Gretgrix to play 150th game with his beloved Borough

Two premierships, including winning one off his own boot, 572 career goals, a Ron Best Medal, seven-time club leading goal kicker and a proven big game record makes Gretgrix an Eaglehawk great.

The “G-Train” as he is affectionately known by the Borough faithful will play his 150th game for the club this Saturday.

Gretgrix spoke with Adam Bourke about his milestone and the club he holds so dear.

Adam Bourke:  150 games with the Borough – you must be proud.

Matt Gretgrix: Even though it’s only 150 games, it’s nice to notch up the milestone, because it seems these days it’s getting harder for players to get to 150 games at one club. I’m very happy to be bringing it up with the mighty Borough.

AB: How did it come about that you joined Eaglehawk from Charlton in 2006?

MG: I went to Eaglehawk through (close friend) Kain Robins. He was playing with the Bendigo Bombers at the time but was aligned to Eaglehawk. I started training with them and then had a meeting with Derrick Filo and Mick McKern.

AB: Was it hard to leave your home club?

MG: Yeah it was. The group of friends I had in Bendigo at the time had spoken about playing footy together and playing at Eaglehawk was a good opportunity to play in Bendigo and test myself at the higher level.

AB: You arrived at Canterbury Park at the perfect time - back-to-back premierships in 2007 and 2008.

MG: In 2006 we had a really good side but we didn’t go on with it.

2007 and 2008 were the most memorable years of my footy career and I’ve been chasing that feeling since. It might elude me, but I’ll keep trying until the body won’t let me play footy.

AB: In 2007 the Borough defeated the mighty Gisborne side in a thrilling grand final. What are your recollections?

MG: 2007 was a great year because where we came from in the game and the club hadn’t won a flag for 25 years.  We were the drought breakers and it was sensational to be a part of.

It was an emotional win for the club. There’s photos of Buttsy (Luke Button) crying after the siren. Kain (Robins) and Luke Milroy were running around swinging their jumpers over their head.

To see the Eaglehawk crowd celebrate was just fantastic. The feeling that Eaglehawk has as a club and all the loyal supporters – that’s why, in my opinion, Eaglehawk is the best club in Bendigo footy.

It’s easy to be biased, but that’s why I’ve gone back to Eaglehawk.

Eaglehawk and footy has helped make me the person I am today.

AB: From an individual point of view, the 2008 grand final win over Golden Square must be at the front of your mind when it comes to your career.  Eight goals, including the match winner in the dying seconds, and the VCFL Medal – it doesn’t get much better than that.

MG: Going into the grand final I knew I would be playing on Stocky (Anthony Holdstock) and it was doing my head in leading into the game because he was so hard to get a kick on.

In the end it was one of those days where I was in the right spot at the right time. It all clicked and to kick a few goals in front of a packed house is something I’m more than happy to be a part of.

To win both of those flags was something special and then to go back to Charlton in 2009 and win a flag there was just as good.

AB: Do you remember what was going through your head when you were lining up for goal in the dying seconds of the 2008 grand final?

MG: Jake Hall was playing on me at that stage and the previous couple of contests he was jumping over the top of me and punching the ball clear. I had to readjust my positioning to try and counter him and it worked the next time.

Scores were level I’m pretty sure, so the pressure was off me a bit in that any score was going to put us in front.

I’d kicked so well all day that I was confident it would go through and it did. It’s all a bit of a blur to be honest.

AB: I would have thought you’d have the DVD of that game on the big screen at home regularly?

MG:  I don’t have it to be honest. I’d love to watch it again though.

AB: The G-Train was at full steam that day. Who started calling you G-Train?

MG: A mate of mine Wiggy, from Echuca, was the man who claims to have started it, but I don’t really know. It only started when I first came to Bendigo.

AB: It’s the most famous nickname in Bendigo footy.

MG: It caught on and it’s stuck. I’ll take it. 

AB: Who have been your toughest opponents in Bendigo footy?

MG: There’s a couple that are still playing now, so I don’t want to give them a big head. 

Obviously, Dale Young (Golden Square) has always been a handful because of his athleticism. Jayden Donaldson (Strathfieldsaye) is not the fittest bloke, but he’s strong and quick. They’re two that I’ve had trouble with.

AB: You’ve played with a stack of great players at the Borough. Is there a few that standout?

MG: I’m probably biased because he’s my best mate, but Tim Hill is a machine in the way he goes about his football. I shake my head at the way Glenn Daley keeps improving.

Kain Robins and Brady Herdman were as good as you’ll see at centre-half forward in country footy. 

That’s the hardest spot on the ground to play and when they were in full flight they were unstoppable.

AB: The last couple of years with Eaglehawk have been more about rebuilding. Are you enjoying the role you have these days of guiding the young players?

MG: Being at the club is the most important thing to me. I love the club. I’ve still got some good mates at the club and it’s exciting to see the young kids coming through. 

They’re improving every game and if we stick together I’m sure we’ll surprise a few teams this year.

There’s no reason why we can’t make the top five this year and sneak a final. 

With the redevelopment at Canterbury Park as well, it’s an exciting time to be at Eaglehawk. It’s a shame I’m not 28 with another five good years in front of me. There’s plenty of upside there.

AB: It’s fitting that your 150th game is in front of the Borough faithful at Canterbury Park against Gisborne. The Bulldogs were the premier team when you started in Bendigo footy.

MG: When I found out how many games I’d played I was happy that the milestone game was going to be at Canterbury Park in front of family and friends. Hopefully, I get a kick, we win the game and then sing the song after.