by Booney » Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:19 am
RIP CC (Craig Coretti)
Born 20th May 1981
Passed away 26th January 2021 at 2:40pm
Aged 39.
It is with a heavy heart that I advise our much loved member of the Keswick family has died from the aneurysm he suffered 3 weeks ago.
In true CC style he fought hard, would not give in and defied the odds for a long time. He fought as hard as his beloved tigers in both the AFL and SANFL did.
To say our Keswick community is devastated would not do it justice. When you think of Keswick you instantly think of CC. He came to the club as a 12 year old searching with Vic for a family and did they find one? Since he debuted at 12 he has barely missed a game, never missed a club function and gave everything he had to our club and last year he became the youngest player to reach 300 games.
Please read his 300th tributes last year (which I'll repost) and you'll get the full understanding of the love, not just from Keswick but the whole cricket community, has of him. He was loved by everyone.
His contribution to Keswick was still going to this day, stronger than ever. Even though he gave up the captaincy after 3 years with the Bs he was still contributing strongly. In game two he took his 500th wicket and up until Chistmas was leading the wickets for our B grade side with his massive in swingers.
One of his last efforts was against Morphies. With us staring down the barrel he came out at number 11 and with the As finished and watching he came out with 11 to win. As the pressure built, with 7 balls remaining and the association opening bowler charging in he smashed him through mid on for a 4 to leave Greg needing 2 off the last over which he smashed through point.
He was also still coaching the juniors this year, having been with most of the juniors since under 10's, with them now being in under 14's. He'd get up every Sunday morning with his ice coffee and coach and umpire the whole game and nothing gave him more joy than being involved with them and his ultimate plan was to have them coming through the Ds when they were old enough and for him to be playing in the side, passing on his vast experience.
CC is what a club is built around. He started as a junior, never left the club and gave so much in return.
It will never feel the same again for all of us walking out to play cricket as he was always there, supporting, umpiring and having a laugh.
I'm sure we'll all miss when he'd get drunk and would be telling us how much he loved you, giving you a kiss or as the B grade players knew, when he captained, his drunken 2.30 - 4am on Saturday night text messages telling the players how much he loved them. (We learnt to keep our phones on silent).
In this time we should all acknowledge Vic and words could never take his pain away. He raised Cc as a single dad, drove him to every one of his 308 games and watched every ball. He never missed a second. He drove him to every juniors game that he coached and was just the perfect dad. Cc was lucky to have him in his life and without Vic he would not have been half the man he became.
The great thing about CC was the love he has from people and everyone feels they are his best friends and want to be. He gave so much and was an extended family to so many people and families would take him in as one of their own. He was always respectful, polite and loved being included and looking after people. He especially loved the Mackay’s, Verco’s, Brake’s and Morris’ families and was a big part of ours as well as many others.
He was not only a big part of Keswick, he was involved in country carnival sides every year, Camden beach indoor sports centre, super league sides, indoor cricket sides, always a paying member of Glenelg football club (if you have not heard he drank with Gary Sweet the whole day at Glenelg premiership, Morphett Arms social clubs and many more I wouldn't know about.
CC I wish you knew how much we all miss you and love you. Vic, you are included in this and will always be a member of our Keswick family. I can't say I can drink a Coopers for you but maybe your 2am Vodka sunrises. We miss you Cc and there is an emptiness now at Keswick that cannot be replaced when we take the field again, especially in the Bs where you and Vic were such a huge part.
If anyone has a great CC story or tribute they'd like to write, please share. I'll be trying to share more over the next few days of any that I have.
Love always your Keswick family. You will always be a true Keswick legend. RIP Craig,(sorry Cc) (for those that know if you called him Craig he'd say you were swearing at him.) And it won't be the same not hearing your "whoop, whoop."
I'll leave ya with your favourite saying "To the Morphett." We love ya mate!
Brad Williamson
Keswick Club Secretary
If you want to go quickly, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.