The pair were a big part of the Vikings’ 2017 campaign which saw them earn promotion in a thrilling playoff, ending in a penalty shootout, into Football Federation Victoria state league three.

Sebastopol has now signed all bar one of its senior players, with Isaac Ellis, who is moving to Canberra to study, being the only exception.

While pre-Christmas training numbers were extremely good with plenty of reserves players also returning.

Coach Corey Smith put it down to the strong culture the club has built in recent years.

“That speaks volumes of the culture we’ve created,” Smith said.

The retention of Berg is a prime example of this.

The midfielder travels from Altona to pull on the Vikings guernsey and admits he has been 50/50 at times as to whether he could continue the commitment.

But he told Smith that he was not leaving now after achieving what the club had set out to do for a number of years – be promoted.