Joel Aitken and goals go together like nice cheese and a fine wine.
For close to two decades Shepparton South’s spearhead has kept the secret to finding the back of the net corked, unstopping it at the start of every season and dispatching one after the next with vintage finesse.
From winning an under-12 premiership at the club in 1999 to making his senior debut in 2005, wherever Aitken steps foot, an inevitable feeling seems just around the corner, and it usually results in the score ticking over in South’s favour.
Since the side joined Bendigo Amateur Soccer League — now rebranded the Central Victorian League — in 2017, Aitken has won two uncontested league golden boots, bagging 124 goals across five seasons.
But one strike stands out in particular.
“Scoring the winner in the 2017 grand final in extra time was really memorable, that’s for sure,” he said.
“There’s been a lot of great memories over the years, but that one always sticks in the back of the mind.”
Rolling through the years, Shepparton South’s talisman has likely had the ire of many sides, not only due to his penchant for punishing opponents, but also his devotion to the shirt and unwillingness to switch allegiances.
Put simply, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more loyal sportsman in the Goulburn Valley than Aitken.
So, what keeps him coming back?
“It’s just the people around the club; it’s the club as a whole, but also the passion from Gino (Cirillo) and Rob (Harmeston),” he said.
“They make it enjoyable and make you want to come back every year.
“I’m always just happy to be where I am.”
Aitken also credited club legend Ralph Giuliani as a major influence during his tenure at the Southerners, paying respect to a figure who has “had a lot of time for me over the years”.
South is coming off a year laced with a touch of poignancy, taking out the league on points, but losing the grand final in an epic stand-off with Tatura.
It’s left the striker with a debt to settle and he says it’s now or never for South this season.
“It was bittersweet, reflecting on it we were proud to be the first Shepparton (side) to win the BASL Championship, but obviously disappointed to not wrap up the double,” he said.
“Hopefully that drives us on to hopefully do that this year.
“We’ve got a few ageing bodies in the team, so anything less than the double would be a disappointment.”
Though Aitken labelled himself as one of those ageing bodies, it would be foolish to assume the wells of his goal-scoring elixir have run dry.
Because now the cork is off, the boots are polished, and there’s only one thing left for him to do.
“I’m feeling good, looking forward to it, buzzing for round one.”