More than 1000 people packed Tatyoon’s football ground at the weekend to catch a glimpse of former Richmond footballer Ivan Maric.
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Saturday’s matchday against Hawkesdale-Macarthur was one of the biggest for the Hawks in years, with the club making the most of Maric’s presence for the day.
The current Richmond ruck coach ran a junior clinic alongside former Richmond teammate and Tatyoon export David Astbury which was attended by more than 60 children.
Tatyoon president Max Vallance said the day was “amazing”.
“It was a tremendous weekend, it was off the scale really,” he said.
“The crowd was huge and the kids had a ball with the clinic. It was the biggest day for us for a few years.”
Astbury was instrumental in bringing Maric to the Hawks and creating a big day for the club.
As well as bringing himself and Maric, “around 10 or so” of Astbury’s premiership teammates from the Tigers came to watch their former teammate play.
“It was great to see country football supported by the Richmond footballers the way it was,” Vallance said.
“We really focus on our junior footy at Tatyoon and by having guys like that come down it creates a real buzz among the young footballers which makes all of the hard work we do worth while.”
...it creates a real buzz among the young footballers which makes all of the hard work we do worth while
- Max Vallance
The club also hosted its 1998 premiership reunion on Saturday.
“There were a couple of players who coudn’t make it but overall it was pretty well participated in,” Vallance said.
“It was great to have those guys back on what was such a big day for the club.”