GAVIN Bowles always admired Glenn Roulston as a player who gave 100 per cent every time he took to the field for White Hills in the Bendigo District Cricket Association.

And it's that same 100 per cent commitment that Bowles has displayed throughout his lengthy career in which he has now taken over the mantle as the Demons' games record holder from Roulston.

Bowles last week played first XI game No.218 for the Demons, surpassing Roulston's previous club record.

"I played quite a few years with Roulsty and modelled myself around him a bit. He was a player who gave 100 per cent every week and even though he was a bowler and I was a batsman, the way he played was the way I wanted to play as well," Bowles said this week.

"It's a great privilege to have played with the club for so many years. The club has looked after me really well and it's nice to know that I've given a bit back as well."

When Bowles debuted for the Demons against Bendigo United in the 1999-2000 season he was first XI player No.132 for the club.

That figure is now up around 230, meaning he has played with about 100 players throughout his career.

Bowles was 16 when he debuted - he's now 37, with the elegant left-hander having amassed 6895 runs, including 13 centuries.

The most recent of Bowles' 13 tons came last month when he cracked 114 n.o. against Eaglehawk.

He also played an influential role with the bat in last weekend's milestone game, scoring 51 in the Demons' 90-run victory over Strathfieldsaye at the QEO - a game they had to win to keep in touch with the top four.

"If we want to play finals we need to start beating some good sides and last week was a really good performance," said Bowles, who has been White Hills' leading run-scorer for the season eight times during his career.

"It was our best all-round game of the season and everything just clicked... we had batsmen get starts and go on with it and it was the best we've bowled."

The Demons will need to replicate that complete all-round performance again on Saturday in round 12 when they host the undefeated Strathdale-Maristians - an opponent Bowles has only managed four wins against during his career.

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