By David Nagel
Kooweerup won an incredible eighth premiership in 14 years on Sunday, defeating arch-rival Cardinia in the season decider.
The premiership meant everything to the players…from eight-time winners Chris and Matt Bright, right through to Luke McMaster, Steven Dillon, Gamini Kumara and Rob Maskiell – who won their first grand finals at the club.
We caught up with all 11 players as joyous celebrations began at Denhams Road on Sunday night.
Michael Giles (Captain-Coach) – Opener
“It’s unbelievable, words can’t describe it; we got the job done when it mattered most because we’re a superstar club, not just one team, we’re a club, and I always knew deep down that we could do it.
“My journey ends today for this great side, but the club is bigger than any one person, and it’s a bit of a fairytale for me to stand here and be able to do this.
“To get a second opportunity to come back and do the job, to captain-coach the club after the hardest period of my life, I just never thought it was going to happen again.
“I really do thank the club, Matty Davey and the rest of the committee, for giving me a second chance and to the players for taking it on board…and all the supporters.
“That hardest part was taking over the list and trying to get all these different personalities to gel together as a team. In finals it’s easier, because everyone just wants to win, but in other games during the year it’s impossible to please everyone.
“It’s a tough gig, you try and make it a smooth road and please everyone, but it’s never going to be that way.
“Micky Monckton, our chairman of selectors, he’s done a great job throughout the year, and to others who have helped out like Bo (Barry Robertson), I thank you as well.
“We climbed the mountain, but the journey will always continue for this great club.
“I’m just so proud of what we achieved today.”
Luke McMaster – Opening All-Rounder
“It’s good to go through the hard times to get to this one. We won the Covid premiership but didn’t really get to celebrate it, and to lose to Cardinia (preliminary final) last year, in the position we were in, was really heartbreaking.
“We were in a similar position today, and to go through with it is just amazing. It’s the best feeling ever.
“If I went out early, I went out early, but it was nice to build a good platform and steady the ship through the middle. I’ve had a good year, and to get some runs and take a couple of wickets in a grand final is very satisfying. It all would have meant nothing if I didn’t deliver on the big stage.
“He (Michael Giles) was a role model growing up, probably my favourite player, so to win a flag under his leadership and to send him out like that…I couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved.
“I tried to get him (brother Adam McMaster) back earlier in the year, and we had a joke about winning a flag together, we haven’t done it since juniors, and it’s massive for both of us, especially to see the way he came out and bowled.
“I’ll gladly step up to the role (captain) if that’s the way the club wants to go.
“The club has been building me up for it, I feel like I’ve taken my game to the next level, and I’d love to lead this great club and make everyone proud.”
Gamini Kumara – Batted at 3
“It’s a great feeling, to win this in my first year at the club, the players have been really good and the cricket is a really good standard.
“(Move from Yarragon) Just for a change, a few of my friends said Kooweerup was a good club, and the cricket was a good standard too, so that’s why I moved and now I am happy I did.
“He’s a great captain (Giles) and a leader, I have no bad words for him…he’s great and I really respect what he does and the way he goes about things.
“Luke (McMaster), he’s a very good player, a true great all-rounder. I’ve played in Australia for 11 years and he’s one of the best players I’ve seen.
“Wombat (Chris Bright), he has impressed me as well, and Jess (Mathers), he’s a very good bowler too.
“It’s a great feeling…it’s been more than 10 years since my last premiership (Yarragon) and it’s very special to do it again with this great team and this great club.”
Mitch Davey – Batted at 4
“I’m just over the moon really, to finally get a chance to win a premiership for this club is an unreal experience and one I’ll never forget.
“I’ve grown up watching the boys win premierships, my old man as well, so it’s just nice to finally be able to win one myself and add my name to the list.
“It’s a bit of a surreal feeling, a great feeling, I can’t believe it really.
“To see it happen before and now be a part of it, it doesn’t get any better.
“I was up and down a bit this season, but did some good things with the bat, but it’s nice to get back to Koowee and enjoy my cricket again.
“It’s a great club with a lot of great people.
“I’ve been bowling a lot in the nets this year so hopefully I get a chance next season, but that bowling attack we put out today was first class and we didn’t need to change too much did we.
