FOR Merrivale veteran Matthew Gleeson, Saturday’s thrilling come-from-behind win over previously undefeated Kolora-Noorat was up there with the best.
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The Tigers came from 21 points down in the fourth quarter to snatch the lead in the final two minutes to celebrate Gleeson’s 250th game in style.
“I’m really proud of the lads for standing up – not just because it was a milestone match or anything, but for themselves,” he said.
“It’s probably one of the best wins I’ve played in. Credit to the lads for really fighting it out to the end.
“The crowd was up and about, it was probably one of the loudest (games) I’ve heard them down here.”
Gleeson made his Merrivale debut in 2003 and has been a stalwart at the club, with just two years spent away with Queensland-based club Noosa Tigers.
He said he was lucky to have played in finals most years during his time at Merrivale, with a premiership two seasons ago the shining light in a long career.
“We won the flag in 2014, played in that with both my brothers (Sam and Jack) and just the team we had,” Gleeson said.
“We’d all stuck together for five or six years, and to win a premiership with those boys was unreal.”
Tigers coach Karl Dwyer said the team had made it a focus to try to get up for Gleeson when the going was tough.
“We said we’ve done it before (come from behind), we know we can do it. Let’s show how much Matthew means to this club and really dig in for this last quarter,” he said.
