Skinner first Bull to hit 300

Mt Barker veteran Nathan Skinner will join an exclusive club on Saturday afternoon when he runs out in his 300th league game, the first Bulls player to reach the major milestone.

The evergreen Skinner still sits behind Alan Ballantyne who played 334 league games for North Mt Barker, which the club still recognises in their history but will create his own history when he makes his record appearance against Albany this weekend.

After making his debut in 1997, Skinner has played 19 consecutive seasons for the Bulls in the Great Southern Football League but has foreshadowed his longevity is coming to an end at the ripe old age of 37.

Skinner believes this season may be his last if the club and new-look league side can produce a fairytale resurgence and potentially claim the premiership on their home ground.

“This year has given the club a lot of life, it has sparked a few a guys up who were maybe thinking about not sticking around,” Skinner said.

“When you lose all the time, you lose interest and for five or six years we hardly won a game.

“Against North Albany last week we had a few out and we could have a pretty good side if we get them all together on the same day.

“If we did win (the premiership) that would just do about do me; my wife has wanted me to retire for a few years.”

Now working in forestry, the 37-year-old travels long distances most days and said his body was starting to feel the pinch of a long time in the game.

“The body has held up all right, I’ve been reasonably lucky,” he said.

“I keep myself pretty fit, when I first started I was working part-time at a vineyard and part-time on the farm and I was always doing things.

“Now as a forester I sit driving in a car, sometimes 500km a day, so my back and hamstrings are starting to feel it.”

Skinner has passed club greats Kim Lang and Murray Anning who have played just over 200 league games and said reaching the 300 game milestone was an honour.

“It’s a pretty good accomplishment,” Skinner said.

“Most of the time you just come down and play because you want to be around your mates but we all like to win.

“I have really enjoyed the social side of things.”

The forward turned defender said his main asset in the game was his long, accurate kick and said former coach Garry Coffey was the person behind his switch to defence.

He described Ben Saunders as the best junior he had seen come through the club, Leith Edwards as one of his hardest opponents and said premiership captain Alec Williams was the best player that had played for Bulls.

The second semifinal victory over the Lions in 1999 to earn to right to host the decider stands as one of Skinner’s most memorable games.

Skinner is still chasing that elusive premiership after grand final losses to Royals in 1999 and North Albany in 2005 but the raking right-footer was eager to get a win in the milestone after losing his 200th and 250th games, the later which he had a chance to win.

“It would be nice to have a win and get our season back on track after losing the past two games,” he said.

Nathan Skinner

Age: 37

Playing Honours: 2014 league fairest and best, 12 consecutive Landmark carnivals, Mt Barker Football Club life membership, played in two GSFL grand finals

What you didn’t know: