IN his prime, injury hell has robbed Sunshine Heights captain Michael Nicolaides of the best part of two Western Region Football League seasons.
The bad luck can be traced back to the summer of 2011, three minutes into the last pre-season game to be precise, when the on-baller tore his posterior cruciate ligament, leading to a 10-match stint on the sidelines.
He returned mid-season, but it was only fleeting before a broken wrist ruined his season.
Nicolaides, 26, came back “fit and firing” for the start of pre-season 2012 but lasted one home-and-away game before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
It was the onset of a terrible winter for the Heights, finishing with the wooden spoon and relegation from the top-flight division 1.
Nicolaides cut a frustrated figure, watching on powerless as his boyhood club struggled on the field and showed cracks in morale off it.
But that was then and this is now and in 12 months, the fortunes of the individual and his club have turned around.
This weekend, Nicolaides will lead the Heights into the field of battle for a division 2 finals campaign, an unlikely scenario considering stalwart Robbie Greto figured in just one game before succumbing to a knee injury and Nick Mallia spent the bulk of the season overseas.
You’d be hard pressed to find a more appreciative person than Nicolaides to be playing in the Heights’ elimination final against Wyndhamvale this weekend.
“I’m getting goose bumps talking about it now,” he told the Weekly. “To lead the boys into a finals series for the first time since 2008 is quite exciting.”
After such a long injury layoff, it was only natural that Nicolaides would take time to crank his form up to first gear.
A scratchy opening month was broken up by a three-goal game against Wyndhamvale in round six and an impressive display against Laverton Magpies in round eight.
Only in the past six weeks has Nicolaides started to replicate the form that saw him win club best and fairest and league team of the year honours.
“The first half of the season I was finding my way again, building up confidence and the last seven weeks it’s been the ‘Nico’ of old,” the primary school teacher said. “I’ve timed it really well. My body is close to 100 per cent, which is fantastic leading into finals.”
The Heights’ rebuild has been on the back of first-year coach Daniel Xuereb’s insistence on playing youth.
Their line-up is chock-full of players 26 and under with only three older players.
The Heights’ potent forward line features five players with 25 goals or more, James Ciarlo (47), Keelan Privitera (37), Josh Stevens (33), Dillon Hinge (25) and Greg Porter (25). Except for Porter, all are 23 or under.
The injection of youth has given the Heights a new lease on life, while the arrival of Xuereb has given that crop of players much-needed direction to fulfil their potential.
“He’s really given them a go and he’s spending one-on-one time with these juniors to help them develop,” Nicolaides said.
“He’s a very professional coach – sets out certain structures and sticks to them.”
Despite finishing fifth and lagging in finals experience, Nicolaides is confident his young Heights team can make a run in the finals.
“Our boys have something to prove,” he said.
“All year we’re been talked down by other clubs, who didn’t expect Heights to be in the mix for finals again.
“We love being underdogs. We love to cause an upset and we’d love to continue winning.”
– ljenkinson@mmpgroup.com.au
