By Hayley Wildes
“It’s one of the things that I’ve had pencilled into my mind since the start of the season. Having the co-captain tag with Mitch Riordan, we just want to make history and it would be pretty special to captain the Stingrays to their first premiership.”
Back in early July, that was Dandenong Stingrays co-captain Campbell Hustwaite’s response to what it would mean to co-captain the Rays to a maiden TAC Cup premiership.
Fast forward almost three months, and that goal is now a reality.
“It’s ridiculous. It was a bit of a dream, but now that it has happened, it’s amazing and the feeling for the next few days just won’t go away – I won’t be able to wipe the smile off my face,” Hustwaite said after leading his team to the 2018 TAC Cup Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
It’s been a season that saw Hustwaite finish equal third in the Morrish Medal (the TAC Cup best and fairest) after a stunningly consistent season, yet in a blow that many at the Stingrays couldn’t believe, he was overlooked when combine invites were announced in July.
He didn’t dwell on that disappointment. Instead it just drove him to work even harder.
Now he is a premiership co-captain after playing a starring role in the biggest game of the Rays’ proud history.
Coach Craig Black spoke about Hustwaite after Saturday’s grand final win.
“After the setback he got in not getting a combine invite, his character around the club has been incredible – and we knew that internally – but he’s gone and played some super footy,” he said.
“Hopefully clubs can see the character of the young man; he’s just a heart and soul player and we couldn’t have asked for better leaders at our club.”
Hustwaite admitted those final frantic minutes went on forever.
“I was trying to get the clock to speed up, it was playing tricks on my mind,” he said.
“I’m just stoked. We were able to fight and scrap and do all the little things – I think it was the mateship that got us over the line; all 23 of us putting in work, instead of just one or two.”
He finishes his time at the Rays having left quite a legacy.
