When you think about Bacchus Marsh Football Club, Tyson Shea is one of the first names you think of.
Best and fairest winner, team of the year member, premiership captain and part of the heart and soul of the club.
On Saturday, Shea will become just the second player at the club to play 300 senior games.
Since starting seniors at 17, Shea has been through many highs and some lows to get to this stage. He also played juniors at the club.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “I started at 17 and was captain at 18.
“A lot of the supporters have seen me grow up in front of their eyes.
“I turned 37 yesterday [Wednesday]. The last 20-odd years they’ve seen me go from boy to a man.
“I’ve experienced everything from wooden spoons to a premiership.”
Shea said he would have never expected to play 300 games when he set out.
It was tough early on as the Cobras struggled.
They didn’t play finals until 2016 when they went on a run to a premiership with Shea at the helm.
Shea said it remains the highlight of his career.
“Something that I didn’t think I would ever do was play 300 games, I also never thought I would win a premiership.
“We have had rough years before. I think back now having connected with the guys during the week.
“Most have reached out this week and it makes you smile. Nothing has changed and they still come back to the rooms and share a special bond.
“My pop talked about coaching and playing in premierships, never knew until you do it, I know what he means now.”
Shea’s pop played at the club and his dad did also.
His wife plays netball and their two girls come on a family outing to the football and netball each week.
Shea had spent plenty of time reflecting in the lead up to the game as he became a man in demand for media and those around the club, part and present.
“As a young player you worry about yourself,” he said. “As an older player you reflect a bit on the guys you played with.
“The 2016 premiership and those guys and the amount of people that you have come across at the club.
“It’s been a good week of reflection with heaps of past and current players, opposition coaches reaching out.
“There’s been a lot of nice messages.”
As part of that Shea named his best 22 of his career for the club’s socials which he said was a tough job.
He said he hadn’t had any bad feedback from anyone just yet.
Shea plans to play on next season and continue his run.
He says the current playing group reminds him of the group they had about 10 years ago, which ultimately ended in a premiership and grand final in 2017.
“Ours started back in 2014 and we started to build a lot of young guys, local lads and then had success in 2016,” he said.
“It feels like that again. We have a group of eight or 10 under-23s that will be the future.
“There’s a lot of one pointers and kids that have played a lot of juniors together in the same teams.
“Dennis [Armfield] is doing a great job as coach and we’re all playing for him and hopefully in the next couple of years we can push for success.”
