AS Mick Hogarth quietly, slowly made his way toward the milling swarm of Imperials fans surrounding their premiership heroes near the middle of the Mildura Sporting Precinct footy field, the crowd deferentially made way.

Some in the green and white shook his hand or gave him a hug, others whispered words of support and encouragement in his ears to defeat the din of the growing throng.

Yet others...