MATT Compston arrived at Golden Square as a junior in under-12s - he's never left
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The understated ruckman is sincere and convincing when he says he's never had any reason but to stay.
Compston reached his 100th senior game for the Bulldogs last week against Kyneton.
Much like the way he plays his football there was little fuss, he just went out and got the job done as he always does.
Not even a mix-up involving the actual milestone fazed the dual premiership ruckman.
There was some thought his 100th game might actually have fallen this weekend against Eaglehawk, but the round 17 clash against Kyneton it turned out to be.
As a child, Compston attended the Maple Street Primary School in Golden Square. When it came to picking a football club he said there was never any doubt which one he would choose.
"Golden Square was just around the corner from school, so I started out playing with all my school mates," Compston said.
"I did that throughout juniors - there's always been a key core of guys I have played with and there's still a couple of them around now in the seniors.
"It's a great club, it's got that real family vibe to it.
"I guess growing up there around those guys has made me want to sick around there."
Compston was lucky enough to graduate to the seniors in time to be part of the Bulldogs' 2012 and 2013 premierships, the fourth and fifth in a sequence of five consecutive flags.
He said they remained obvious highlights of his career.
"The first of those (five) flags was my last year of under 18s when I managed to play in an under-18s flag," he said.
"Being able to get myself into the senior team and being part of that group of players who played over that five years is a highlight."
With the Bulldogs almost certain to finish the home and away season in second place, another premiership could be in the offing for Compston and his teammates.
"That's the hope at the moment - I think we have a good enough team there and we've had pretty good form throughout the year," he said.
"We've obviously lost to Sandhurst a couple times throughout the year but we know we can improve on those performances.
"We had a poor performance against them the first time, but stuck with them most of the way throughout the second game and there was only a goal or two in it at the end of the game.
"We definitely know we are thereabouts on our day."
For someone who thrives on the challenge of playing on the best, Compston nominated Sandhurst's Tim Martin and Strathfieldsaye's Michael Pilcher as his toughest opponents, with a special mention reserved for Kangaroo Flat's Nick Lang.