In the words of a famous Irish song, "The time has come to part my love, I must go away". I tell ya, there is a strange awe coming over me as we, as a team, face the most important game of the season on Sunday. Alas, it will be my last outing as a Easts Celts man, in those famous yellow and blue jerseys. Since I arrived here 3.5 years ago, there has not been a day that I have not felt a sense of pride as I pull the jersey over my head and run out onto the grounds of Willawong. It makes it even more special to represent the team as captain this year and to have such great support both on and off the field. Running onto the grounds to the cheer of "GO EASTS" would put hair on your chest like barbed wire, and give you balls of steel!

I cannot tell you how much this final means to me. I also can't tell you how much it means to each and every one of us. I reckon I am pretty good at sensing things, and I sensed that the amount of determination, want, pride, heart and respect that was in our team huddle before the semi final last week would have raised the Titanic!! It will be even greater this Sunday. We have an honest, friendly and motivated team this year - its great to see. But as we march to the final next Sunday, let us not forget the guys who stood before us in years gone by, especially those guys who stood by Easts when times were tough. They are the foundation of what we can achieve.

I am not going to keep you much longer reading this. I have lived by something throughout this season. As I said at the beginning of the year, in the words of a famous footballer, "I do not want to be a great team captain, I want to be captain of a great team". My dream for 2004 has almost become a stunning reality. We won't settle for anything other than first place.

So in closing, lets be the best we can be, nothing more. Just lets be the best we can be.....

It has, and will always be, an honour.

Your truly
Rónán
Seniors Team Captain 2004