VFL: Port Melbourne big man Khan Haretuku calls time on VFL career

The ruckman/forward missed out on the Borough’s 2017 premiership but he had a big hand in lifting them into the grand final.

Khan Haretuku celebrates a goal for Port Melbourne.

He was a VFL representative player. He was a VFL team-of-the-year player.

Sadly for Khan Haretuku, he wasn’t a VFL premiership player.

But Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres will long remember the powerful left-footer’s contribution to the Borough’s 2017 flag.

Haretuku was injured during the preliminary final against Williamstown but plonked himself in the goalsquare and kicked three goals to help Port into the grand final.

He was unfit to play in it, making for the hardluck story of the season as the Borough defeated Richmond in a classic decider.

Haretuku has retired from the VFL after a fine 152-match career.

He’s being linked with a move to Frankston Bombers in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league.

Ayres said Haretuku had given excellent service to Port, whom he joined from Frankston in 2015.

Khan Haretuku slots a goal for Port in the 2017 preliminary final.

He said any VFL player who hit the 150-game milestone should be recognised as an outstanding footballer.

“Khan came to us as a forward/ruck and due to our thin ruck stocks he had to carry a fair workload,’’ Ayres said.

“He had to battle outside his weight division more often than not because of the size of the AFL ruckmen at VFL level. But he could always go forward, take a contested and pinch a goal.

“I’ll always remember him for that selfless act in the 2017 preliminary when he did ligament damage to his ankle but played on and was enormous. The downside to it was he couldn’t play in the grand final and of course he missed out on the premiership.

“He was always a crowd favourite and he was also very popular with the coaches and the players. We’re going to miss him obviously but he was saying that with his family getting bigger and older he needs to be spending more time with them and he can’t commit to training three nights a week for virtually 10 months of the year.’’

Drafted under the NSW scholarship program, Haretuku was on St Kilda’s rookie list in 2008 but was delisted after one season.

He joined Frankston, making his reputation as a pack-splitting key forward. He enhanced it at the Borough.

Borough best and fairest Eli Eli Templeton (middle), with Harvey Hooper and Shannen Lange. Pic: Jenny Tserkezidis

Meanwhile, another former Saint, Eli Templeton, won Port’s best and fairest award, the Jack McFarlane Medal, last Thursday night.

The 2019 VFL team-of-the-year selection finished on 166 votes, ahead of Shannen Lange (154) and Harvey Hooper (137).

He was also judged most consistent.

Hooper was most determined and took the Heather Doughty Memorial Supporters’ Trophy, Cal Searle was most improved, and Collingwood recruit Jarryd Blair was best first-year player and best finals player.

Captains Jordie Lisle (leading goalkicker) and Tom O’Sullivan (Tom Lahiff Memorial Award) were also recognised.