By Tara Murray
Marc Dransman wanted to finish his career off quietly, but those at Melton South weren’t about to let that happen.
Dransman on Saturday stepped out to a guard of honour for his 350th and final game in the Panthers reserves match against Bacchus Marsh in the Ballarat Football League.
Dransman said he deeply appreciated being honoured by the club.
“There’s not many people who play 350 games,” he said.
“To be a one-club player, I hold that really highly. I was very humbled and honoured. I’m a modest person and I wanted to just finish off quietly and try and win.
“For the club to go to the length it did, I’m very humbled.”
Dransman started his career at the Panthers as a seven year old. He made his senior debut in 1999 and until recent years played most of his games in the senior side.
He said it was the right time to retire.
“To play here the whole time is a humbling experience,” he said.
“It’s not really emotional when you know when it’s the right time.
“The body is old and too slow. I’m 39 years old. You know when you’re past it.”
Having made his name in the senior side, he’s played in reserves the past three years.
Not just concerned about his own performances, he’s stepped up and taken on leadership roles.
“The time was right for me to step down [into reserves] when I was getting older,” he said.
“The game sped up and there was the opportunity to let the young kids have a go.
“I’ve definitely enjoyed the last few years. The two years before this year, I was captain of the reserves in a mentoring role. This year I took on a coaching role.”
Dransman said he wasn’t sure whether he would coach on next season.
Having not much success on the field during his career, Dransman said it was the friendships that he would treasure.
“I think the people that you meet and the people that you play with are the best thing,” he said.
“I’ve made a lot of good friendships.”
Dransman didn’t have long to look back at his career, with his focus turning to junior grand finals on Sunday.
His son, Zac Dransman, was named best on ground in Melton South’s premiership win in the Riddell District Football League under-13 B competition.
Dransman snr was assistant coach for the premiership side.
While there is one game left in the reserves season, Dransman won’t be stepping out because of work commitments.
“I’m off overseas tomorrow [Monday] for work,” he said.
“It would have been nice to be able to play that last game, but it didn’t work out that way.
“Nice to finish off like that.”
