It’s a special milestone weekend this Saturday for Waaia on its trip to Berrigan.
The Picola District Football League encounter carries plenty of importance in its own right — the Saints remarkably sit above the two-time defending premier — but the Bombers will be celebrating regardless.
Longtime club servant Lachie Henderson raises the proverbial bat for the fifth time during his stint at Waaia, set to notch game number 250 on the road this weekend.
Henderson comes as an extremely familiar name throughout the annuls of Waaia’s history, serving as a dual-sport senior across more than a decade going back to the Bombers’ days in Murray Valley Cricket Association.
His father and grandfather also spent their footballing days in the red and black, with both going on to earn life member status at the club.
It is unsurprising, then, that Lachie has shown such dedication to Waaia in turn, while his brother and sister continued to don the same colours around him.
Waaia club president Matt Brown paid tribute to Henderson’s industrious nature as something of an everywhere man.
“We’ve both been part of this club for our whole lives,” Brown said.
“These days, I don’t think you see someone come around for 250 games too often at all.
“I know him pretty well and he’s a no-fuss operator; he just makes sure he always gets down every Tuesday and Thursday.
“Everyone obviously wants to enjoy a win, but I think he likes to kick back with his best mates and a few beers after a game as well.
“He just rocks up because he wants to be there.”
Brown said that, owing to Henderson’s nature of not wanting any kind of spotlight on himself, the milestone man had already turned down the special banner to run through at Berrigan Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
“He’d probably be embarrassed by acknowledging the milestone,” Brown said.
“He didn’t want to have the banner or the post on our club Facebook page; he’s a pretty mellow character who gets the job done week in and week out.
“He’s a bit of a utility, so he’s getting plugged in when someone around the ground goes down.
“He never complains, though, and always plays the role he’s given on the day.”
Up and above the Saints and Bombers, though, is a clash of enormous ramifications as unbeaten ladder-leading Strathmerton (8-0) puts top spot at stake when it welcomes Katamatite (7-1) to town for a monster clash.
With next weekend featuring a Sunday special grand final rematch between Strathmerton and Waaia, this clash could be pivotal in shaping the top two and four.
The other unbeaten side remains Katandra (7-0), which would fancy its chances of potentially finshing Saturday atop the table after its away trip to Yarroweyah (0-7).
Katunga (5-2) sits nestled inside the chasing pack among the lower half of finals places, and will go in as favourite to further reinforce its spot at home to Tocumwal (1-7).
Mathoura (4-3) has been knocking on the door of the top six and would want to ensure it remains that way in a meeting with Blighty (1-7).
Tungamah (4-4) might not have expected to sit in the middle of the road around the halfway mark, but a side in search of momentum will meet one of its neighbours on the ladder in Jerilderie (3-5).
Finally, Deniliquin Rovers (3-4) have an opportunity to restore all-important parity in an all-New South Wales clash with Rennie (1-7).