieved more than anything, I think.” Cavanagh holds a special place in the history of Caroline Springs.
The defender became the club’s first captain six years ago. Cavanagh made the brave decision to leave Albanvale, to which he had given long service from juniors through to seniors, and the move regenerated his career.
“To leave the club where I played all my junior footy and captained was a big call,” he said. “But I thought it was a chance to be part of something massive, so I bit the bullet and jumped on board. We got smashed in a few games, but we worked hard and slowly just built on it. Every year we’ve increased our wins on the board.”
Cavanagh had often questioned his decision, but there was no turning back. As the years wore on and the body continued to take a physical beating, Cavanagh wondered whether his chance to win a premiership medal as a Laker was slipping away.
Then reassurances came from football manager Marc Raak.
“I had to keep showing him there was a light at the end of the tunnel,” Raak said.
Cavanagh reached that light when he stepped onto the premiership dais on Sunday to receive his medal.
While he says he would “never say never” about returning to the field next season, Cavanagh has likely signed off on his football career, and what a perfect way to do so.
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