FOOTBALL
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Tarrawanna keeper Christian Pretto can barely remember the last time he got a run out on the field, let alone the last time he found the net.
But when Silly Sunday arrived early at Tarrawanna Oval last Saturday, the experienced gloveman ended a drought he reckons dates back to his early teens.
With their finals hopes out of reach, the 37-year-old custodian was thrown in the deep end by coach Luke McGuire.
The gaffer turned his team upside down for their final match of the campaign against Cringila Lions which saw Pretto start the round-22 encounter at the head of the Blueys' attack
And the imposing veteran quickly did the unthinkable and opened the scoring.
"I just remember [one of the boys] getting to byline and cutting it back and the keeper got a hand to it. I was running in and finished it off. Right place, right time," Pretto explained.
"I was trying to do [a celebration] but all the boys came in and jumped on me so I didn't get a chance."
In somewhat comical circumstances, Pretto went within a whisker of doubling his tally in the second half when he found the crossbar.
It proved a productive day for a man who usually relies on his goalkeeping instincts from staving off the nudie run for a goalless season.
"If I save penalties I am ok and I usually get one or two a season, so I am generally off the nudie run but now it is cemented," Pretto said.
"There is still a couple of people who are still on it."
While Pretto manned the front line, the match also saw usual attackers Rick Goodchild, Darren Stone and Vaughan Patterson feature in the Blueys' back four.
"We couldn't make it in the finals so I think [Luke] just wanted to have a bit of fun in the final round. There was a pretty light-hearted atmosphere in the sheds and it was played in that way as well," Pretto said.
Despite all the first-half shenanigans, the Blueys still managed to get the win courtesy of a 93rd-minute goal from Ricky Goodchild.
It ensured Tarrawanna finished in sixth spot on the ladder, four points out of a finals spot after staying in the mix for most of the campaign.
"Four draws in the first little bit cost us [a finals spot]," Pretto said.
"I think someone told me on the weekend that we didn't beat any of the guys above us in the league. We had draws with them, but didn't get a win.
"It is disappointing, but we will be back next year and go again."