By JARROD POTTER
THERE are plenty of reasons to get down to Keysborough this Saturday as a legendary club pair is honoured at Rowley Allan Reserve.
Striding through the banner for his 300th match, Burra mainstay Corey Wilkinson, 38, will lead the side out against Heatherton, with the Burra hoping to bounce back after conceding its only loss for the season last round before the bye.
Built like a brick outhouse and powerful through the packs, Wilkinson has seen out the good years and bad years alike at Keysborough, including the difficult decision to switch leagues last year.
Keysborough coach Ryan Goodes said Wilkinson’s work-rate only seems to go up year-on-year and the hard-edged defender just gets the job done no matter what the task.
“It’s huge – I mean 300 games – he’s seen quite a bit and is quite experienced,” Goodes said. “He’s training harder than ever and he’s in peak condition and playing pretty good footy for an old fella.”
Wilkinson is also set to surpass the Keysborough games-record, held by Paul Bryan, and despite knocking off 299 games, the steely defender still sets himself the biggest challenge week to week.
“He’s certainly the journey man and seen a fair bit and done quite a lot – it’s a huge effort,” Goodes said.
“Even to this day he plays on the best forward and actually wants to play on the best forward – and that’s not by me asking, but it’s also that he wants it so we don’t put him in a position, just put him down back and he takes the best.”
Keysborough and Heatherton will also unite to honour one of their own who is doing well after a few hard years recently.
Rick Crowe, a former player for both the Burra and the Tonners, was paralysed in a freak accident in 2012 and diagnosed quadriplegic.
Keysborough and Heatherton Football Clubs will rattle the tins to help Crowe and his family out as all money raised at the Past Players Day and throughout the match will go towards supporting Crowe and his family.
“All money raised will go to Rick Crowe who played at both footy clubs and I reckon that will be the biggest crowd in a long time,” Goodes said. “From all accounts Rick is a fantastic guy and well loved by everyone.”
Sitting second in SFL Division 2 with a 7-1 win-loss record, Keysborough switch from Casey Cardinia (now South East) has been a boon to the club, with its reserves (5-3) and thirds (4-3) also with winning records and club numbers on the training track skyrocketing.
Keysborough’s SFL Division 2 match begins at 2.15pm.
