Cobram midfielder Luca Allen reached a special milestone at the weekend when he played his 200th game with the Cobram Tigers against Finley at Scott Oval on Saturday, August 17.
The 22-year-old wears number 23, and of his 200 games he has played 98 with the seniors. H returns to Cobram each Friday night from Melbourne where he is in his third year of study at La Trobe University to become a teacher.
Luca and several of his Cobram friends are committed to their football club: the Beasley brothers, Sam, Harry and Jack, Izac Artavilla, Fergus Tinnuck and Matt Sorrenti, together with Luca’s brother Matteo all generally travel back in convoy each Friday during the season to play for the football-netball club that means the world to them.
Some of the young men are studying at university and working on a part-time basis while others have found employment after study. Yet all appear to possess the same strong passion for their beloved football club, remembering that as little tackers it was where their love for the game began and where they played their first games.
“The football club feels like home,” Luca said.
“I began playing at Cobram from the age of 10, I was obsessed about football and always a Tiger.
“The people, the volunteers and the helpers are why we come back each weekend.”
On Saturday, Luca ran on to the field against Finley through a banner recognising his 200th game for the club.
This was his 98th game in the senior side and while Cobram got off to a great start in the first half, they eventually went down by 10 points, after a hard-fought game.
With the final round of the season coming up on Saturday, Cobram must win the match against Mulwala in a last-ditch effort to play finals football.
Playing alongside Luca in the senior side is younger brother Matteo (wearing the number 32), who achieved his own milestone on Saturday — 50 senior games with the club.
He has also played two seasons with the Murray Bushrangers.
Like his older brother, Matteo, 20, studies education at La Trobe University while living on-campus during his first year.
Luca and Matteo are the sons of Cobram couple Therese and Rob Allen.