“The boys were unbelievable and never gave them a chance.
“Hopefully next year I’ll be back sending them down.”
Chris Bright – Keeper – Batted at 5 – Lex Duff Medallist
“This one means a lot, especially with Doofy coming back.
“I was speaking to Tubsy (Chris O’Hara) earlier and he was annoyed he wasn’t out there with us, because he’s been through the whole journey as well. To win eight flags with my brother (Matt), and to win a fifth with Doofy, it just means the world.
“It’s unbelievable, I live with Mushy (Matt), we have a beer and we talk cricket all the time, and I’m almost lost for words, choked up, when I talk about him.
“He’s the workhorse, he’s not our best player, but when you ask him to do something he’d do anything for this team. The club just loves Mushy…Mushy is the club.
“Growing up, I was mates with Doofy’s younger brother (Josh), I stayed at his house and he was the older brother that we looked up too.
“Then I got to play with him when I was a teenager and we’ve been like brothers ever since.
“When we got the ninth wicket, he almost lost it at slip, he got really emotional, and I just told him to get us one more and that’s it.
“I saw him on the ground, on his haunches, and I grabbed him and we were both in tears.
“It finally clicked (batting patiently) yesterday, and when the captain – one you respect so much – tells you you’re the best batter in the side, and he needs you to be steady, it’s pretty hard to go against that.
“I’d do anything for the team, and for the first time ever I can say I’m proud of myself for the way I batted.”
Steve Dillon – Batted 6
“I wouldn’t say I’ve matured (laughs), but I’m certainly older (28) and appreciate it a bit more now.
“We’ve had our backs to the wall all year and we finished third and we were up against it.
“But we had the motto all year, perception versus reality, and that’s what we honed in on.
“It’s a bloody good feeling, that’s for sure.
“It was a strange one moving across, coming from Pakky to Koowee, because the rivalry was huge between the clubs and I played against these guys in big games.
“Players like Togs (Jess Mathers) who is one of the greatest to play in this league.
“They accepted me, they accept everyone, and everyone is accepting.
“The president Matt Davey, all the way down the line, it’s such a well-run club by a small minority but that small minority is just huge with what they do.
“It’s exciting, it’s huge, I coached Jindivick for a few years before Covid and we had a few years up there without a flag.
“At Pakky, I came in for the last few games and jagged a flag, but this one I played all the way through, this one means a lot, and not just to me but one of my best mates ‘Bo (Barry Robertson).
“It’s been great with him by my side…he’s just a legend fella and I feel more happy for him than I do for myself right now.”
Jess Mathers – All-Rounder – Batted at 7
“That’s pretty good I reckon (four premierships), it’s been a bloody good season and to finish it like this is incredible.
“A couple of years ago you start to think you’re past it, but Doofy came back this year and just that leadership in big games has really lifted the group.
“I love red-ball cricket, that’s how I think this competition should be, and it’s been great to have it back again this year.
“My old man used to say to me ‘good players play well in big games’, and that’s something that has always stuck with me. I see it that you play 14 games to get to the two games you want to play, that’s what we play for, the ones that matter.
“I’m getting pretty old now, but I prepare myself to be at my best for those last two games for the season.
“I played 18 years there (Merinda Park), and it was pretty hard to leave my mates, but we moved to Kooweerup nine years ago and I stuck it out for one year before making the switch to Koowee.
“When I came here they were already successful, but they welcomed me in and I love them all.
“Doofy was here in my first year, and it’s great the club gave him a second chance.
“I remember bowling to him and Tubsy (Chris O’Hara) and they were the best opening pair I ever bowled to…and to win one with him now, that’s what it’s all about.”
Adam McMaster – All-Rounder – Batted at 8
“I was just a kid filling in back then (premiership in 2011/12), it was obviously a good feeling, but to come back to the club and play in a premiership with my brother makes this the best feeling.
“He (brother Luke) has matured a lot, his innings this game was something he couldn’t have done two or three years ago…he would have thrown his wicket away. He made 60, took his time, and put us in a good position. He’s turned into an awesome player.
