THERE was a taste of the “good old days” for Gunnedah’s Matthew Hannay at this year’s Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast.
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The Red Devils stalwart made the trip to this year’s games on a whim and took home bronze medals in both the over 35s and over 40s competitions.
Hannay said he first heard about the games through social media.
“I had planned on going and trying to get a team from around here together to compete but it didn’t quite pan out,” Hannay said.
“Then not long before it all started, an old mate of mine rang me to tell me his team was a bit short and the next thing I knew I made the eight-hour trip over.”
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Players from across the country took part in the games, with some competitors aged in their late 70s.
“I have to say a real highlight of the whole event was the sportsmanship on display,” Hannay said.
“One of the teams we played against included a 79-year-old bloke, which was something else.
“When I got there I only knew a couple of people, but as the competition went on, I bumped into heaps of people I’d played with and against over the years.
“It was just like old times.”
Hannay racked up more than 270 minutes of playing time during his side’s over 35s and over 40s campaigns, eventually helping them secure bronze in both grades.
“I have to say the over 35s competition was pretty brutal,” he said.
“I loved it, it was like footy used to be in the 1990s.
“A lot of the guys that were playing still play first or second grade for their club’s as well, to be honest it took me about a week to recover.
“While it might of been the first time I have been, it certainly won’t be my last.”
Hannay said he plans to help bring a Gunnedah team to the next games in 2020.
“I reckon it would be great if we could do it,” he said.
“Hopefully we can put the feelers out there and see what happens.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
