Geelong Advertiser | Boots of Spanish Leather was playing on the radio as I rolled into Winchelsea. A lonely garage sale sat on the main drag. A young kid on a BMX watched while I turned left and made towards the football ground.
This was where the action was on Saturday. The carpark was packed by 11.45am.
Trevor Wilson was about to run out and play his 600th game for Winch.
It’s an incredible feat to achieve this many games. It demands persistence and a lot of good luck with injury.
We spoke on the phone before the game. He’s a modest man. He described his game plan as “hanging around in the forward pocket and hoping the boys can get a win”.
He was surprised by the attention and didn’t want to make a big fuss. By the looks of the crowd at the oval, Trevor wasn’t going to get his wish.
Sheryl Leak is the club historian. This is a family football club. She has kept hard copy records of the club since she fell in love with future husband Murray in the early 1950s.
She is able to recall significant milestones of Trevor’s career. He debuted in 1978.
Before the game on Saturday there was a guard of honour on the ground.
More than 100 people took to the field to honour their club’s milestone player.
Winchelsea players and officials stood side by side with the Bell Post Hill opposition. Young people, kids and elders. They applauded as one for Trevor and his family as they went through the banner.
This mark of respect was backed up on the terraces. A lot of people have been involved with this Trevor Wilson.
Daryl played more than 150 games with Trevor. “We’ve played together and coached each other.”
On Saturday Daryl was standing in the shade, enjoying a refreshment while he recalled some of the reasons that made this club and his teammate so special.
“He’s always been a leader, on and off the field. He’s always been a very positive bloke and he’s great with the young blokes.”
Daryl stopped playing at 31. He says he was lucky to stop by choice.
Scott had his first knee reconstruction before he was 18. He went on to have two more before he pulled the pin on his country career.
“Trevor’s a quiet man, but he’s dedicated and he’s been pretty injury free. In 1987 he was a wingman and he had a lot more hair. Long flowing locks.”
Before the first bounce there are some extra hamstring stretches. No.2 had looked good in the warm up. Hitting targets and full of voice. He shook hands with his opponent and the ball was bounced. The game began just as it had done 599 times before this afternoon.
But today there was a heightened sense of anticipation. Bell Post Hill scored the opening point and five minutes later that was still the only digit on the board.
Then it happened.
Deep in the forward pocket at the city end, the ball was held up in a pack. A toe-poke smashed it out and into the hands of Trevor Wilson. Without hesitation he turned goalward, 30m out and on a 40-degree angle. Trevor lined up and fired with his trademark stabbing style. The ball sailed between the big sticks and the crowd went literally wild.
This was the fairytale start — the first goal in the biggest game of his career.
Trevor moved on and off the ground for the rest of the game. Full of voice and enthusiasm. Receiving congratulations at every break from both sides of the fence.
“It’s a just like home here,” Shirley said. “One big family. Trevor came from a family of 10, he’s played plenty of football with lots of young players and he’s been like a dad to them all.”
At the end of the match he shook hands with every opposition player. He smiled from start to finish and he left it on the field. He’s always going to be involved.
He’ll never be forgotten by the family that is this fine football club.
