Golden oldies still sparkling

When I was plodding around football grounds in the 1960s and 1970s your ‘‘use by sign’’ usually loomed when you were approaching 30 years of age.

It was generally accepted after that milestone your career was on borrowed time unless you were an exceptional player or made the effort to be exceptionally fit.

Or you were just to stubborn to bow to Father Time.

Rarely then did players prolong their careers over 35 years of age.

I remember reading of Girgarre’s first premiership win in the Kyabram league in 1952 when local dairyfarmer Maurie McDonald came out of retirement at the age of 38 to help the ’Roos attain their history-making win.

A player making a comeback at that time was huge news at the time .

I also always remember watching Benalla legend John Martinello make a comeback with the Saints in a GVL finals series in the 1990s when he was 40 years old or more.

Just how good he could still play amazed me and I remember thinking at the time he was the best oldest footballer I had ever seen and probably likely to see.

How things have changed since those days.

The trend to continue to try and defy Father Time since then has been gradual but sure and even somewhat mindboggling.

Two of the best examples of players extending their playing careers by extraordinary lengths are Kyabram footballers Jason Morgan and Kayne Pettifer.

Four times Kyabram best-and-fairest award winner Morgan is still one of the best defenders in the GVL despite approaching 39 years of age.

Morgan has always been an exceptional GVL player — arguably the best defender Kyabram has ever had — but is playing almost as well now as in his prime years, whatever they were, because you wouldn’t know given his consistency over such a long period.

Morgan is still a star today because he has not lost his pace for the first 10 to 20m in his attacks on the ball.

Pettifer’s longevity as a player is also remarkable.

When he pulled the curtain down on his playing career with Kyabram at the end of last year when he was 41 years old, most thought he had played his last game.

But no siree.

Back this season at the grand old age of 42 playing with Nathalia in the Murray league he has shown he can still make a worthy contribution as his recent five goals haul against Tongala demonstrated.

Pettifer is a 100 games-plus AFL (Richmond) player so lacks nothing in ability and obviously his passion for the game is his driving force to continue playing.

History-making former Kyabram coach Paul Newman is another local who is finding it hard to hang up the boots.

He is coming up 41 years of age and has played games and inspired wins with the Kyabram reserves and also KDL club Lancaster so far this season.

Newman doesn’t discriminate when he decides to pull on the boots regardless of the standard with his ‘‘you’re a long time retired’’ attitude.

Former Girgarre coach Damian Cupido is another veteran still playing at the age of 42.

Three years ago when 39 he was still good enough to kick 100 goals when coaching the Kyabram league ’Roos.

He started this season playing for Wahgunyah in the Tallangatta Football League and is now coaching Maryborough Giants in the Maryborough District League. He kicked eight goals in one game to show he can make a worthwhile contribution.

Other golden oldies still going around in northern Victoria are Moama’s Geoff Connally, 43, a former Merrigum and Mooroopna player who represented the GVL in his younger days.

He still holds down a defensive position with Moama seniors, one of the better sides in the Murray league.

Benalla’s current coach Jarrad Waite, 41, and Euroa stalwart Craig Bamford, who played senior games last year and who is still playing at reserves level, is in his mid 40s as are other players over 40 years of age still challenging Father Time with their share of success.

Yes, these Golden Oldies are proving if there is a will there is certainly a way to keep playing regardless of age.