Augusta-Margaret River Hawk Simon Moore reflects on stellar season after Hayward win

A stellar second season in the South West Football League has seen high-flying Hawk Simon Moore’s hard work pay off in a big way. The Augusta-Margaret River midfielder on Friday won the prestigious Hayward Medal, notching 28 votes to edge out 2020 Hayward Medallist, Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault’s Brendan Tingey, by four votes. The 28-year-old was one of several key figures in the Hawks’ 2021 campaign which saw them achieve their first minor premiership in their 55-year history, as well as make their first grand final since 2011 after defeating Bunbury 13.6 (84) to 12.5 (77) in last weekend’s semifinal. Speaking to the South Western Times, Moore said last weekend was a “pretty big 48 hours” for not only himself but the club as well. “It probably hit me after the game, I felt pretty fatigued both mentally and physically from the game as well as the whole build-up towards the game and the Hayward Medal count,” he said. “It wasn’t until I woke up on Sunday morning to a few phone calls and messages from family and friends all throughout the State congratulating me, so it felt great to receive so much support. “I feel like that was when I was able to really reflect on it and appreciate that I’ve been able to achieve something personally and have my team be so successful in a tight contest against Bunbury, who we believe are the benchmark of the competition.” After coming into the SWFL during the shortened 2020 season fresh from the 2019 WAFL grand final, a head-knock, Moore was kept from showing his full potential by a few soft tissue injuries and the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. “I think with the topsy-turvy nature of last year — you just never knew what was going on,” he said. “Regardless of how much you try and separate your personal life from the footy field, I think whatever is going on behind the scenes can also affect how you play. “This year, a lot of that has become more stable and I think my football showed that and I was really pleased with how this season went for me personally.” The former Subiaco Lion took on a significant role in the Hawks’ midfield this season alongside teammates Reegan Smith and Max Paterson as well as a bit of a leadership role in passing down his knowledge to the club’s younger players. “I remember rocking up to a scratch match at the start of the year knowing a little bit about Max and I saw him selling candy and doing all this hard grunt work and I thought ‘you beauty’,” he said. “I’ve gotten along with him like a house on fire and Reegan has just been outstanding this season as well in terms of his run and carry and talking about structure. “A few of the other guys hadn’t had the teachings that I had learnt over the years from playing in Perth so it was cool to be able to pass on a little bit of my knowledge and experience on and off the field. “I felt like if you help them, it’s going to reflect and turn around on you on the field and I feel like I was a beneficiary of the improvement in guys like Charlie Hart, Zac Dronow and Cody Rodgers. “Kael Coleman as well has been a great addition to the club after returning to Margaret River from West Perth and he’s become a close friend for me. “It’s been an absolute honour to play with these boys.” Ahead of the SWFL grand final at Hands Oval on September 19, Moore said despite some nerves among the club, the Hawks were excited by the challenge. “Regardless of who we play whether it’s a physical team like Bunbury or a skilful and quick team like Busselton, it’s going to be a challenge either way,” he said. “All we can control is how we put in over the next two weeks and know that all the work we’ve done throughout the year has put us in the place we are. “You can’t change your approach because it’s a final, you’ve just got to attack it like any other game and the beauty of it is you get to choose your destiny. “Whatever happens, I’m really proud of the boys and (Matt Jamieson’s) impact as well as our efforts to get there in the first place.”