PROUD Farrer League coach Brad Aiken was so overwhelmed with the effort of his side on Saturday that he was willing to declare their one-point loss to the Hume League a virtual victory.
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Aiken backed players willing to pledge their support for rep football. They slotted in neatly alongside proven big names who enhanced their own reputations, and helped the league's, with a display full of heart and commitment.
"I got that in spades mate. The boys put themselves out there and they represented themselves, the league and their clubs with gusto," Aiken said.
"The scoreboard tells the tale that we lost by a point but in my eyes I think we won - I think we brought respectability back to the Farrer League.
"Without actually winning, I don't think I could ask for anything more."
Seventeen-year-old ruckmen Jack Cullen and Jack Driscoll stood as tall in their performances as they are in size, with Farrer star Curtis Steele declaring they played like 200-gamers.
And Kane Flack, also 17, showed his class across half-back despite having played only one senior game for North Wagga.
"The promising thing for us in the Farrer League if they keep them around is young Flacky and the two Jacks - they were up against seasoned first grade footballers, grown men, and I thought they won their spots," Aiken said.
Steele starred up forward and in the midfield. He kicked three goals - almost four, but for a contentious shot on three quarter time which looked a goal right up until only one flag was waved. More inspirational, twice in the second half he produced gut-busting runs over 30m to run down an opponent and win a free kick just as Hume were setting sail for their forward line.
With desperation and a willingness to play for each other and gel as a team, Farrer put themselves in a commanding position early in the last quarter with a 10-point lead but couldn't maintain it.
There were missed shots and errors to rue given the one-point result. But they'd also shown the required fight to stay in the game.
Hume's lead got into double figures twice in the first quarter and a handful of times in the third, but it was never beyond two goals until midway through the last, when Farrer suddenly needed three for a win.
Even that proved only just beyond them as they finished with the last three scoring shots, for a close finish.