Two Port Melbourne players who started their Peter Jackson VFL journeys while on AFL rookie lists will play their 100th senior games this weekend.
Hugh Sandilands and Khan Haretuku both made their way to North Port Oval after spending time at other VFL clubs but are now integral parts of the Borough’s line-up.
Sandilands, 27, spent 2008 on Hawthorn’s rookie list in a premiership year for the club. He played two senior VFL games that season before being delisted, but stayed with the Box Hill Hawks in 2009. He crossed to Port Melbourne in 2010 where he quickly established himself in the Borough’s back line, winning a premiership in 2011. Sandilands has shifted into a forward role in recent years.
Haretuku, 26, was on St Kilda’s rookie list in 2008 after only taking up football several years prior. He played two senior VFL games for the Casey Scorpions before being delisted by the Saints and joining Frankston, where he played 71 games and made the 2012 VFL Team of the Year playing as a key forward. Haretuku has become Port Melbourne’s no.1 ruckman since crossing to the club in 2015.
Firstly, what are your thoughts on your fellow milestone man as a footballer and a person?
Hugh Sandilands: “An absolute gentleman is probably the best way to describe Khan. He’s a really nice guy, doesn’t speak poorly of anyone and is a real family man as well – he loves to see his daughter in the rooms after games. He’s been our no.1 ruckman this year and you can tell he’s really enjoying that new role. He might not be the tallest ruckman in the competition but he certainly works hard around the ground.”
Khan Haretuku: “I think Hugh was one of my first opponents when I first played against Port Melbourne at Frankston. I remember he played pretty well, unfortunately for me. He’s a ripper bloke. He’s passionate about the footy club and wants to see it going forward. He always has time for a laugh off the field and gets around the younger blokes as well.”
What were you hoping to accomplish when you started out in the VFL?
HS: “When I got rookie-listed by Hawthorn, I obviously wanted to play AFL and chase the dream of playing 100 games at that level, but that didn’t work out. I was just happy to play one senior game when I got to Port Melbourne, but in my first year I strung together a few games and never thought it would lead to 100. Geez, it’s gone so fast. I’m in my seventh year at the club now and every year goes quicker and quicker.”
KH: “Coming off an AFL list (at the end of 2008), the next thing I wanted to do was get back on a list. At a standalone club there were 22 or 23 spots available every week, so that’s why I went to Frankston – to play at the highest level I could in the hope of getting back onto an AFL list.”
Which personal traits and skills do you think have allowed you to play 100 VFL games?
HS: “I pride myself on my professionalism and work rate, as I haven’t been blessed with pure speed, silky skills or pure strength or height. The last couple of years I’ve been playing as a forward and just trying to get to as many contests as I can – the more you get to, the more you can contribute to the team.”
KH: “Off the field I enjoy the fitness side of things. I’m always doing stuff in the gym, running, cycling and swimming. I think doing the off-field extras has helped me speed up my physical development, having not played junior football. I suppose I’ve also just wanted to play better than the AFL-listed guys (in the VFL) and try to prove a point that VFL standalone sides can match it with them.”
Why did you decide to come to Port Melbourne?
HS: “I got to a crossroads with what I wanted to do after the 2009 season – whether I wanted to continue playing football. I wasn’t enjoying it as much. I was looking at maybe playing in the VAFA but I got a call from Gary Ayres asking whether I wanted to come and train at Port Melbourne. I was 50-50, but as soon as I got down there it felt like where I belonged. It’s a very tight-knit community and seeing that really appealed to me. I was fortunate that when I was 20/21, we had some great leaders at the club who were really good at nurturing the young guys and showing them what it’s like to be a semi-professional footballer.”
KH: “Coming up against bigger guys week in and week out at Frankston, I had to adapt pretty quickly. I tried to get a lot of advice from guys who knew what it took to play at that level and what I needed to do in terms of getting my body right physically to not only match it with these guys but beat them. I was learning from guys not just at Frankston but through other relationships you develop playing footy – at after-match functions, shaking hands with the opposition and picking their brains a little bit. (After 2014,) I wanted to stay at a standalone club and I seemed to have a good relationship with guys like Toby Pinwill and Dan Noonan at the time – Hugh as well – and Gary Ayres’ coaching reputation speaks for itself.”
What have been the biggest changes for you personally over the journey?
HS: “I think when I first came into the VFL in 2009 I was still hell-bent on making it to the top level, which maybe contributed to my performance not being where I wanted it to be. When you’re so hell-bent on something, you sort of lose the love or passion for the actual game. Particularly at Box Hill, I was so focused on doing everything right and didn’t really take a step back and say: ‘Why do I play this game? I’ve played it since I was a kid and enjoy the competitiveness of it and playing with my mates.’ When I came across to Port Melbourne, that was the change I made – just thinking about the reasons why you play the game. I think when I made that decision, I noticed a better performance with my football.”
KH: “I suppose priorities shift as you get older. At first I was focusing a lot on footy, getting really angry and upset when we lost and I didn’t play well. My partner and I had a baby six months ago, so I’ve got a little daughter to look after and now we’re trying to save for a house. I suppose we realised footy wasn’t the be all and end all. That’s probably the biggest change – not placing a massive priority on footy and just trying to find that balance between footy, work and life.”
What has been your most memorable on-field moment?
HS: “2011 has to be my most enjoyable year, no doubt. We went through the whole season undefeated, which is mind-blowing to think about now. I played every game that year down back, won a premiership and also made the VFL Team of the Year.”
KH: “In my first year at Frankston in 2010, we played Coburg at home in Ben Cousins’ return game (while he was at Richmond). There were probably about 10,000 people at Frankston Park and we happened to get up and win. Playing against Tasmania for the Big V in 2012 and against South Australia in 2014 and this year are also memories I’ll cherish.”
What do you still hope to achieve in the VFL and what might the future hold?
HS: “I’m one of the elder statesmen of the club now – I’d certainly like to lead and help develop the younger group coming through, like the leaders I was fortunate enough to have when I came to the club. I’ll definitely still have some involvement with Port Melbourne (post-footy); we’ve had some great leaders who are still around the club and help out in certain capacities. I certainly see myself sitting on that hill and having a beer watching the Borough playing on a Sunday afternoon. That’d be my ideal scenario once I’ve finished my playing days.”
KH: “I hope to firstly make finals with Port this year. It’ll be my first finals series at VFL level if we do. 100 games without a finals game – hopefully we fix that up pretty quickly.”
In other milestones games this weekend, Sandilands' and Haretuku's Port Melbourne teammate Damian Mascitti plays game no.50 and Sandringham captain Trent Dennis-Lane also plays his 50th VFL game.
* Photo: Hugh Sandilands (left) and Khan Haretuku
Last Modified on 04/07/2016 12:17
