Mickey Cullen says he's one of the fortunate ones. Six flags, 10 Grand Finals, almost 300 games and all with the same club Mornington. It's an ever-so-imposing record."Hammer" as he is known - after his initials "M.C." - says his body has been telling him for years that he's too old for this footy caper. In the past he has simply refused to listen, but now...
"Yeah I have to think about it over summer," he said on Saturday night after Mornington's final match of the season (a year in which the club finished eighth)
"I'm undecided (about going on). The body is pretty sore at the moment. I'm sure there are a few in their 30s thinking the same things right now."
Cullen, 33, a frontline rover now playing permanent half-back, says he'd be okay if he sat behind a desk Monday to Friday, but roof tiling is different. He's on his feet each and every day.
A straight-ahead "engine room" type like a Greg Williams, he had six consecutive years of running on the ball, 90 and 95 per cent of games and is glad some of the young ones are now stepping up.
"Not that I'm complaining mind you," he said.
"We've had our fair share of success, but not this year though, unfortunately."
He used to love September and final's time, going even harder if it was possible.
A highlight in his proud CV is to figure in eight Grand Finals in nine years alongside one of country football's true greats in Simon Goosey, one of the few to kick 1000 career goals at "bush" level.
"The Goose was great for our club. He made us look good," said Cullen.
"He'd pluck marks from no-where and get himself into contests he had no right to. He was freakish really. And then he'd convert.
"If he kicked 120 goals in a year and that was his normal figure most seasons, he'd kick only 30 or maybe 40 points at the very most.
"We had a great list mind you, some really good players around him. But he was the cream and a real extrovert to boot. All the opposition supporters would be screaming at him and he'd invite them up the other end at the change of quarters! He loved the attention."
Originally from the South Mornington club, Cullen started as a defender - "and that's where I have ended up, too," he says with a smile.
The only Grand Final Mornington missed from 1996-2004 was in 2002, testimony to the depth in club ranks.
"If I had 22 Mickey Cullen's we wouldn't be beaten" said current Mornington coach Bevan Malloy. "Not only is he a direct link to all our recent successes, he has played well over 225 senior games now, right up there with the top four or five in the club. To call him a stalwart is understating his importance to us all here."
Asked the best ruckman of his time at Mornington, Cullen opted for 207cm giant Pedar Whelan who went onto Frankston with success. In the early days he roved to Andrew Morrison and also enjoyed his time on and off the field with Ty Esler, who'd always turn up in shorts and thongs, no matter how cold the winter's day.
Of his direct opponents he particularly loved duelling with Frankston YCW's Joey Lane and Chelsea's Bret Bowey who were two of the few he could look directly in the eye.
By Ken Piesse
Article first published 26 August, 2009
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