THE first 289 games breezed through with barely a hiccup, but the final 11 games seem to have taken an eternity.

When Heathmere opens the new South West District Football League season with a home game against Heywood on Saturday, it will mark Kris Hill’s 300th game with the club.

It’s a milestone he thought he would tick off in 2020, but no games were played that season due to COVID lockdowns, and then the 2021 season was called off after just 10 games – leaving the likeable ruckman/defender stranded one game short.

“I could have actually knocked it off last season,” Hill said.

“We (he, the club and wife Lauren) did talk about playing two games in the last round, but the club was struggling, there were no crowds at the footy because of COVID, so we decided to leave it until 2022.

“It gave me another excuse to come out again for another season.”

And that’s when the next barrier presented itself when Hill injured his knee – damaging both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament – during the Meres’ opening night of preseason training.

“I’ve had a pretty good run with injuries.

“I did my shoulder in 2011 and I was able to play through it, but I probably popped the shoulder out 100 times that season.

“That’s the only major injury for my time, other than this new one.

“I can’t get surgery until September and I think I can push through it.

“I’ve played a couple of the practice games, it’s not ideal but it’s good enough. I just have to make sure I do the right thing and look after it, so that might mean not playing every week.”

Hill’s football journey is different to most, having never played the game until he moved from Queensland to Portland as an 18-year-old.

“My brother was already out at Heathmere.

“I had never touched a footy until I was 18, and when we moved down dad drove me out to training and I have been here ever since.

“It’s the only club I have ever played for.”

Since then he has played about a 50/50 split between seniors and reserves matches and, in seasons where the club has struggled, it was sometimes two games on the one day.

The highlight came with the 2007 reserves premiership when Heathmere upset Tyrendarra by a point, bringing an end to the Darras’ quest for an eighth successive flag.

“It was at Hanlon Park. I didn’t do a lot but I remember we won by a point and Graeme Woolley (who had booted four goals) could have had a shot after the siren for us but he just booted it away.

“I have a 100 per cent ratio, one grand final for one premiership, never played in a losing one!

“We have made a few while I’ve been here, but I’ve either been injured or missed out on selection.

“I’ve played in plenty of losing semis though!”

Mental health

When Hill started his football life mental health was not something that was discussed openly by men, however things have certainly changed for the better in that regard.

“Mental health is the main reason why I keep coming back.

“Just getting around a bunch of mates, kicking the ball around, there is something about it.

“I lot of people mightn’t know, but Lauren and I lost a child seven years ago (they also have a son, Noah, 9).

“I probably would have stopped playing then if it wasn’t for Lauren pushing me to come back out and play at that time.

“It was pretty hard at that point, she told me I had to come out and be amongst my friends and teammates and that goes back to the mental health thing, footy clubs are so great at giving you that support.

“What I love about footy clubs is that you don’t have to be the most skilful player or trainer, you just get out there and enjoy everyone’s company.”

Football has also given him the motivation to improve himself.

“When I first started Adam Barbary and Alister Stannard, they were huge on getting yourself fit and pushing you to get better, then Shane Keegan taught me so much as a ruckman.

“Justin Stokes was the same, the best ruckman I have seen with his ability to tap it anywhere he wanted. I learnt a lot about ruckwork just watching him.

“I learnt early on to try and improve every single year on something, anything.

“When I first started I couldn’t kick right foot, now I can kick right foot on the run.

“I just chose one little thing every year to work on. I used to kick the ball too high, so I worked on kicking it lower and shorter.”

And the best players he has lined up with?

“There have been a heap of good players, but the one that sticks out to me is Paul Young.

“He was such a natural, he could do anything on the day. He could kick from 60 – I remember he kicked a goal from the centre circle at Sandford one day.”

Hill said he was excited not just for his 300th game tomorrow, but for the season as a whole.

“There is a very good vibe about the place this year.

“Last year it really was doom and gloom. We had 18 players from the previous season leave and you can’t really do much after that.

“Chucky (coach Adrian Hann) is great communicator. He has a great ability to talk about what we need to do, then he makes sure we are doing it correctly.

“It is a different mindset, a more attacking style, and it is so much more enjoyable.

“It is just so great to come to training and see all these new blokes on the track.” KRIS Hill will play his 300th game for Heathmere on Saturday.