Wagga Tigers defender Dylan Morton revealed a desire to help the club get back on track was a driving force behind the return of a number of juniors this year.
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Morton spent last year playing in Melbourne but was one of a number of talented Tigers juniors to return and help the club to premiership success on Saturday.
Morton has enjoyed an outstanding year and was yet again among Tigers' best players in the 20-point win over Griffith in the grand final.
The return of a number of Tigers' juniors has been heralded as the reason behind the club's latest premiership and Morton said he struggled to watch the club go through last year's two-win season.
"Seeing the club go pretty bad last year was a bit of a motivating factor for a lot of blokes to come back and steer the club in the right direction," Morton said.
"About five to 10 ex-juniors came back and well, we got what we wanted.
"We're a strong club, Tigers, and it's interesting, you either love us or hate us but the people around the club are really proud of the club."
Morton described his second Tigers flag as special.
"It's a bit different to 2016, we went in as hot favourites but this year, we had to string a real special one together today and we did so it feels really good," he said.
"Especially when you look around at the Jacko Kellys and the Brendy Myers, they're the blokes we won grand finals with in under 10s and under 12s so to win a second senior one together is really special.
"Especially playing alongside Matt Noonan, Josh Gaynor. I remember when I was doing boundary umpiring when I was 13 and they were playing first grade. Looking up to them and now winning one with them is really special too."
Will Keogh was another Tigers junior to return, after playing a few years at Riverina League rivals Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes.
He could not be happier to win a flag alongside his brother, cousins and mates.
"It's pretty indescribable, really. It's with my family, all my friends that I played juniors with. It's like a dream come true," Keogh said.
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