Countless Australians have ended up in places doing unexpected things because of COVID.
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Nash Tapp is no exception.
The 21-year-old was supposed to be at the University of Newcastle this year completing the second year of a construction-management degree.
But when the university closed because of the pandemic, he returned to Tamworth and Oxley Vale Attunga.
And at Scully Park on Saturday, the striker was key to OVA beating North Companions 2-1 in the reserve-grade grand final.
With him set to return to uni next year, complete his degree and then go "anywhere" for a job, he acknowledged that he may have played his last match for Mushies.
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"It is kinda weird like that," he said. "If it is my last game, it's just good to go out like that."
Sitting in the grandstand watching the grand final was Tapp's grandfather, Ron McCarthy, the retired builder who had operated Ron McCarthy Homes. It was McCarthy who inspired Tapp to do a construction-management degree.
Tapp said he had "never met a gutsier group" than his OVA teammates. They made him a better player, he added, "and we make each other better players".
Winning the title was a "huge goal" , he continued. "And to get there and do what we've done ... It's a really great day and I'm pretty proud."
In the finale, the first goal was scored with 13 minutes left in the contest when veteran Northies keeper Mick Gray advanced outside the goal area to defuse a raid and was beaten. With the goal unattended, Harrison George clinically scored from long range.
Just before full time, OVA made it 2-0 when Pat Bolte converted from close range.
Ben Van Aanholt then lobbed Mushies keeper Ben Stewart from the restart to make it 2-1.
McCarthy said he was "really proud" of his grandson and OVA.
