Tributes flow for milestone man Forrest

Narrogin Hawks Football Club coach and 2015 premiership player Blair Forrest reached his 200th game milestone in Saturday’s match.

Forrest, well respected, throughout the Upper Great Southern Football League, was carried of the field to a guard of honour, formed by both Narrogin and Boddington players.

Forrest began his career playing D-grade at the then Towns Football Club.

He was one of the players in Narrogin Hawks’ first UGSFL premiership in 2015.

He has also represented the league many times in the annual Landmark Country Football Championship.

This year, Forrest has led a very young, and almost entirely locally produced league side, to yet another finals campaign.

Three to five C-grade players have consistently been playing each game for the Hawks’ league side in 2018.

In his first year as a player-coach in 2017, Forrest led the Hawks to the UGSFL grand final.

Club captain Jordan Heil said it had been a pleasure playing alongside him.

“Bluey’s (Forrest) contribution to the Hawks Football Club goes beyond playing 200 games of league football, with countless hours of phone calls, busy bees, umpiring and coaching,” he said.

“The biggest quality I think the club values from Bluey is his passion.

“His passion for the club and players is seen in how he plays and coached the game.

“He is a true backman at heart but loves to sneak forward and score on occasion.”

As another member of Hawks’ faithful put it: “Over the years, I think you have been our best trainer, arguably our most courageous player, along with Ralphy (Kickett) have been our best kick, and undoubtedly been our most durable player.

“There is no better feeling when the opposition rushes a ball inside 50 and you think we’re gone; Bluey turns up with a cool head, defuses the situation and gets it heading our way with a beautiful kick.”