By WhitsundayTimes.com.au
One of the most successful periods in Whitsunday Sea Eagles' history will be celebrated on Saturday, but that team, which claimed a historic Mackay AFL three-peat, knows how tough the hard times can be.
Whitsunday won premierships in 2004, '05 and '06 but former club captain Evan Fulton remembers it was dark before the dawn.
"The club had some successful years in the '90s but was starved for a decade. Towards the end of '03 we were struggling for players and we nearly folded... we just couldn't get players," he said.
"We might've won one game in '03. We were getting touched up and playing short every week... we struggled to field a side.
"Then we had a resurgence in '04. Peter Johns found a truckload of work and put some money into the club. We got heaps of recruits from all over the country just by chance."
Fulton's recount should ring with the current crop of Sea Eagles who have struggled in the Allied Pickford's Cup, winning just three games in the season.
Although it has been tough, including some defeats of more than 100-points, Whitsunday needs only look back 10 years to see how quickly things can change on and off the field. One of the keys to success for the 2004-2006 Eagles, according to Fulton, was not only the quality of players but the quality of people.
"We had quality characters. Especially the way we went about it at the club, we had great community support.
"We had crowds at the games and they were always huge. The players played for the love of it but they weren't paid. We were the envy of Mackay because we travelled hours every second week.
"You've just got to hang in there and keep the right base of people around and keep doing what's right."
On Saturday the 10-year premiership reunion players have a family day at Beaches before moving on to the Whitsunday Sportspark to take part in a legends' game.
The current Sea Eagles will then take on the North Mackay Saints and the day will conclude with a function at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, where stories, memories and plenty of laughs will be shared - centring on a truly special period in Whitsundays' sporting history.
"I remember in '05 we were inundated with more players but we also managed to retain a lot as well," Fulton said.
"We went through the year only losing one game and we won the premiership by 10 goals."
Last Modified on 20/08/2015 13:56