THIRTY years after starting his football career as a 13-year-old at Jeparit, Jason Hutson has reached a milestone that few achieve.
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Hutson notched up his 400th game for Jeparit-Rainbow at the weekend, when he ran out with the reserves team against Harrow-Balmoral.
The onballer has 236 senior games with the Storm, with reserves matches making up the rest of his tally.
He played his first reserves match in 1988, with his first taste of seniors coming a year later.
Now 42, Hutson said he had seen plenty of changes during his time at the club.
‘‘I played for Jeparit in our last year in the Wimmera Football League,’’ he said.
‘‘We moved to the Southern Mallee league, which later became the Mallee league, and we merged with Rainbow to form Jeparit-Rainbow.’’
There have been plenty of individual and team highlights for Hutson.
He has played in four grand finals, but the 2009 reserves decider – won by a point against Ouyen United – is the only time he has won a premiership.
Hutson took out the Mallee Football League reserves best and fairest in 2011 – his highest individual honour.
Hutson has shown dedication to the club, serving as treasurer for 13 years.
‘‘When the club needed a new treasurer in 2003 I put my hand up because it’s normally a two-year term,’’ he said.
‘‘Now they just put my name down every year, they don’t even ask me if I want to do it or not.
‘‘I have had someone helping me out for the past four years, which has taken a bit of the load off.’’
Hutson said the most important people behind his milestone were his children and his wife, Yolande.
‘‘I need to thank my wife for washing all my gear after the games,’’ he said.
‘‘We’ve been together since 1997 so she’s been very patient with me.’’
