WFNL 2021 Focus: Minyip-Murtoa back to the beginning

The proud townships that pined for 26 years to see their football-netball club hoist the premiership trophy again have been made to wait that little bit longer.

John Delahunty and his charges have had time to digest their success. The Burras' premiership coach is even stressing the importance of a fresh start.

But, for Minyip and Murtoa, not only does the glory of 2019 live on, but the return of football makes life normal again.

"Living locally there are lot of older fellas who I've gotten to know who just have a passion for footy," Delahunty said.

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"Particularly after a successful year, they were just so eager to see that again.

"One guy in particular springs to mind who is just so passionate that when it was (confirmed) the season wasn't going ahead, he was quite sad. It was a big part of his social life.

"(Now) there are number of supporters that have been coming to watch us train. There is a huge buzz at the moment."

It's easy for a club to be lost in the romance of a drought-breaking premiership.

Minyip-Murtoa even found itself in the enviable position of winning not one, but two historic flags after the A Grade netball side won the first premiership in the merged club's history in 2019.

But to Delahunty and his group, that's all in the past.

"The focus at the moment is on the 2021 season and what we can do better," he said.

"We're starting on the same base that we were on before 2019. That's how us coaches are thinking about it.

"Every year is an individual year. It's just so different how you prepare - different playing groups, different motivations, different juniors.

"I've never experienced it before, building momentum from one year into the other. I just treat it as individual seasons."

Minyip-Murtoa has primarily kept its premiership group intact and has welcomed serious homegrown talent back in Kieran Delahunty and Nick Petering.

Throw former Horsham Saints coach Luke Fisher and former Wimmera Football League representative Warwick Stone into the mix, and the Burras are building a formidable list.

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"The optimism this really there this year with seeing good quality footballers, who have played at the top (level), and seeing how much enjoyment they bring.

"(Then there's) the ex-locals who have come back and (it's good) seeing how they can develop and fit in how to us coaches are trying to put together a team."

A real sense of community was behind the Burras' 2019 success.

"We've got a real philosophy at the club that it's not just about players, it's everyone," club president Scott Arnold said after the grand final win.

"I'm no more or less important than any of the players. And I'm no more or no less important than any of the volunteers, or any of the parents or the juniors, or anyone at the club for that matter."

Maintaining that culture was an essential part of the Burras' pre-season.

"We've been training with the netballers every few weeks. It's been fantastic doing that," Delahunty said.

"Everyone's got a really good appreciation for our club as it is and people get a lot of enjoyment out of playing for Minyip-Murtoa."

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