Peter Westland has been given a fitting farewell at the venue where he was an undisputed star on the field and larger than life character off the ground.
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At the end of his funeral service at Bunton Park on Friday, the captain of North Albury's against the odds, rags to riches, 1984 premiership and top goal-kicker was taken on a final lap of the ground with Hoppers' present and past players, officials and supporters forming a predictably long guard of honour.
Tributes began with his sister Barbara Fenton recalling how a fine football career could easily have been short-circuited in his teenage years.
Westland developed rheumatic fever after playing in three grades of football for Kerang on one day with his long and arduous recovery including nine months being confined to his bed.
Best mate Gary Cooper said he first met Westland when he began playing for North Albury, but some of his lasting memories came from duck shooting expeditions and timed to the minute trips to VFL-AFL grand final each year.
"He was not only a champion on the sports field, but also a champion in how he played out his life," he said.
"He loved nothing more than a drink among friends, recounting tales of yesteryear over a cold beer or glass of wine."
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Another close mate Rod Mullavey said he met Westland in another Hoppers premiership year of 1980 and instantly formed a long-standing friendship.
Mr Mullavey said his leadership was critical in the premiership win four years later.
"Peter used to say to me that without (coach) Martin Cross the 1984 premiership just wouldn't have happened," he said.
"But remarkably conversely Martin has also said to me that without a few blokes like Terry Farrell and Timmy Taylor, but particularly Peter, he feels the 1984 premiership wouldn't have happened.
"Peter was the glue that kept everything together."
Westland's children, Sophie and Michael, also honoured their father and recalled his determination to always beat them at table tennis games much to the chagrin of wife, Janet.
"Our confidence might have been shot, but I suspect our resilience had only start to grow," Sophie said.
He was an ally in times of childhood trouble including the time her end of school break-up became front page news of The Border Mail for all the wrong reasons.
His funeral was officiated by Barbara Kruse.
