By LIAM TWOMEY
FROM zeroes to heroes, the Glen Orden Football Club is the Western Region Football League division two premiers.
After going through a season without winning a game two years ago, the Hawks defeated Parkside by 43 points on Sunday to put an exclamation point on their remarkable turnaround.
Nick Diker’s men led at every change throughout the match and had an answer for everything the Magpies could throw at them.
Parkside seemed to be on top in general play multiple times throughout the second and third quarters however, the Hawks’ defence stood tall.
Having repelled assault after assault, Glen Orden then went forward and hit the Magpies where it hurt most, on the scoreboard to seal the 15.12 (102) to 8.11 (59) win.
“It is a bit surreal at the moment,” Hawks’ coach Nick Diker said after the match.
“It is still very raw. It is the best feeling ever.
“I like to think we comprehensively beat Parkside today. When the game was there to be won, we kept them to five goals until about half way through the last quarter. That is a fantastic effort.
“I have been involved with senior footy clubs but mainly as senior assistant coaches. To take this out as the actual senior coach is amazing.”
As he has done all year, Damien Yze was a standout on the Hawks’ forward line, kicking five goals.
From his 20 matches throughout 2013, Yze finished with 136 goals at an average of 6.8 goals per game.
“When I recruited him (Yze) I got a lot of talk,” Diker said.
“Why did you recruit a 38-year-old guy who is pretty much done and dusted?
“I said because we need a goal kicker. We need someone with experience.
“He is a super fit guy and a really good guy to have around the club. He lives in Templestowe and never misses training, never misses a game, never misses recovery. He is just a legend to have around the club.”
Elsewhere for the Hawks, Dashmir Barolli and Rhys Bucktin were both outstanding.
While the celebrations are expected to stretch long into the week at Heathdale Oval, Diker also gave an insight into where he thinks the club will be playing its football next year.
Having won the grand final, the Hawks have the option to go up to division one if they choose.
“I’m not going to be one of those guys who says we are going up, that’s it,” he said.
“I am going to sit down with everyone that matters at the footy club and we will have a big meeting probably in about a month’s time or when we need to let the league know.
“I want to get everyone’s opinion on it.”
