NHILL’S Steve Graham will achieve a remarkable feat on Saturday when he runs out for the Tigers reserve grade side.
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Graham, or Birdman as he is affectionately known around the club, will play his 500th game in Nhill’s away clash with Horsham Saints.
A colourful career began way back in 1981 when, as an aspiring PE-science teacher, Graham landed a part-time position at the local secondary college.
It also happened to be the year the Tigers won the flag.
“I was lucky enough to walk straight into a premiership,” Graham said.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t done so well since.”
While he only expected to be in Nhill for a short time, the offer of full-time employment and the friendships he made through the football club persuaded him to stay.
Graham’s career makes for remarkable reading.
A premiership winner in his first year with Nhill, he also won a country championship with Wimmera in 1988 when the side beat Ballarat in the final at Horsham City Oval.
That same year, Graham, 58, was awarded the Toohey Medal as the best player in the Wimmera Football League.
He has played a remarkable 364 senior games with Nhill, plus more than a dozen interleague matches.
Graham has also lined up for the Tigers in 121 reserve fixtures.
“The grand finals and interleague games are highlights, but I enjoy every game I run out on the paddock,” Graham said.
Unsurprisingly, he nominated the 1988 season as a particularly special one.
“To win the Toohey Medal was very special in a very close count as well,” he said.
He said the chance to pit his skills against some of the best country footballers in the region had also been a highlight.
“I’ve played against some really great opponents, some really tough opponents,” he said.
Graham said working with players and coaches the ilk of Bruce Miller and Hugh Delahunty during his interleague appearances had been hugely influential in his development as a footballer.
“I learned a lot from those sort of guys,” he said.
“The football was at another level from the Wimmera league. In those days you really had to be on your game.”
While the rewards have been added incentive, it is the club and the people that continue to keep drawing Graham back season after season.
“A country footy club is vital to a community like ours,” he said.
“It’s a community within itself. Players, supporters, sponsors; they all contribute to the club.
“It’s also something for the young people to come to. That’s probably why I still play football.
“I want to make sure the club still exists in future so kids have somewhere to come along to and play sport.”
Graham agreed declining population in small towns had made it harder to attract youngsters to football and netball clubs.
“But if you keep providing something for them, they’ll come,” he said.
Graham thanked all those players, administrators, supporters and sponsors involved with the club for their involvement in his long career. The club will celebrate Graham’s milestone after the Tiger’s away clash with Horsham Saints back at Nhill’s home ground Davis Park with a dinner from 6.30pm and an official presentation at 8.30pm.