“I went up there (Queensland) for a change of lifestyle, that sort of thing, but I missed my family and friends so I came back. Luke asked to come back and finish off the season, and I did, and now we’ve done this together.
“When I’m away from cricket I spend a lot of time in the gym, and I put on size and become inflexible and it takes me three or four weeks to start feeling like I’ve got movement in my arms. It’s a bit of a process but the body felt good today.
“I think more local cricket for now, I don’t have the time with work to be playing at the higher level like I used to. It’s about enjoyment now and not taking it so seriously.
“It’s an incredible club because you look at the side and there are still players here from 11 years ago when I won my first one; that shows that players just love the club.
“We’ve got a lot of good juniors coming through as well; it’s an exciting time for the club.”
Cody Miller – Batted at 9
“It doesn’t get any better, I feel privileged just to be a part of it; it’s just an unbelievable feeling.
“We knew we’d be thereabouts and we were a good enough side to do it, and it probably sounds a bit arrogant but it was probably just a matter of time before we did win one. We always believed in ourselves and knew we would get the job done.
“It’s been unreal playing under Doofy, I’ve known him since I was three or four years old and he’s a great mate of mine.
“He’s a good coach, he makes the difficult decisions that some people don’t like but we always backed him in. I feel privileged to play in his last game and win a premiership for him.
“(The last catch) I was thinking ‘don’t bloody drop it…I was shitting myself’, but to take the catch and turn around and see the crowd was something I’ll never forget. To cap it off with that was just the best feeling…bloody unreal.
“It’s hard to describe right how I’m feeling really.
“You mentioned the old man (club legend Geoff), he’s got a bit going on at the moment, he’s having a triple-bypass tomorrow (Monday), and just him being around the club makes me feel good.
“I drive on a Thursday night so he can enjoy himself, we both just love it.
“It’s a great feeling but really hard to describe right now.”
Robert Maskiell – Batted at 10
“It’s pretty incredible; I played at Mount Eliza and played in some great teams but we didn’t get the premiership rewards to go with it.
“It’s really great to play with guys that have so much history and so much knowledge on how to win big games of cricket…it’s fantastic.
“I’m not the superstar player like Wombat, Lukey Mac or Togs, but I’m a grinder, what can I say, performing well and making everyone better, keeping things tight and doing my best for the team.
“The best players are expected to perform well, but players 10, 11 and 12…that’s how you win premierships.
“We (Michael Giles) haven’t always seen eye to eye, I would have loved to have bowled more and done more for the team, but I do understand that winning grand finals is why we do what we do.
“It took me a while to get that, but I’m as happy as anybody right now.
“The last three years have been great.
“A fantastic bunch of people, they’ve really welcomed me in and it’s something I really do appreciate.
“It’s incredible, they understand what it takes to win and what is required to keep climbing the mountain and getting the opportunity to win flags.
“You can’t sum it up in a sentence, it’s the culmination of a lot of hard work…and I’m really grateful.”
Matt Bright – Spinner – Batted at 11
“It’s really special, because you just don’t know, it could me my last, and it’s even more special because of Doofy, that’s who we wanted to win it for.
“There were times this year where I thought about retiring, but that won’t happen now, because when you get this feeling you want to go again and win it back-to-back.
“We’ve won eight, but one thing we haven’t done is a three-peat, and hopefully this is the start of it.
“I find it a lot easier bowling with the white ball in one-day cricket, and in two-day cricket I’ve never really had to bowl too much, but the pace bowlers weren’t clicking early so I had to bowl a bit more.
“After Christmas, it’s been a pleasure watching blokes like Jess (Mathers), Luke and Adam (McMaster)…I don’t mind taking a backseat at all.
“It’s been a big break, so it sort of feels a bit like the first one, and tonight will probably be the biggest celebration of all.
“Apart from my brother Wombat, he (Giles) is my next best mate, he’s like a brother and he’s always been like a brother to us Brights.
“When he left the club we were devastated, and we wanted him to come back but he never really had the heart to do it. When he came back it had a massive impact and I knew we were going to win it for him.
“His body won’t allow him to be the player he used to be, but up here (pointing to his head) he’s the best. It’s his captaincy and his leadership; that’s why we won another flag.”
