So often accompanying every premiership success is a hard luck story.
Players who, given tragic circumstances, were deprived of their chance at being a part of the ultimate prize.
Pip Peschke was this unenviable character in Hawthorn’s VFLW fairytale 2018 season.
After playing 12 games for the club in 2017, Peschke was on the cusp of completing an impressive pre-season when disaster struck.
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“It was the training before Round 1 last year and we were just doing match simulation, we only had about ten minutes to go in the session,” Peschke recounts.
“The ball came to me and I grabbed it, handballed it and went to turn right and it just snapped – I thought someone had kicked me or stood on my foot.”
But Peschke had actually severed her Achilles tendon.
“I tried to stand up because I wasn’t in a lot of pain, but my foot was obviously useless and I collapsed again.
“That’s when I realised there was something a little bit more sinister at play.”
Taking part in the club’s 2018 campaign was suddenly out of the question.
Instead the former hockey player faced a 12-month stint of recovery and serious rehabilitation.
“It was an extremely difficult year, especially because I’d never had any time on the sidelines before in any of my sporting endeavours.
“I think because I wasn’t used to that it was a lot harder.
“Pre-game was probably the hardest bit as everyone is going through their routines but as much as you want to help and be a part of it, there isn’t much you can do.”
The 25-year-old was instead forced to sit on the sidelines and experience the understandably bittersweet emotions of watching her teammates claim glory.
“It was obviously pretty hard to take.
“But it was really great to see guys like “Hutch” and “Wotto” (Meg Hutchins and Lou Wotton), who have never had success before, as well as Paddy Hill who had been working towards that moment for a really long time, so I was really stoked for the club and for all the girls.
“I wouldn’t change anything now personally too because I learnt a lot about the game, about resilience and about myself.”
Peschke is now nearing a return to full fitness and her excitement is evident.
“I am pretty much fully healed now, it is really just a matter of getting my sprinting and general running back.
“I can pretty much train as normal now, I should be right for Round 1.”
Peschke’s ill-fated season last year has only increased her hunger to fight for her own piece of silverware in 2019.
“I’m trying to not look too far ahead because last year that’s what I did, and it all went awry in the space of a minute.
“My goals last year were to play for the Hawks, win a flag and get drafted and that won’t change this year.
“But right now, I am just trying to work towards Round 1 more than anything and I can’t wait.”
