DURING a career stretching 24 years, one senior premiership medal doesn’t seem enough of reward for years of service to one club.

But that one, lonely premiership medal signifies more than most would understand for Boort stalwart Nathan Gooding.

This weekend Boort will play Wedderburn in what will be a premiership reunion for the North Central league Magpies’ 2008 team.

It also marks Gooding’s 350th game for the club.

At the start of 2008, Boort’s senior coach and popular local identity Haldane ‘Whitey’ Nelson tragically died in a car accident on his way to a pre-season training session in Boort.

After a tumultuous season, Boort managed to overcome all barriers and defeat Wedderburn by 15 points in a grand final high on passion, commitment and raw emotion.

Players wore the name ‘Whitey’ and his number 11 on their jumpers throughout that season.

The likes of Brett Jeffery, Sam Gross, Robbie and Craig Rutley and Ash Byrne, who came out of retirement to coach the Magpies to that flag, will undoubtedly be eager to reminisce.

Premiership cups have been few and far between for Boort, with the 2008 premiership success breaking a near-30 year drought. The Magpies’ previous grand final win was in 1980.

Gooding, who has been a loyal Magpie since rising from the junior ranks in 1997, has played every season since, including twice in losing grand finals and of course the 2008 premiership.

He has played 292 senior games and 58 reserves games.

Since retiring from the senior grade in 2015, he has coached and played in a winning reserves premiership and won league and club best and fairest awards in 2016.

Like the club’s 2008 senior triumph, the Magpies’ 2016 reserves premiership, with Gooding at the helm was also drought breaking.

It was the club’s first in 21 years at that level. Capping a fine season, Gooding was awarded the grand final best on ground medal.

The local grain and sheep farmer and father of four says his only remaining goal would be to play at least one game with his now nine-year-old son Cooper.

But for now the 39-year-old is content to keep playing with his 15-year-old nephew Will Perryman – and after this season – who knows.

Gooding has suggested it just might nearly be time to hang up the boots.

This weekend also marks the reunion of the Magpies’ 2008 A-grade netball and women’s hockey premierships.