Springvale Districts legend Rob Burns will play his 300th game for the Demons against Heatherton at Springvale Reserve this Friday night.By Glen Atwell
WHEN the Springvale Districts run onto Springvale Reserve on Friday night, the proud side will play in recognition of a club legend’s career.
Rob Burns will be playing his 300th game when the division two Southern Football League side take on local rivals Heatherton under lights.
Burns arrived at the Demons as a 17-year-old and starred in the 1988 and 1989 premierships.
Honoured as a life member of the club, Burns won the club’s best-and-fairest award in 1995,1998 and 2000.
Club president Doug Pearce said there would no doubt be extra spring in the steps of the senior players when the ball was bounced at 7.30pm.
“It certainly adds another dimension to the game,” he said.
“Rob has been a backbone of the club for a long time and has made an amazing contribution both on and off the field and the players would no doubt be playing to recognise that.”
The game will also mark a new era for the Springvale club, hosting its first night match at Springvale Reserve for as long as Mr Pearce can remember.
“It is going back many, many years,” he said. “We hope playing under lights will attract a great crowd, we want to use them as an attraction.”
Two of the ground’s six light towers had not been in operation until this season, when an electrician was called upon to help boost illumination at the ground.
Mr Pearce said all six towers were beaming and there were also two large lights on the grandstand.
“The conditions for night football are great,” he said.
Heatherton secretary Laurie Saer agrees.
“It’s a great concept, all of our players are really looking forward to playing at night, it’s something different,” he said.
After thrashing cross-town rivals Lyndale by 52 points last week, a win against Heatherton on Friday night could cement the Demons as genuine division two contenders.
Heatherton suffered a narrow three-point loss to Caulfield in its season opener and would definitely be looking to bounce back and spoil Rob Burns’ 300-game celebration.
With the lights shining and the grass dewy, this game could be won by the side that best adapts to the after-dark conditions.
