By Sophie Wheeler
The Carrara Saints have celebrated their first ever senior premiership in unique fashion by taking their well-earned silverware on an adventure across international waters.
Senior Club President Michael Spittle and his son, Senior Vice Captain Ben Spittle, decided to take the Saints’ premiership cup – from their QFA Division 3 triumph over Ipswich – on their family getaway to Fiji, Tonga and Bali.
“It went swimming with the whales, it came out to dinner with us every night, it sun-baked and snorkelled at Royal Sunset Island, it went freshwater cave diving… it stayed with us all the way,” Michael told aflq.com.au.
The cup, which the club has affectionately donned ‘The Big C’, was the gleaming centrepiece of many of their holiday snaps, still draped in red, white and black ribbons.
The holiday was the first glimpse into an ongoing club tradition the Saints hope to create, which will see the trophy embark on many more journeys across the globe with Carrara club members.
“We’re going to make a replica trophy to leave in the cabinet, but this trophy is going around the world,” Michael said.
The Saints defeated minor premier Ipswich Eagles by 35 points in this year’s Grand Final, allowing them to take home the club’s first senior premiership.
Ipswich and Carrara were neck-and-neck all year, defeating each other twice apiece in their four encounters this season and concluding the regular rounds on the same points.
“Going into that Grand Final was pretty special,” Michael said.
“It was our first ever senior Grand Final, and my son was playing in the side as well which was exciting for him being a member of the club for 15 years… it was a real epic time for our club.”
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