MACULA HAUNTS SAINT DREAMS
THE story goes that when St Joseph’s pulled within two points of St Mary’s in the final term thanks to a Brant Haintz goal, eventual best-on-ground medallist Joe Macula strode back to the middle and told the St Mary’s midfielders: “This is your worst nightmare, isn’t it?”
Urban myth or not, Macula knew his team was good enough and on-song when it mattered most.
“It honestly hasn’t sunk in,” he said after claiming his third St Joseph’s premiership.
“I’m very much lost for words, and I feel so grateful to be a part of this. I’m the most emotional guy in Geelong right now.”
Macula went overseas after Round 12 to visit his sister, missing five senior games, prompting some to think he may have been over the hill on his return.
However, he never lost faith.
“A lot of people wrote me off and didn’t think I was capable to play at the level any more,” he said.
“What’s worse, as a club, a lot of people wrote us off and didn’t think we could do it.
“In life, when your back is to the wall and nobody thinks you can achieve something and you prove them wrong, there’s no better feeling.
“If you sat me down and said I’d be wearing two medals at 5pm on Saturday, I would’ve called you a liar.”
The strong-bodied midfielder bullocked his way to best-on-ground honours with tireless work through the middle of the ground.
Approaching 30, Macula believes he is good enough to go around again in 2019.
“I always said I’ll stop when I’m no good, so I think I’m doing OK,” he said, joking.