PORT Fairy’s rise from Hampden league basketcase to premiership darkhouse stems back to a forgettable season four years ago.
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The Seagulls finished 2012 anchored to the foot of the table, again deemed the competition’s whipping boys after years of struggle.
Players trudged off the ground week after week following triple-figure losses – a regular occurrence in a dark, win-less campaign.
Port Fairy’s plight forced it to consider a merger or defection to the Warrnambool and District league.
Its committee opted against that drastic move in August 2012 and set about rebuilding the club, on and off the field.
Bernie Harris had blooded youth in his one season in charge – the first building block in the Seagulls’ long-term plan to become a league power.
Harris told Port Fairy to “find the best coach” it could for the 2013 season.
Enter Sam Rudolph. Rudolph arrived at Gardens Oval with an enviable SANFL resume and immediately gave the club the boost it craved.
His ability on the field, sweeping across half-back with authority, coupled with his professionalism, ensured the Seagulls made inroads during his two seasons in charge.
Rudolph’s predecessor, Brett Evans, carried on with his plan in 2015, helping the Seagulls end a 10-year finals drought.
Port Fairy – “winner” of five of the past 10 wooden spoons – is finally out of the doldrums.
But the club is desperate to ensure its stay in the top echelon is sustainable.
Port Fairy president Mick Wolfe believes the Seagulls have turned a corner.
Wolfe is in his third season at the helm and attributes the club’s rise in fortunes to “a culture change within the club, on and off the field”.
A code of conduct was introduced, a focus on community involvement implemented and instilling loyalty into juniors made a priority.
"I think we have all the pegs in the right spots and we are looking forward to the finals series, plus next year and the year after,” Wolfe said.
"Everything is on track now.”
Wolfe said ensuring players and supporters were content off the field was paramount.
He believes a rise in sponsorship and boost to gate numbers are rewards for volunteers’ hard work.
"People say being an isolated town is a handicap but I see it as a positive - if we are doing the right thing, we have the whole town behind us,” Wolfe said.
"Off the field my goal was to turn it from a club for football and netball into a community club...to get the club more involved in the community and vice versa.”
Wolfe praised Evans, a bench coach with Rudolph in 2014, for his ability to embrace a whole-club approach.
The South Rovers premiership mentor guided the Seagulls to a 12-6 win-loss record this year – their best result since their 2005 grand final season.
"He recognised the importance of the club off the ground and is very strict on the players getting involved, getting into the rooms afterwards and mixing with people,” Wolfe said.
"Even the recruits we have got from Melbourne, the Coburg boys, they're ripping blokes and they love the place, the town.
"They're happy as Larry. They stay here Saturday night and enjoy rehab and head home Sunday night.”
Wolfe is excited about Port Fairy’s September campaign, starting with its elimination final against Terang Mortlake on Sunday.
"If they have the belief, we can do it,” he said of the players.
“We've certainly got the ability, the fitness, the skills and a great coach.”
Jim Forrest admits he’s a little bit nervous about the Seagulls’ cut-throat final.
Forrest is a former player, whose connection to the club dates back to the 1980s.
The Yambuk dairy farmer was enticed back to Gardens Oval in an official capacity six years ago. He joined the committee and two years later took on a role in the football department.
Forrest’s reflections on 2012 are blunt. Simply, it was a season where the Seagulls “bottomed out”.
“We had players on contract and they wanted to leave the club,” he said.
“We cleared them and got blokes who wanted to play for Port Fairy footy club.
“We had awful floggings. We had Bernie Harris as coach that year and all he did was play the local kids. He did that for one year to help out and then said ‘get the best coach you can’ and we got Sam Rudolph.”
Forrest speaks highly of Rudolph – the man who helped Port Fairy end a 49-game losing streak in round 14, 2013.
“He set really good standards and culture,” he said.
“Brett was bench coach last year and got an insight into the club.”
Forrest will watch the elimination final with pride.
“I am particularly pleased for the kids who played four years ago – your Adam Farleys, Isaac Martins, Colin Harwoods, Mason Crosiers and the Sheehan boys (Mick and Nick),” he said.
“It has given them a little bit of reward for the work they do.”
Farley, 24, has spent his entire playing career at Gardens Oval, joining its Auskick program as a kid.
The 2012 captain is purple and gold through and through and never considered leaving despite the dark days.
"It was hard not winning games, both in juniors and seniors, but you always enjoy a win more after tough times,” Farley said.
"Beating Warrnambool stands out this year. I don't think I’d ever beaten them.”