The 2010s started on a positive note for Nhill, with many still holding fond memories of the day the Tigers almost triumphed in the Wimmera Football League.
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In 2010, Nhill featured in its first grand final in 29 years, and stood only four quarters away from the club's first premiership since 1981.
In the end the football gods didn't appreciate the occasion, with Horsham going on to win its eight consecutive premiership.
Despite the result, the valiant defeat still stands a highlight of the Tigers' decade.
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"Overall we're disappointed with the outcome but proud of what we were able to achieve," then coach Sean Bayzand said after the grand final.
"It's been 29 years since the Nhill town and football club has been in a grand final. We were proud to be the team to do it."
A few lean seasons followed, as the Tigers battled the unique challenges that come with being a club in a smaller community.
Nhill has yet to feature in finals since 2010 - though it's reserves and under-17s side have made finals six seasons and eight seasons, respectively.
Despite, the lack of silverware, the boys in teal have still given their dedicated supporter base plenty to cheer about.
No more so than last season, when the Tigers defeated Horsham for the first time since 2002.
"The amount of people in the club rooms after the siren - I've never been involved in a win with that many supporters and that many people hanging around after the game. It was pretty special," coach Tim Bone said after the win.
Unsurprisingly, one the club's most capped players, Benjamin Pollock, topped the best player votes (six for best, five for second best etc.)
Pollock racked up 195 votes, followed by midfielder Jake Harrap, with 180. The pair combined to feature among the Tigers' best 104 times for the decade.
Unfortunately, for Harrap - who has since returned to South Australia - he was also the bridesmaid in the leading goalkickers tally.
Daniel Hargraves' 123-goal haul from only 35 games at the turn of the decade, was enough to see him hold on as the Tigers' leading goalkicker of the 2010s.
YEAR-BY-YEAR:
2010
Finished - 3rd
lost grand final to Horsham
Most best player votes: Daniel Batson (66)
Leading goalkicker: Daniel Hargraves (63)
............................................
2011
Finished - 8th
Most best player votes: Daniel Hargraves (44)
Leading goalkicker: Daniel Hargraves (60)
............................................
2012
Finished - 8th
Most best player votes: Adam Bound (38)
Leading goalkicker: Graeme Cole (20)
............................................
2013
Finished - 6th
Most best player votes: William Oakley (46)
Leading goalkicker: Brent Marra (22)
2014
Finished - 8th
Most best player votes: Lachlan Barber and Simon Brearely (37)
Leading goalkicker: Samuel Turmine (13)
............................................
2015
Finished - 7th
Most best player votes: Nathan Sachse (47)
Leading goalkicker: Jake Harrap (33)
............................................
2016
Finished - 7th
Most best player votes: Maddy Hayes (55)
Leading goalkicker: Jake Corstens (34)
2017
Finished - 7th
Most best player votes: Billy Hayes (75)
Leading goalkicker: Callan Semple (42)
............................................
2018
Finished - 8th
Most best player votes: Benjamin Jones and Stephen Craig (32)
Leading goalkicker: Scott Hughes (58)
............................................
2019
Finished - 9th
Most best player votes: Jake Harrap (45)
Leading goalkicker: Scott Hughes (43)
BEST PLAYER VOTES:
1 - Benjamin Pollock
Votes: 195
Times in best: 57
% of games in best: 40.71
Top 3: 27 No.1: 9
............................................
2 - Jake Harrap
Votes: 180
Times in best: 47
% of games in best: 64.38
Top 3: 28 No.1: 13
............................................
3 - Liam Albrecht
Votes: 170
Times in best: 55
% of games in best: 41.04
Top 3: 23 No.1: 11
4 - Simon Brearley
Votes: 166
Times in best: 44
% of games in best: 64.7
Top 3: 23 No.1: 11
............................................
5 - Daniel Batson
Votes: 125
Times in best: 31
% of games in best: 46.96
Top 3: 18 No.1: 11
............................................
6 - Nathan Sachse
Votes: 112
Times in best: 30
% of games in best: 63.82
Top 3: 18 No.1: 4
............................................
7 - Billy Hayes
Votes: 101
Times in best: 21
% of games in best: 84
Top 3: 19 No.1: 17
8 - Jordan Zeitz
Votes: 95
Times in best: 28
% of games in best: 44.44
Top 3: 13 No 1: 3
............................................
9 - Daniel Hargraves
Votes: 93
Times in best: 26
% of games in best: 74.28
Top 3: 10 No.1: 3
............................................
10 - Mathew Jones
Votes: 65
Times in best: 16
% of games in best: 72.73
Top 3: 10 No.1: 3
TOP 10 GOALKICKERS:
1 - Daniel Hargraves
Goals: 123
High: 8 Games: 35
Average goals per game: 3.51
5+: 12
............................................
2 - Jake Harrap
Goals: 113
High: 5 Games: 73
Average goals per game: 1.55
5+: 1
............................................
3 - Scott Hughes
Goals: 102
High: 7 Games: 32
Average goals per game: 3.18
5+: 6
4 - Liam Albrecht
Goals: 66
High: 7 Games: 134
Average goals per game: 0.49
5+: 0
............................................
5 - Daniel Batson
Goals: 60
High: 4 Games: 66
Average goals per game: 0.9
5+: 1
............................................
6 - Benjamin Pollock
Goals: 51
High: 5 Games: 140
Average goals per game: 0.36
5+: 1
............................................
7 - Bradley Clark
Goals: 51
High: 4 Games: 57
Average goals per game: 0.89
5+: 0
8 - Mitchell Dahlenburg
Goals: 45
High: 3 Games: 79
Average goals per game: 0.57
5+: 0
............................................
9 - Jake Corstens
Goals: 45
High: 5 Games: 38
Average goals per game: 1.18
5+: 1
............................................
10 - Christopher Ladhams
Goals: 44
High: 7 Games: 20
Average goals per game: 2.2
5+: 3
TOP 5 APPEARANCES:
1 - Benjamin Pollock
Games - 140
............................................
2 - Liam Albrecht
Games - 134
............................................
3 - Mitchell Borgelt
Games - 120
............................................
4 - Mitchell Dahlenburg
Games - 79
............................................
5 - Jayden Fischer
Games - 7
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
v Ararat
Record - (4-17)
............................................
v Dimboola
Record - (10-12)
............................................
v Horsham
Record - (1-21)
v Horsham Saints
Record - (2-20)
............................................
v Horsham United
Record - (7-1)
............................................
v Minyip-Murtoa
Record - (4-16)
v Southern Mallee Giants
Record - (0-4)
............................................
v Stawell
Record - (6-16)
............................................
v Warrack Eagles
Record - (5-2-16)
DECADE RECORD:
Played - 164
Won - 39
Lost - 123
Drawn - 2
Winning % - 23.78
Average for/agst - 1173.5/1772.5
Seasons in finals - 1
Finals record - (2-2)
Premierships - 0
League best and fairest winners: 1 (Billy Hayes - 2017)
RESERVES
Played - 169
Won - 72
Lost - 97
Drawn - 0
Winning % - 42.60
Average for/agst - 991.5/1065.7
Seasons in finals - 6
Finals record - (2-7)
Premierships - 0
League best and fairest winners: 1 (Simon Mock - 2010)
UNDER-17'S
Played - 171
Won - 86
Lost - 84
Drawn - 1
Winning % - 50.29
Average for/agst - 1207.8/921.8
Seasons in finals - 8
Finals record - (4-9)
Premierships - 0
League best and fairest winners: 1 (Mitchell Dahlenburg - 2011)
WFL DECADE IN REVIEW
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Matt Currill
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
