They were there at the start of the Northern Jets, in the glory days of a decade ago, so it’s fitting that Chris Bell and Andrew Bonny will play their 200th games for the club, together, in the cauldron of finals on Saturday.
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When the pair run out on to Gumly Oval to take on The Rock-Yerong Creek, it will continue a journey that’s taken in club best-and-fairest awards (two for Bonny, one for Bell), representative honours and – as youngsters – the Jets’ premierships of 2005 and 2007.
“There wouldn’t be many footy games I’ve played without being alongside ‘Skeeter’,” Bell said.
“He’s been the ruckman the whole time I’ve been playing through the midfield so we’ve played a lot of close footy together. It’s been really enjoyable.
“He’s a very handy footballer, very consistent and he’s got very little regard for his own body. He’ll put the team first and you just know what you’re going to get.”
Bonny says his midfielder mate has an uncanny knack of getting to the right spot.
“We know each other’s games and ‘Belly’ seemed to know or have a sixth sense of where I was going to tap it,” Bonny said.
“We work well together and he’s been a really good on-baller for us.”
Jets co-coach Darren Jackson paid tribute to the club stalwarts.
“They are the perfect clubmen,” Jackson said.
“They do everything right and the amount of respect they have around the club is unbelievable.
“They’re the ones who keep clubs going, blokes like them”
Bonny, at 33, has three years on Bell. In many ways, they sum up the Jets.
Bonny returned home from university to play senior football with the Ardlethan Stars in 2004 while Bell came back from boarding school to play with Ariah Park.
When the clubs’ amalgamation went through, potential arch-rivals became teammates.
Now, 13 seasons on, they’re the old hands to a new generation hoping to create their own legacy.
“Our young players are really leading the way probably, us old blokes are just filling in the gaps,” Bonny claimed, underselling himself given he was the Jets’ best in their elimination final over Marrar last week.
While young gun Mitch Haddrill is setting the season alight – and was the difference in the end last week –the Jets veterans had a huge role to play. Defender Stu Hutchins was important at the back while another 300-gamer, Ben Prentice, played a crucial hand when moved from the backline to the midfield in the final quarter.
His effort in pressuring an opponent, popping up to grab the intercept among three Marrar opponents and then hitting Haddrill on a lead – who goaled to put the Jets into the lead – was arguably the most crucial play of the game.
“Ben’s physical presence and experience and level-headedness – he turned that game in that last quarter,” Bonny said.
“We were probably lacking a bit of drive out of the midfield so to have him there and a bit more physical presence really helped us when we were in trouble. We had to come up with something and he was the one.”
The Jets have lost both games against TRYC this year but in virtually two quarters. They dropped away only in the last term in round two, and outscored the Pies after quarter-time in the return match at The Rock.
But Bonny knows wins are never handed out in finals, and certainly not against the reigning premiers.
“They’re certainly going to be difficult but if we can win the fight for the midfield, I think we’ll win the game,” he said.
“We’ve just got to be more accountable in that midfield and if we can get our young fellas running and win in the centre, we’re a big chance.”
Bell believes they have the right mix in their squad this year, including a crop of talented players getting up to 30 and 40 games of experience.
“They’ve really matured and I’ve enjoyed being a part of that,” Bell said.
“It makes a difference when you can keep a playing group together for a couple of years. We’re starting to work out how each other plays and our game style’s really starting to click.”
Two old stagers are daring to dream.
“This year it really feels like we’re going somewhere,” Bonny said.
“At the moment our focus is getting to play that game in a few weeks time – make the grand final and see how we go.”