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It was late 2005 and the lack of respect for Moyston-Willaura, formed through a merger in 2000, was understandable. The seniors had just come off a winless season.

The historic towns of Willaura and Moyston — the latter once home to Tom Wills, a founding father of Australian football — faced the prospect of losing their modern-day connection with the game. Never one to shirk a challenge, Dickeson was won over by the locals' desperation to keep the Pumas alive. At the age of 61, he took on the job.

Next Sunday, the now 65-year-old will stand proudly on the sidelines as Moyston-Willaura meets Caramut in the Mininera District league elimination final.

It will be the Pumas' first finals match since the club was formed in 2000. "King Wilf", as he's now been dubbed, has made an impossible dream come true.

Dickeson has enjoyed a long and winding football career. Having grown up in the Wimmera town of Nhill, he was a tough and talented junior player.

These attributes caught the eye of Richmond scouts and in 1965 he made his debut with the Tigers. Following 23 games in two years, he was traded to Prahran in a deal that today is his claim to fame. The young man given up by the then VFA club was Kevin Sheedy.

Playing mostly in the back pocket, Dickeson became a key member of a successful Prahran team. In 1970, under the coaching of former Collingwood ruck-rover Kevin Rose, it was undefeated.

After 90 VFA games, Dickeson returned to the bush. A physical education teacher, he took a position at Ararat West Primary School, later becoming principal.

He initially played and coached clubs in the Wimmera league, winning a premiership with Ararat in 1975. Later, he led Trinity to a premiership in the Ararat and District league, before finally retiring as a player in 1987, aged 44.

Following a long break, he took charge of North Central league club St Arnaud in 2000, but lasted just one season. It seemed that would be the end of his career until Moyston-Willaura's plea for help.

The Pumas were at their lowest ebb. On three occasions in 2005 they had conceded more than 50 goals. In round 16, Glenthompson-Dunkeld amassed a score of 56.28 (364). Moyston-Willaura registered a single behind. At the end of the season, the Pumas' percentage was 12.81. They had scored 593 points and conceded 4628. Crisis meetings were held. The club was weeks away from folding.

Fearing it was a hopeless cause, Dickeson initially rejected the overtures from then-president Mick Davis, before thinking, "Oh well, I'll give it a go." His aim was simply to make the team competitive, even if only for a quarter here and there. He also worked hard to boost attendances at training. In 2005, only five or six players had turned up to some sessions. The first major breakthrough came in round three of 2006, when Moyston-Willaura enjoyed its first win in almost two years.

"That sort of galvanised things and got blokes a little bit keener and confident," Dickeson said. "It was the only game we won for the year but at least we remained competitive."

A fitness fanatic, Dickeson disregarded his age and even ran out in the senior team a few times.

Some solid recruiting before the 2007 season gave the Pumas a chance to climb up the ladder. They won seven matches and drew one. Dickeson's standing within the club grew.

"We've had record crowds, record gates and record membership — it has a real flow-on effect," said Moyston-Willaura's passionate president, Ruth Brain. A mother of four, she pulls on her white trainer's overalls each Saturday, dashing out on the field whenever an injury occurs.

This year, talented players, most from nearby Ararat, began gravitating to the Pumas. "Many also had girlfriends in the netball team," Dickeson laughed. "Having a netball club is a very good move."

In round one, Moyston-Willaura's return from the dead was confirmed when the Pumas kicked 29 goals in a 151-point defeat of one-time powerhouse Wickliffe-Lake Bolac.

Among the best-on-ground that day was John Vanderwaal, the previous senior coach, who stuck with the club through its darkest hours. "It makes everyone feel welcome out at Moyston or Willaura knowing they can go out and watch a game of footy and the team won't be disgraced," said Vanderwaal.

Despite struggling to match it with top sides such as Hawkesdale-Macarthur, which includes former Geelong defender Brad Sholl in its ranks, and Tatyoon, the Pumas had secured their place in the top five before last weekend.

But a meeting with Glenthompson-Dunkeld provided another chance to erase bad memories of years past. On a bitterly cold day, a large crowd turned out at Willaura, demonstrating the fans' new-found confidence.

The Pumas were soon on top, setting up a six-goal lead by quarter-time. Ever-enthusiastic, Dickeson smiled as he encouraged his team to continue its charge. As they have since he took on the job, the players responded positively, the margin blowing out to 67 points at the long break.

An eventual 46-point victory over Glenthompson-Dunkeld meant each player received $50 as reward for the win. During some seasons past, such gestures were rarely needed. This year, the cash is coming out nearly every week.

"I've really enjoyed seeing the club become successful," Dickeson said. "Its future's probably assured now." Said Brain: "We used to get so excited when we won one game. Now we think we can win, we know we can win. We can't wait for it."

By Adam McNicol

Article first appeared The Sunday Age, August 17, 2008