It was at Oxley Vale Attunga's presentation night last year that Sam Higgins suspected he was about to dig up a long-dead version of himself and bring him back to life.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
That "miracle" has been on display at centre midfield for Mushies over the first two rounds of the new season, after the 34-year-old multiple premiership winner came out of a three-year retirement.
Read more:
He was part of a mass resurrection, as several old-guard Mushies returned this season in a bid to reclaim the side's No 1 status after 10-straight grand finals, six premierships in a decade and three consecutive titles was followed by a barren run the past three years.
"Me and Watto [Adam Watson] had a beer at the presentation night last year," Higgins said, "and I think he was trying to take the safe bet and say: 'I'll play next year if Higgo plays.'
"And so I thought: 'Righto, then'. So when I decided to play this year, I texted him. I said: 'Remember what you said.' "And he said: 'Righto, fair enough, I'm in.'"
Ryan Searle, another Mushies veteran who returned this year, has told a similar story - except he said he would play if Higgins laced up the boots again.
Searle said he then "made a couple of bets" with more old-guard members, in which they agreed to return this season if he got Higgins to come back. As a result, OVA has received a major experience injection in 2020 - with Luke Purcell and Brendan Fergie among the returnees.
"Once it sort of plants that seed in your head, you start to think about it more and more," Higgins said of his presentation night encounter with Searle.
"And then the easier it is for everyone else to convince you to come back and play."
OVA have scored 11 goals in defeating Gunnedah FC and North Companions this season, and play winless South United at Gipps Street on Saturday.
Higgins - a father of four and a loans officer at the Bank of Queensland - said the competition had a "renewed feel to it". He is savouring this incarnation of him as a footballer and Mushies as a team.
"It's just good to see them [his old teammates] every week again and have a laugh. We're also pretty determined: we're all a competitive bunch. So we're pushing each other - it's great."
The quest for another premiership, Higgins said, was "the deep down, burning desire". "You know, we've sort of sat back the last few years and we've seen another side [Tamworth FC] take our mantle as the most dominate team ... We decided it's about time we reclaimed that."
