East Perth ruckman Zach Beeck has dominated most of his eight matches this season proving just why the Royals were so keen to see him return and now he will have a big say in the Royals' preliminary final against Swan Districts this Saturday.
Beeck has played a big part in the Royals' massive resurgence from a 2-7 record mid-season to now have won the last seven matches to be in the preliminary final after Sunday's 14-point first semi-final win over East Fremantle.
Beeck has spent his entire career with East Perth since moving up from Busselton, aside from his one game with West Coast in 2004 and the last two years with Peel, but the Royals were always home to him and now he has rewarded his beloved club by having a big say in their return to finals.
He was the dominant player on East Fremantle Oval on Sunday with 21 possessions, 46 hit outs and a goal.
Before thinking about taking on Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval this Saturday and his old mate Llane Spaanderman, he was just happy to take part in his first finals win since the 2000 colts premiership.
"They (East Fremantle) played really well in the first quarter and we had to lift in that second quarter with the breeze, and we did that to set the scene for the rest of the game," Beeck said.
"We missed a couple of goals that could have sealed it, and I missed one of them, and they kept running and persisting. We knew they would because they are a good side and we never expected them to ever give in.
"It's always great to win a final and obviously we've got another shot next week now. That was the goal coming into the game and it's great to achieve it. Apart from colts I haven’t played in a winning final before. It's really exciting for all of us and it's still sinking in guess but it's certainly exciting."
Despite having a hamstring and shoulder injury, and his mandatory suspension to deal with this season, Beeck is finding himself enjoying his footy more than ever and the Royals' now enter Saturday's grand final qualifier with massive confidence.
"We are playing as a team, we have got some confidence within the group and we've been able to string a few games together to be in this position we're in now," he said.
"It's been great since I have come back when I've played and we've had a lot of milestones for Craig Wulff's 150th and also ones for Adam Pickering, Craig Glancy and Webby (Luke Webster) so that's helped us lift as well."
While Beeck did play an outstanding 2008 season at Peel, East Perth was always the club he called home and he is now glad to be back.
"I spent a lot of years here playing my junior footy here when I came up from the country, then colts where we won a grand final and I was at the club for a long time, and have a lot of close friends here," he said.
"It's just a great club and the history of East Perth and to live up to that is a big driving factor. I'm really happy to be back and I'm really enjoying my footy, and life. We are in finals and it's a really exciting time."
Beeck did have his best ever pre-season coming into 2010 ready to repay East Perth, but a shoulder injury in the first pre-season game against Perth meant he didn’t play until Round 11.
He dominated his first game on Foundation Day, but injured his hamstring and then missed Rounds 19 and 20 through suspension, but when he's played this year he has been outstanding with his tap work the best in the competition. He's enjoying his football as well.
"It's very disappointing, but that's footy and everyone gets injuries. It did suck because I had got through my first pre-season that I ever have and then did the shoulder, but I didn’t let it get me down and just focused on getting fit as quickly as I could," he said.
"I'm feeling pretty good and moving well. I had an interrupted start to the season obviously, but I'm feeling a bit better now that I've got a few games under my belt and aren’t feeling as sore each week because you usually do on your first game back after a while.
"It feels good to just run around after I did my AC joint at the start of the year and I missed a couple of months with that. It's just good to be back and I love playing, and we are winning so it's been great."
Now Beeck is looking forward to taking on Swan Districts this Saturday at Steel Blue Oval with a preliminary final spot on the line.
There's no doubt it will be a day with plenty happening with both teams having large, and vocal, supporter bases, but Beeck is just looking forward to his challenge in the ruck of taking on former East Perth teammate Spaanderman.
The pair played 11 matches together in 2006 and 07 when Spaanderman returned to the Royals after time with the Brisbane Lions and before going to Swans. Both have also had their troubles staying out on the field, but Beeck can't wait for Saturday.
"He came back last week and I'm sure I'll have a good battle with Spaander. He's a good guy and we have played on each other a few times now, so it should be a good day," Beeck said.
"We have had a bit of bad luck me and Spaander, but it's good that we are both back playing. You want to see all the good players out there so it's good he's up and running, and I'm looking forward to taking him on.
"It will be a great day and hopefully a lot of our supporters get out there. A lot of them made the trip to East Fremantle and that was good to see. We've got great supporters and that's another amazing thing about East Perth. They are such passionate supporters and we are very lucky to have them."
