Retiring Otway Districts veteran Matt Zurbo has played senior football five years longer than most of his team-mates have been alive.
But competition from his youthful team-mates is not the reason why Zurbo has said goodbye to the game he loves after a 26-year senior football career.
In fact, the 41-year-old credits the youngsters in his team for his longevity in the game.
“Looking back, the highlights have always been playing alongside kids I used to coach in juniors, with and against them, being bowled over by or taking a mark over them,” Zurbo said.
“Watching them grow from kids to young men, to getting jobs and families and becoming mates with them,” he said.
“They’ve helped keep me young.”
Zurbo hung up his boots after Saturday’s game against Birregurra, literally – he left his moulded Grass Cats hanging in the changerooms at Birregurra Recreation Reserve.

For the full story, see the current edition of The Colac Herald.