EFNL Division 4 2024: Kilsyth’s Justin Van Unen kicks 1000th career goal
Kilsyth’s Justin Van Unen admits he was feeling the pressure ahead of saluting a long-awaited 1000th career goal on Saturday, following weeks of sleepless nights. He opens up on the milestone.
Eastern
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Kilsyth’s Justin Van Unen admits there were “a few sleepless nights” as the milestone loomed large.
The former ‘The Recruit’ star brought up 1000 career goals on Saturday, as his side fell to Eastern Division 4 top-four rival Chirnside Park, 7.6 (48) to 10.6 (66).
The decorated forward joined the Cougars at the end of last year fresh off a premiership with Outer East club Powelltown.
No stranger to the Eastern league, he bagged 80 majors for Doncaster East in 2011 before hauls of 86 and 77 for Vermont across 2013 and ’14.
Twice cracking the ton in a season – at Rye in 2012 and Mt Eliza in ’15 – an appearance on reality television program The Recruit followed in ‘16, leading to a spot on Essendon’s VFL list.
Nailing 96 goals for Wandin in 2018, the former Oakleigh Charger crossed to Southern outfit Dingley for 2021 and ’22.
Despite the glistening goalkicking CV, the well-travelled 34-year-old had to earn every kick to conquer the four-figure summit.
It became apparent ahead of the June 29 clash with Nunawading that the milestone was within grasp, needing three goals to salute.
Hitting the scoreboard just once in the 54-point win, attention turned to the following week’s match against Forest Hill.
The Cougars flexed with a 139-point victory – slamming on 19.29 (143) – with an inaccurate Van Unen going goalless.
A bye followed, stranding the spearhead on 998 career majors – the 1000-goal feat left to linger for another fortnight.
“I think last game (against Forest Hill) I kicked 0.8, so to say I wasn’t feeling the pressure would be an understatement,” Van Unen said.
“It (the bye) was an extra fortnight with a few sleepless nights.”
Kicking truly in the first quarter of Saturday’s match to edge closer on 999, a final-quarter left-foot snap from the boundary sealed the long-awaited deal.
“It was definitely a big relief,” Van Unen said.
“It was good to finally get the monkey off the back and get it done – my family and friends were there – they’ve come to the last five games hoping I’d do it.
“It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders – the milestone wasn’t so much for me, a lot of people were speaking about it and getting excited about it, with family, friends and the footy club.”
Kilsyth senior coach Simon Caldwell saw Van Unen’s grind to the grand goal.
“It was one that had been building up for a little bit – he had a bit of the yips and it had been playing on his mind a little bit,” Caldwell said.
“It was probably disappointing we didn’t get the win for him to finish it off.
“But it (1000 goals) doesn’t happen often … we’re proud of it, and it’s something we’ve been a part of.”
Caldwell wasn’t the only coach in awe, with the Chirnside Park mentor among a wealth of opposition wellwishers on Saturday.
“Their coach (Dave Newlands) spoke about me in the rooms after the game and gave me a six pack of beer,” Van Unen said.
“Credit to Chirnside Park, they were great.”
An early-season knee injury threatened to derail Van Unen’s campaign – and his hunt for 1000 – but he’s confident of it holding up for Kilsyth’s premiership push.
“It still flares up from time to time … if I land on it, then it just blows up. I’ve just been managing it and I’m still trying to train as much as I can,” Van Unen said.
“Being 34, sometimes I’ll try and pull the old-person card but it’s getting close to finals now, so I’m trying to do two trainings a week and be ready for Saturday.”
Kilsyth sits 20 points clear in fourth on the ladder with four home-and-away games remaining after contesting the grand final last season.
Van Unen, whose career had been spent in higher grades of footy, said the move to Eastern’s Division 4 had exceeded his expectations.
“It’s a lot different to what I thought,” he said.
“These kids these days are getting a lot quicker, or I’m getting a lot slower – or both.
“Just the way the guys train, their intensity, and they’re willing to learn … all the young kids are keen to get better as a player, but also as a club, and for me that’s been exciting.
“They’ve been so welcoming to me from every player to the volunteers, to the president.
“It’s been good to play with some younger kids, just to try and teach them a few things and to watch them progress has been great.
“We’re pretty confident we can get to the finals and do some damage there.”
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