JUNEE defender Jason Mutimer cracked the monstrous 400 senior game milestone on Sunday, a feat never achieved before in the history of the club.
Junee club members went “a bit over the top” to celebrate the milestone on Sunday, presenting him with a jersey in honour of his legacy.
Mutimer’s holding out for the celebration of a lifetime.
After two decades of dedication to the sport he loves with a club he deems as family, Mutimer thinks it’s high time Junee end the season with a major premiership under their belt.
He has fond memories his most successful season 10 years ago when Junee won the minor premiership, but were knocked out in the semi final.
“Hopefully this time we can go all the way,” he said.
This season he gained great satisfaction from defeating second-placed Henwood Park 6-2, and looks forward to meeting them again come finals time.
“I’d prefer a challenge, I don't enjoy winning 13-nil,” Mutimer said.
His Junee Public School teacher introduced him to soccer when he was seven, and though he has lived in Wagga for 15 years he has never considered transferring to play for a Wagga-based club.
He makes the trip regularly, invested in the friendship he has with fellow experienced players such as Matt Ward, who also played in Junee’s minor premiership team, Adrian Merrigan and Robert Fry.
Experience has been key in the competition leaders’ strong results this season according to coach Isaac Cooper.
“When you have those older blokes that have played a lot of football it really helps,” he said.
Mutimer’s an irreplaceable teammate according to Cooper.
“Jason’s a one of a kind leader, he’s been with the club through thick and thin,” Cooper said.
“He’s very like-able, he’s someone that everyone loves playing with.”
Mutimer dislocated his knee in his late teens and though the injury has continued to cause him grief he rarely lets it get in the way.
“He will give you one hundred per cent each week whether he’s injured or not,” Cooper said.
At just 36, Mutimer has accrued such a high tally of games by playing for both first and reserve grade sides when Junee coaches have struggled to fill the squads.
Over the years he has enjoyed playing in the midfield and in defence, being in a position where he can use foresight to dictate the direction of the game.
“I’ve lost a bit of speed but I’ve become a smarter player,” Mutimer said.
