by Emma Ballingall
The umpire's whistle fell silent, games suddenly stopped and a heavy hush fell across Ellinbank Recreation Reserve.
The normal buzz and activity was gone in the blink of an eye as a shocked club learned its senior football coach had died in a car crash on his way to the game.
Current club president Kristian Bingham was a senior player when the tragedy unfolded in July 2007.
He recalls the devastation of the senior playing group when told of Michael Hamilton's death. Known as "Mick" or "Hammo", he was a popular coach; bringing intensity to the role of guiding a young group, which being jovial off the track.

Despite being at the club less than two years, he had a profound impact on