Luke Saunders, Matt Fitzgerald, Steven Reaper, Marcus and Jordan Barham, Ollie Messaoudi and Simon Elsum just to name a few.

Anthony Belcher's name is not one that comes up in that conversation, but those that have been involved with the club for the past two decades will tell you it should.

While Belcher might not have the pure class of some of the names mentioned above, his impact on the Gisborne Football Netball Club on and off the field has been immense.

Belcher joins the BFNL 200-club on Saturday when he plays his 200th senior game for his beloved Bulldogs.

Saunders - the greatest Bulldog of them all during the club's time in the BFNL - played alongside and coached Belcher.

"To coach him, as a player he did everything I asked and more,'' Saunders said.

"He'd play in any position he was asked and, because he's so competitive and so intelligent, he's capable of doing anything.

"People underestimate the challenges he was given sometimes, but he handled everything.

"I get emotional talking about him because he's a massive part of Gisborne's success."

Belcher is the only player in Gisborne history to win a club best and fairest in seniors, reserves and under-18s.

The senior best and fairest was in the premiership season of 2006 under coach Marcus Barham.

"In 2006 we were all at the peak of our playing careers,'' Saunders said.

"Michael Dillon, who after that year went on to play serious VFL footy, Shane Davis, Matt Fitzgerald, myself - Belch was the best of a very good bunch in my opinion. He never missed a beat.

"His modesty will say that he was never as good as everyone thought he was, but that's what makes him so special.

"He stands up. When he wasn't on the field I never felt as confident. When he was there he put his body on the line, he'd beat his opponent and he'd do things that lifted the group - always."

According to Saunders, the BFNL should be forever grateful for Belcher's influence on Gisborne.

In 2009, the Ballarat Football League made a major play to poach the Bulldogs from the Bendigo league.

Gisborne had been the dominant club in Bendigo between 2002-2008, playing in six grand finals and winning four senior flags.

At the time, Ballarat was probably seen as a better standard of football and Gisborne's neighbours Sunbury were in the competition.

A club meeting at Gardiner Reserve would play a major role in the future of the club.

"Everyone was at the club for a big meeting about the club's future and a few people spoke,'' Saunders recalled.

"No-one spoke as passionately or eloquently as Anthony. He was only 27 at the time, but the passion and care he has for Gisborne was on show for everyone that night.

"A lot of people were probably on the fence going into that night, but he (Belcher) was one of the main reasons they swayed to staying in the Bendigo league.

"Without him that night I don't know what would have happened...he's such a special person."

Saunders said the off-field influence Belcher holds shouldn't be underestimated.

"Academically, he's super intelligent, but his emotional intelligence to understand what the group needs is remarkable,'' Saunders said.

"The way he brings people together through his sense of humour is second to none.

"He knows how to make people feel better about being at the footy club. Those sort of things go unnoticed.

"He can make himself out to be the clown to make everyone else feel better, but when it's time for some serious stuff he's the first person to be able to speak eloquently about any situation."

To have a club great talk glowingly about his career doesn't sit comfortably with the humble Belcher.

He'd rather just focus on this Saturday's clash with old rival Golden Square than have a fuss made about his 200th senior game.

"I've missed about 170 games since I made my debut. Usually you play your 200th when you're 30 not 38,'' Belcher said with a chuckle.

"I missed a couple of years when I was about 20 when I was finishing my uni degree. It was the Mick McGuane era and you had to be all-in, but I just couldn't commit like that.

"In 2010 I kept breaking my hand and because I'm a physio it was an expensive injury, so I had a year off.

"I thought I was retired in 2015 and 2017, but I came back and I've played the last three seasons.

"The time off has probably helped me now. I guess footy can become a grind, but right now I feel as fit as I did when I was 31."

Even in the years Belcher had off he filled in for the reserves every now and then.

The COVID-19 ruined season of 2020 aside, Belcher has played at least one game in the under-18s, reserves or seniors every year since 2000 apart from 2017.

"My first senior game was against South Bendigo at the QEO in 2000 in about round 16,'' Belcher said.

"The siren went and we were five points down and Ian Hunt kicked a goal from the boundary line after the siren to get us over the line by one point. It was huge."

After starting his senior career on the wing, he was moved into defence for a brief period before becoming a mobile ruckman.

"For most of the 2000s I was a ruckman/forward and then from about 2010 onwards I became a key defender,'' Belcher said.

"I'm a utility, really, I'm not really anything. I could spend half a game ruck/forward and then the second half at full-back.

"I was a bit short to be a ruckman and not skillful enough to be a midfielder. I just went wherever I was told."

Don't be fooled by Belcher's humility - he is a far better play than he described.

In terms of senior footy - two flags in 2006-07, three BFNL inter-league campaigns and a club best and fairest in a premiership year - that's not the CV of an average footballer.

Whether it be in the ruck or as a key defender, Belcher has had to play against some of the best players in the BFNL.

"(Eaglehawk's) Kain Robins, I could never beat him. He was always too powerful of a runner,'' Belcher said.

"You mightn't have thought that looking at him, but he was explosive.

"(Golden Square's James) Bristow I don't think I got the better of him. He was six foot five and he was fast. He was tough.

"(South Bendigo ruckman) John Hardinge was always tough. He'd always block your run. I caught the end of Matt Sexton's career at Sandhurst and he was hard to play against as well.

"The hardest ruckman of all was probably Brett Cook when he arrived at Kyneton after playing in the AFL. He was a freak.

"I reckon I enjoyed playing in the ruck more, but I'm more of a natural defender."

Read more: Weekend footy teams

His 200th game will probably be a snapshot of his career. He'll probably spend some time on one of Square's three tall forwards and, potentially, get thrown into the ruck to give new ruckman Braidon Blake a spell.

The new generation Bulldogs are one of the premiership contenders this season.

"Premierships are the highlight, that's why we play. That's why I'm still going, so I can try and get another one,'' Belcher said.

"So many players have come and gone at the club since then that missed out on a flag that would give anything to play in one."

While it would have been nice for Belcher to play his 200th game on home soil at Gardiner Reserve, it's somewhat fitting that the milestone game is against Golden Square.

"If there's any club Gisborne loves playing against it's Golden Square,'' Saunders said.

"We've had so many great battles against Golden Square and so many close battles...and Belch has been a part of most, if not all, of them.

"Going to Golden Square seems to bring the best out of Gisborne people. It will be good on Saturday. Hopefully, the boys can win for Belch."

Read more: Catch up on all the latest local footy news

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: