JUNEE star player Lachlan Bushby is playing a grand final on Sunday and he wouldn’t want to hang up the boots any other way.
“There’s no better way to go out,” he said.
In an ironic twist of fate, in the last grand final he won 12 years ago he played for Henwood Park, and now he will face off against his former club for the premiership.
Bushby admits he’s not at his fittest; a sore back and a recently injured groin has prevented him from training.
Fortunately, Junee beat Henwood Park in the qualifying semi final, and progressed straight through, giving him a week to rest up.
While retirement is on the cards for the next season at least, Bushby, 28, hopes to return one day.
He has battled through the season, playing games when he probably should have rested.
“It’s been a bit hard because we've been short on numbers,” he said.
He believes he plays his best soccer when there are substitutes in the line up.
Nonetheless it has been one of the most rewarding seasons of his career; playing with his brother, Martin, has been a highlight.
“This has been one of the best years of soccer I've had for a long time,” he said.
The Bushby brothers played together in Temora juniors from the ages of four (Lachlan) and six (Martin) to the age of 20 and 22.
Wanderers/Junee dual registered player Jonny Mathers enjoyed playing alongside Lachlan Bushby more than anyone this season.
“He’s my type of player, he can hold the ball up, produce good one-twos, and has a devastating finish,” Mathers said.
Not to be underestimated, “he has a lot of strength for a wee guy,” Mathers said.
Finishing on top of the competition as premiers, Bushby expects to be rewarded with a win on Sunday.
However, he’s prepared for anything; last year he was part of the form side, Tolland, who lost to Wagga United at the grand final.
“It was a bit of a shock, we expected to win, we had the team but it wasn't our day,” he said.
He hopes to be more successful this year.
“Making it straight through to the grand final, that shows the sort of team we have.”
