Perhaps the only thing more impressive than Trent Ogden playing his 500th game for Centrals Trinity Bulldogs tomorrow is that someone was able to count them all.
The apprentice cabinet maker, 21, has been playing with the Trinity Beach Club since he was five and says he has never considered switching clubs.
It is not as if he has been counting every game since then, though. He said the occasion arose after he and a few friends were speculating about the number fo games he may have played late last season, considering how many years he had been playing.
Curious to know the exact amount, the club dragged out records dating back to this under-eight days in 1997. Back then he wore the number one guernsey, because it was the smallest.
"I was always playing up a grade or two against the bigger kids," he said.
"And my best memories were of the glory days when we were winning senior flags; I was running out as at 10-year-old with the team."
Things aren't the same in 2013, although Ogden's optimistic the club has turned a corner.
"I was there when we forfeited reserves last year and it was really disappointing,' he said.
"But we've got Darryl O'Reilly back, a new coach in Peter Seymour and a good playing group. We have got all the categories covered."
While many of the Bulldogs left the club at their low point of last season, Ogden, who has the word "loyalty" tattooed on his forearm remained.
"I wasn't going to leave and watch the club deteriorate," he said. "Seven or eight that have played since juniors are still here and more are slowly coming back."
The club honoured his commitment at training last week when the juniors formed a guard of honour after training.
"I wasn't really expecting that, it was nice to be recognised I guess," he said.
Centrals play Hawks tomorrow as they attempt to string together their third straight win.
Last Modified on 31/07/2013 15:49