It is unlikely to happen this year, but Michael Bourdouvalis remains optimistic that he will feature in another GDFNL final before his career ends.
The 30-year-old will play his 150th senior match for Winchelsea in Saturday’s clash with Geelong West at Eastern Reserve,
However, only one of those appearances has been a final—and that was ten years ago when the Blues lost an elimination final to East Geelong.
“It’s what’s keeping me going, trying to get that done,” Bourdouvalis said.
“With a lot of local boys around now, it would be great to get it done with them.
“It’s what keeps me going.”
A graduate of the club’s juniors, Bourdouvalis debuted against Bannockburn early in the 2012 season under Brett Pollard.
He says the club is an integral part of his life.
“I’ve been there since I was ten; it’s 20 years now, so I’m getting old,” Bourdouvalis said.
“It does mean a fair bit.”
Winchelsea starts the second half of the season with a 2-7 win-loss record but an unlikely percentage of 102.7.
Its seven losses have come by an average of just under 17 points, including three by 11 points or less to open the season following the sudden departure of coach Christian Shaw.
They also fell ten points short of the high-flying Werribee Centrals at Galvin Park.
“Given how the year started … you could probably get away with saying it’s a write-off a year,” Bourdouvalis said.
“But having been in all seven losses – and four of them under two goals – you’d be pretty s****y with it, to be honest.
“If you turn some of those results around, we’d be in the top five. It’s a bit of a ‘what if?’ at the minute.
“We’ve been playing well; we just can’t close games out.”
Winchelsea is ensuring Bourdouvalis gets the recognition he deserves by declaring the build-up to Saturday ‘Bav Week’.
It will include ‘Bav 22’, where he will select a team of the best players he has taken to the field alongside since his debut.
“(Jarrod) Winzer’s going to put together a graphic for it and post it up (to Facebook), and it’ll probably upset a few blokes, but that’s fine,” Bourdouvalis said.
“I think Winzer’s putting together a highlight reel of all three of my goals.
“And Mum’s making cupcakes – 150 with 33s on them.
“We’re having some fun with it… just a bit of attention-seeking stuff.”
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