The influence of ruckman Toby Thoolen in Sebastopol reaching the Ballarat Football League grand final has been immeasurable.
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He has been tower of strength all year since being a bonus pick-up late in the pre-season.
What he means to Sebastopol was never more evident than in its 18-point win over Melton in the preliminary final.
His last quarter was huge and instrumental in the Burra resisting Melton's late surge.
East Point has a few selection issues to deal with going into Saturday's grand final at Mars Stadium - one them being what ruck combination it takes into battle against Thoolen.
The Roos started the year with newcomer and raw talent Jaykeb Lench sharing the workload veteran Paul Koderenko.
The premiership captain had next to no pre-season preparation, with East Point making it clear from the outset that wear and tear would see Koderenko nursed through the season.
He managed just four games.
The first question was would he play again?
It was answered when Koderenko lined up in the reserves in the last home and away round, throwing his hat in the ring for a possible return for a tilt at back-to-back premierships.
In Koderenko's absence, Lench developed his game and carried most of the workload.
However, when Lench was missing it revealed just how thin East Point's ruck ranks were - an issue facing most clubs in the BFL.
This left the likes of defenders Joel Van Meel, Mitch Walsh and Dallas Martin to step into the void.
The class of the Roos' midfield and general depth meant they were able to overcome any team balance issues which this might have caused.
So which way will East Point coach Jake Bridges go?
In the absence of Lench, Van Meel and Martin out-pointed the formidable Melton ruck specialist combination of Ben Archard and Mark Orr in the Roos' second semi-final win.
Does he stay with what worked against Melton?
Does Lench return, enabling the Roos to be structurally stronger in defence?
Does he bring back Lench and Koderenko?
Or does only Koderenko return?
After playing in early reserves finals, Koderenko was forced to watch East Point win the reserves preliminary final from the sidelines owing to not being qualified to play given the Roos' seniors were not in action.
Koderenko has impressed each time he has stepped out since returning, no more so than in the first semi-final.
Bridges has been non-committal on the veteran's possible senior selection over the past month, but never ruled it out.
It would be easy to be sentimental and think about how great way it would be for the club great to bow out with another senior flag.
However, do not expect Bridges to be clouded by sentiment.
He has some difficult selection decisions to make and knowing what is at stake will do only what gives East Point its best chance at another premiership.