Tim, Nick, Michael and David Sanders reach 1000 games for Prince Alfred Old Collegians
Between them they have 17 premierships, six club best and fairests, 24 grand final appearances – and now 1000 games. Meet Prince Alfred Old Collegians greats the Sanders brothers.
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Between them they have 17 premierships, six club best and fairests, 24 grand final appearances – and now 1000 games.
The Sanders brothers – Nick, Tim, Michael and David – reached the combined four-figure milestone when they lined up together for Prince Alfred Old Collegians’s D grade on Saturday.
They capped the special day with a 17.6 (108) to 3.13 (31) win for the Old Reds over Adelaide University at Park Nine.
Ironically Nick, the youngest of the four at 39, has made the most appearances for PAOC with 336 and sits third on the all-time games list at the club.
Tim, 41, has notched 304 matches to sit fifth and Michael, 47, is eighth and has made 292 for the Old Reds.
The oldest brother David, 49, has played the least with 68 due to work and family commitments.
Tim believes it is just the third time the four brothers have taken to the field all together.
“We’ve only been able to play footy together as a group of brothers over the last few years really,” Tim, a member of PAOC’s 2004 A-grade flag, says.
“When you get to our age, any opportunity we get to play with each other you cherish a bit more because you don’t know when it’s going to end. We’re nearing the end of our football days and we’re proud to be able to do it at this club.”
Last year Tim, Nick and Michael played in a premiership together for the first time when the Old Reds won the C6 flag.
Michael says the 1000th game is not only a great achievement for the brothers but also the club.
The next closest set of brothers for total games at PAOC is John, Andy, Dave and Tom Waltham with 523.
“For four brothers to play that many games at the one club, it’s exceptionally rare,” Michael says.
Michael is very diplomatic when it comes to the question – who is the best Sanders brother?
“We were talking about this the other night at training,” he says.
“There’s always a bit of debate but everyone’s actually got their own strengths, which are different to everyone else.
“Tim is exceptionally fit, I’m more in-and-under and Nick never gets beaten in the backline.
“I think we all agree we’ve got attributes that the others don’t have.”
patrick.keam@news.com.au
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