Kids feed off top Seagull

By DAVID NAGEL
THE word ‘champion’ gets bandied around far too often and far too flippantly, but when you meet a real champion, it’s a pleasure to be in his or her company. Even more so a humble one.
In this case, you could substitute the word champion with ‘legend’, as around these parts Tooradin’s Greg Bethune sits comfortably in either category.
Bethune, 44, has been a legendary figure and champion of the club since he first pulled on a pair of boots as a 13-year-old back in 1981. His cricketing exploits outweigh his footballing deeds, but the level of comparison is a bit higher than usual in this case.
“I’ve been very blessed in that area,” Bethune says, in response to a question about the amount of team success he has enjoyed.
“I’ve played in eight cricket premierships and five in footy, so I’ve been pretty lucky really.”
Bethune played, as a 17-year-old, in Tooradin’s 1985 senior premiership under Pat Flaherty, at the same time enjoying stints in the under-19s at both Hawthorn and St.Kilda. His switch from the Hawks to the Saints was definitely not based on the huge financial incentives being thrown around today.
“Hawthorn only gave us footy socks, but St.Kilda threw in a tracksuit as well,” Bethune says with a look of ‘what would you do’ on his face.
Aged 21, Bethune became restless and headed to Queensland, where he played in premierships with Burleigh Heads in 1992 and back-to-back successes with Southport in 1994/95. He won best and fairest awards at both clubs and was named in Burleigh Heads’ team of the last 25 years.
“They selected me on the bench, because you had to play 50 games to qualify and I only played 48,” he said. “They wanted me in the team but didn’t want to rock the boat.”
The 185cm ruckman-key position player returned to Tooradin in 1996 and played in a Seagull premiership in 1997, where he was named player of the finals series. He continued to play until 2005, when injuries finally caught up with an ageing body after 292 games with the club.
“Dan O’Loughlin (former team-mate) reckons I was cut down in my prime at 38,” Bethune laughs.
Bethune is now giving back to the Seagulls in an off-field capacity. He’s in his fifth year as vice-president and coaches his son, Tom, in the under 16s. Developing the junior program and bringing under 18s back to the club is high on his agenda.
So what drives a man, who has achieved more than most on the sporting field, to still be so active at the club he loves?
“People just don’t understand what it’s like to be involved,” he said. “You go away, you come back, and your mates are still here. A lot are gone but there’s always that connection.
“I just feel blessed to be a part of it.”
What a legend. What a champion.