By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG Stingrays have lost a link to their origins with long-time trainer Brian Hunt choosing to end his time in the TAC Cup.
After nearly a quarter of a century spent on the Stingrays’ sidelines Hunt, 76, decided it was time to pack away the water bottles and trainer’s kit and let someone else take up his customary spot in the forward pocket.
He made it clear that this finals campaign would be his last and his final season came to an end on Saturday as Dandenong was defeated in a preliminary final by the Eastern Ranges.
Since the inaugural 1992 TAC Cup season, Hunt has been a perennial part of the trainers’ set up, with his club affiliation pre-dating the Stingrays in many respects as he joined in 1991 when the club formed.
He came across from the old AFL/VFL Under-19s system when it was reformatted into the TAC Cup and has been a Shepley Oval fixture ever since.
While he won’t miss the cold training nights or freezing weekend mornings manning the boundary, the softly-spoken Hunt – who would have much preferred to recede into retirement quietly and without any fuss – said it was exciting to be part of the Stingrays and he had loved every moment as part of the Dandenong community.
“It’s been good while I’ve been there – had a lot of good talent managers and made some great friends there that I’ve had for a long time,” Hunt said.
Dandenong region manager Mark Wheeler made sure Hunt wouldn’t exit without just celebration and applause from the Stingrays’ parents and players after the preliminary final loss.
Wheeler said Hunt’s involvement with the team was incredible and he was one of those invaluable contributors that had helped form the culture at Dandenong.“He’s been amazing from day dot with the Hawthorn-St Kilda merger of the 19s, he came with it and he’s been here ever since,” Wheeler said.
“To have someone like that for 24 years you just can’t replace that, so we’re massively proud of him.”
