MEMBERS of the St Kilda faithful were among the large crowd that turned out to show their support and appreciation for retired Australian Football League (AFL) stars Lenny Hayes and Justin Koschitzke in Stawell on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The duo were welcomed to Central Park to sign autographs and pose for photos as part of the Toyota Australia Football League's Toyota Retiring Legends Lap of Honour.
AFL Victoria facilitated a football competition for the children who attended from various schools across the region.
Students were also given the opportunity to ask Hayes and Koschitzke questions and a sausage sizzle was provided.
Sydney born, 297 game St Kilda veteran Hayes said it was good to see so many Saints fans out in force to show their support.
"That is definitely something I am going to miss, the support you get from country communities," he said.
"I'll definitely stay involved in the game, I've done some coaching courses over my time but I'm not sure whether I want to go into that just yet.
"The last 16 years has been pretty full on and all encompassing."
Koschitzke said he felt privileged to stand before the Stawell gathering.
He congratulated CKS Swifts under 14 players on their recent premiership success and had some timely advice for the under 17 and under 14 juniors taking to the field in their respective Wimmera Football League grand finals this weekend.
"That's a great sign of the club and the culture that kids this age are being successful, hopefully they can play through to the senior ranks and good luck to those guys this weekend," he said.
"My advice is to don't take it lightly because you never know when the next opportunities going to come to play in a winning grand final, even a grand final at all.
"It doesn't matter what level it is, try your hardest and work together, even if you don't get the ultimate success just appreciate each other's effort and the friendship and comradery that you make out of it.
"Being a part of the team is the most important part. I think you can learn so many different things just by being a part of the team."
The giant three-week lap of honour has taken in 15 regional Victorian towns, giving fans the opportunity to enjoy autographs and photographs with their AFL heroes, merchandise giveaways and a handball competition.
President of Toyota Motor Corporation Australia (TMCA), Dave Buttner said Toyota has been spreading finals fever, giving country people the rare chance to meet and farewell retiring AFL greats by replicating the AFL's Grand Final Day lap of honour around the MCG, taking the Hilux's on tour with AFL superstars including Hayes and Koschitzke.
"The Toyota Good for Footy program has been thriving since 2004 and continues to provide financial support to grassroots and community football clubs, " he said.
"The Retiring Legends Lap of Honour is Toyota giving fans at these clubs the chance to farewell their heroes in style and say thanks for the memories."