A season-ending foot injury to versatile forward Mitch Turnbull made it a bittersweet feeling for Altona on the day it wrapped up the minor premiership in the Western Region Football League division 1 on Saturday.
The Vikings will enter the finals in pole position, the first side not named Deer Park to do so since the Vikings did it in 2012.
That year, the Vikings went on to win the premiership in a one-point grand final thriller over Spotswood, so they will be hoping history repeats.
If the Vikings are to climb back to the top of the mountain, they will have to do it without Turnbull.
Turnbull suffered a broken foot in the early stages of Saturday’s win over Hoppers Crossing that determined which side would finish on top.
He flew up for the mark and landed awkwardly – his season finished right there and then.
It is a huge blow for the Vikings – not only for their structure on the field, of which Turnbull is a significant part, but also their vibe off it, though you can bet that Turnbull will not be too far away from his teammates if his health allows it.
Vikings coach Saade Ghazi was downcast about the Turnbull diagnosis.
“It’s a bit disappointing, not just because he’s a good player, but more so because he’s the heart and soul of the footy club,” he said.
“He came up all the way through the juniors, so it’s sad for him [not to be involved in the finals].
“He’s a leader around the club, he organises the raffles and the footy trips and he’s a very good player as well.
“I don’t like to see guys miss games of footy, especially guys who have put in a lot of time around the footy club like he has. As we know, it’s all part and parcel of the game.”
Altona has earned a week off in the first week of the finals after their impressive 15-3 season.
The Vikings will await the winner of the qualifying final between Deer Park and Hoppers Crossing at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.
Altona goes into the finals with confidence stemming from the 36-point win over Hoppers Crossing.
The best part of the victory for the Vikings was the form of talls Luke Goetz in the ruck and Jayden Post at centre half-back.
“Luke probably played his best game for the footy club,” Ghazi said.
“Posty’s been one of our better players all year and we probably haven’t rewarded him with being in our best players as much as we should. He’s one of our best players at the club by a mile.”
Patrick Rose’s four goals in a low scoring game were crucial.
Meanwhile, Spotswood tuned up for the finals with a four-point win over Werribee Districts. It will give the Woodsmen a psychological boost ahead of a re-match between the sides in the elimination final at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday.
It was a huge week for Spotswood with coach Anthony Eames and star players Tom Langlands and Murray Boyd re-signing for 2019.
Meanwhile, Parkside won on the final day of the division 2 season to book its spot in the finals. The Magpies overcame Manor Lakes by 13 points to set up a cut-throat semi-final with North Footscray at Burbank Oval on Sunday.
Minor premiers Yarraville-Seddon will square off with Point Cook in the second semi-final at Burbank Oval on Saturday with the winner to advance directly to the grand final.
