Playing 300 games at local level is a rare achievement in itself. Playing 300th game as family members in the same game makes it just that little bit more special.
Life members of the Heatherton Football Netball Club and cousins, Warrick Earle and Matther Sauer will run out together at 12:00pm tomorrow in their 300th game.
"It's awesome to play alongside not only a family member, but your best mate as well," said Earle.
"We've both coached the reserves for 4-5 years through the good and bad times and we're both really looking forward to the day tomorrow against Narre South.
"Matt is just one of the best blokes to not only play football with but off the field as well," Earle said.
After a few tough years in recent memory, including a two win season in 2022 between the seniors and reserves in 2022, the Tunners as a club are on the march, with their seniors bagging two big wins in the last two weeks against other finals fancies in South Mornington and Carrum Patterson Lakes and Earle, who is also the president of the Heatherton Football Netball Club mentions that it is down to a change of positive mindset.
"We've done a great deal off the field to try and change the culture of the club and the numbers at training and the commitment from everyone has been great.
"Two or three years ago, we may have got 10-15 players on a wet night to training and now without fail, we're getting numbers around the 40-50 mark each and every night which is a great buy-in from everyone,"
Another Heatherton stalwart in Yvonne McMillan said that both Matt and Warrick are just genuinely good people and deserve all the praise that they get.
"Warrick is someone that has great leadership both on and off the field and is well respected around not only the football club, but the community as well. He doesn't mind celebrating a goal either.
"He has his kids running around with their name and number on the back and he is really one that gives great support to the whole club, such as the 19's and netballers, and doesn't necessarily focus solely on the results and the way the seniors are going,"
Yvonne says that Sauer isn't much different, saying it must run deep into the family.
"They've both coached the reserves in the past, with both spending countless hours on the phone on a Friday night to fill a team just to get a game under the belt.
"Matt has given many hours and made a huge contribution to this football club and is just a great person to have around the club,"
We wish both Warrick and Matt all the best for their game against Narre South Saints tomorrow from 12:00pm
