WHEN Mick Polycarpu runs onto Dimboola Recreation Reserve to plays his 500th Wimmera Football League game on Saturday it will be a testament to his love for training and his willingness to put in the hard yards each pre-season.
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“I think if I’d stopped training for a year or two at any point it would have been tough to start back up again,” he said.
Before he moved from Ararat to Dimboola with his family as an 18-year-old Polycarpou had barely picked up a football.
His sport of choice as a junior was squash. Under the guidance of Lou Day he developed his game to a level that saw him represent the Wimmera.
Polycarpou thinks Day’s coachings have been a big part of his longevity on the football field.
“He was a huge influence and mentor in my training ethic because it’s all I had when I started footy,” he said. “At that stage I couldn’t kick, mark or handball – some of my team-mates would tell you I still can’t do any of that now.”
Football quickly became a big part of Polycarpou’s life in Dimboola. He initially started as a way of getting to know the people that lived in the community he had moved to.
This season was the first in the 36 years since making his debut in 1981 that Polycarpou was not able to take part in pre-season training.
“I would normally start pre-season training in October,” he said. “So it was certainly something I did all year round just to maintain that fitness.”
There has only been one year when Polycarpou’s boots weren’t regularly being pulled on on a Saturday. He sat on the sidelines during the 2013 season working the magnets.
He then travelled down the road to play half a season with Pimpinio in the 2014 season after he was told he probably would not get a game at Dimboola even after completing a full pre-season.
“I actually played my 500th game last season because I played eight games at Pimpinio,” he said. “That game was also against Warrack. Jackson O’Neil talked me into coming back to Dimboola the following season. I wanted to come back so it would be easier to watch my kids and there was a chance of playing with the twins.”
While he did not get a chance to run out with his twin sons Scott and Mark in 2014, he did the season after.
“Playing with my twin boys in 2015 was certainly a good moment,” he said. “I’ve played in a few games where team-mates have played with their sons and it is always pretty special.”
Of his 499 games at Dimboola 364 of them have been with the reserves side and and he has played 35 in the seniors.
He said making his senior debut in 1988 was certainly a highlight. “Running onto Horsham City Oval with the seniors for the first time was special,” he said. “I’ve also played in six grand finals but I haven’t been able to win one, but we did manage a draw against Ararat in 1994.”
For Mick, wife Lisa, Scott, Mark and daughter Nicole football and netball has always been a family ritual.
“My brother, father and the two boys will all be coming to town to watch on Saturday,” he said. “We talked about the boys possibly playing but they can’t get clearances. It will be nice to share the moment with everyone.”
Despite his frustrations this season Polyparpou does not want to commit to hanging up the boots quite yet.
After Saturday’s final round of the season he will get his knee looked at and cleaned up. Then if he gets the all-clear he will be back running around the Dimboola oval again next season.
“I certainly haven’t retired yet,” he said. “I don’t want to keep any younger players out of the side but if the club needs someone next season I will be there.
“I would love to play a few games more. What else is there to do on a Saturday afternoon?”