In a week of celebrating milestone efforts in football, Deniliquin’s Allan Bond has celebrated 300 senior games at the Picola District Football League level.
He is the first Deniliquin Rovers player to receive this recognition.
The feat is particularly impressive considering the 18-game home and away season being the standard for most of Bond’s footballing career.
Rovers president John Glowrey said Bond’s record of senior PDFL games over 20 years is momentous.
“300 first-grade league games is a massive milestone and an achievement that not many have reached, and it deserves to be celebrated,” Glowrey said.
“Bondy played the majority of those games with us, making his senior debut back in 2004 when he was still a thirds player.”
A key to Bond’s longevity has been his consistency of effort.
“Bondy has certainly done the hard work off the track to keep himself fit enough and rarely makes a mistake on the ground,” Glowrey said.
As the first player to reach 300 senior games in the PDFL and 300 games with the Rovers, Bond approaches rarefied air at the club.
“Bondy is edging closer to the record for most first-grade games played at Deniliquin Rovers, currently held by Terry Lumbar,” Glowrey said.
“The form that he has been in, I can see him getting it this year.”
Bondy celebrated his league milestone in the Rovers’ win against Berrigan on Saturday.
“It’s been the best experience and just the best fun, really,” he said of his time in the league.
“To get to this many games, you need a lot of luck but you also need to put in a lot of hard work and effort with your fitness to reach 300.”
Across his PDFL career, there have been many significant memories.
A pinnacle for Bond was tasting premiership success during his move to Jerilderie in 2014.
Playing an important role at the Rovers this year, Bond said he had some nerves before Saturday’s game but settled into it.
“Once I started playing, it was one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played.
“It’s probably the best game we’ve played all year.
“Hopefully, it’s the start of something good.”
Bond said he was thankful for the quality senior coaching he’s had across his playing career.
“I’ve been lucky to have four senior coaches across 300 games - Josh Bode, Luke Moodie, Nick Braybon and Alex Hay.”