Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
IN A stellar career that has been littered with both team and personal success, Lockington Bamawm United’s Mick Dobson will this weekend earn another accolade – Heathcote District league life membership.
Dobson will play his 200th Heathcote District league game this Saturday when the Cats take on Colbinabbin.
The 37-year-old veteran will become the first LBU player since the Cats joined the league in 2001 to play 200 games in the competition.
However, it appeared the milestone would elude Dobson when he retired two years ago on 196 Heathcote District league games.
But having been coaxed back into playing by returning coach Kahl Oliver in the second half of the season and making his way back into the seniors after three games in the reserves, the 200 milestone that will earn Dobson HDFNL life membership is now upon him.
“I’d had enough a couple of years ago, but started training this year to get a bit of fitness and have an outlet away from work and with Ollie coming back as coach… he kept pestering me like a bloke who keeps asking a girl out until you either give up or don’t talk to them anymore,” Dobson said on Wednesday.
“He eventually wore me down, but I said I didn’t want to put anyone out of a game, so I suppose I was happy to help him out, but once you get back out there you realise just how much you enjoy it.
“What I think I can do and what my body allows me to do is a bit different, but it’s been good to be back out there… pinch-hitting in the midfield off the bench suits me fine because I can’t run as much as I use to.”
Dobson is one of the Heathcote District league’s most decorated players of the modern era.
He has played in four premierships with the Cats and in 2002 polled 21 votes to win the Cheatley Medal.
However, as well as the four-peat of premiership success between 2011 and 2014, Dobson has also been at the other end of the spectrum with the Cats as well.
Having played all his junior football with LBU, Dobson’s first year of senior football was in 2000 when the Cats went 0-18 in the Bendigo league with an average losing margin of 97 points before they joined Heathcote District the following season.
“It took me a long time to get the first flag, so to have four now is just fantastic… they are the best feelings I’ve had playing sport,” Dobson said.
“The individual awards are all well and good, but you can’t win those without your team-mates.”
While LBU will always be home for Dobson – who featured among the best players in last weekend’s win over Heathcote – he has also had stints away from the club playing in Western Australia and Queensland.
Dobson’s return to the side in recent weeks comes as the Cats prepare for their first finals campaign since 2014.
The Cats are fifth on the ladder with a 9-5 record.
While you're with us, did you know you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates direct to your inbox. Sign up here.
