Bomber Nick Hind honours slain cousin, Hannah McGuire

As Essendon substitute Nick Hind helped the Bombers to a big win over the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Friday night, he wore a black armband and a wristband inscribed with the name of his cousin, Hannah McGuire, who was allegedly murdered near Ballarat a week ago.

The Hind and McGuire families are close. The McGuires bought the National Hotel in Clunes, 35 kilometres north of Ballarat, from Hind’s father last Christmas. McGuire was well known, and helped her mother, Debbie, and father, Glenn, run the National. The Hind family returned to open and run the hotel this week as the McGuires mourned.

Nick Hind of the Bombers with a black armband for his cousin, Hannah McGuire.

“We’re very close. Her parents took over the pub from my dad. He had it for years,” Hind said after the match. “It’s a very small community. They’re very tight-knit. I’ve known Hannah for a very long time.

“Small community town, pretty challenging week for the family and the people of Clunes. She was just 23 years old,” Hind said.

McGuire’s body was found in a burnt-out car near Ballarat, and her former partner, Lachlan Young, 21, has been charged and remains in custody.

The card left by Hannah McGuire’s loving family.

“It was quite a tough week for me and my family, so it was pleasing to be out there with my teammates and get the win,” Hind said.

“I want to put my arms around my family as much as I can and support them as much as I can. They all love the Bombers and hopefully I put a bit of a smile on their faces tonight.”

According to research group Counting Dead Women Australia, McGuire is the 18th woman allegedly killed in violent incidents so far this year. The group’s data, which includes the few deaths caused by other women, shows 64 women were killed in incidents of violence last year.

Ballarat, with a population of about 120,000, is still reeling from two other cases of men allegedly killing women this year.

In early February, 51-year-old mother Samantha Murphy vanished after leaving her home in Ballarat East for a run. A month later, Patrick Stephenson, a 22-year-old local with no apparent connection to Murphy, was charged with her murder. Her body has not been found.

On February 16, the body of 42-year-old Rebecca Young was found in Sebastopol, Nine News reported. The body of 55-year-old Ballarat man Ian Butler, who was known to the mother of five, was also found. Police have said they are not looking for any other suspects.

Hind, who came on as a substitute in the second half, was involved in a peculiar incident late in the match. He and the Bulldogs’ stalwart Tom Liberatore clashed fairly in the middle of the ground, but shortly afterwards, Liberatore collapsed, prompting an alarmed reaction from Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish.

Both Liberatore and Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge played down the moment post-match, saying that Liberatore had twisted his ankle. Beveridge said that Liberatore was not concussed.

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