by: Tim Braban | 28th September 2011 | www.thechronicle.com.au
WHEN Tony Bowers first signed on to help establish the Lockyer Valley Demons, he never imagined it would one day lead to him sharing the blue carpet with AFL royalty like Chris Judd and Gary Ablett Jr.
But Bowers returned home yesterday after attending the AFL's Brownlow Medal night with a swag of stories and memories to last a lifetime.
Bowers and his wife Donna were special guests of the AFL at Monday night's function, receiving an all-expenses paid trip to the awards night and last Saturday's preliminary final between Geelong and West Coast.
On the night, club president Bowers was honoured for the strength the Demons showed through the adversity of January's floods.
Bowers was even invited up on stage alongside officials from clubs in tsunami-affected Japan and earthquake-stricken Christchurch by former Geelong captain Tom Harley.
For Bowers, who had the chance to meet a number of his boyhood idols, the whole night was "mind blowing".
"It was absolutely surreal. It's not something you expect to go to ... ever," Bowers said.
"I thought we'd be off in some corner somewhere, but we had our own table right in the middle of the room."
Bowers also had the chance to meet premiership-winning coaches Ron Barassi and Malcolm Blight. But a highlight of the night was talking to three-time Brownlow Medallist Bob Skilton.
And while it's nice to have all the stories and memories from the night, including a football signed by all the Brownlow Medal winners to attend, it's not what drives Bowers.
"At the end of the day, it's about loving footy. It's just nice to get the club out there and have the area shown. It's a shame it's about adversity but we're a new club in our second year and we're growing at a large rate," he said.
* The footage from the night of the Football Pioneers at the 2011 Brownlow Medal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGhKpwX9VJo
Photo by: Sarah Harvey
Last Modified on 25/11/2011 12:35
