Bongart brings up 300th game for Ballan Football Club

Ballan’s Jayson Bongart will celebrate a special feat in the final game of the season for the club.

Ballan’s Jayson Bongart knows this weekend might be all about him but he’s more proud of how his team have been able to end their season.

The club stalwart and player/coach of the reserves team will play his 300th game for the club when it takes on Gordon in the Central Highlands Football League.

For almost two decades Bongart has been a part of the Blues, joining from Melton Centrals at the age of 32.

Since then he’s played 299 games in both seniors and juniors, winning best and fairests for the club in both grades and also coaching juniors and seniors during his time at Ballan.

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At the age of 50, Bongart is still going strong.

“I’ve been capable all the way through (of playing seniors),” he said.

“But because I coached the young guys I’ve been coaching them up to play senior football.

“So I’ve stuck around playing the twos and I’m still fit enough to run around.

“I seem to get through training really well and if it didn’t get through training then I probably wouldn’t be playing.”

Bongart has been needed on-field throughout the season with Ballan struggling to find reserves players at the start of the year.

The player/coach has been proud of his efforts in recruiting enough players to now have 24-26 available for selection this weekend.

Ballan has been able to win twice in 2022 despite having almost no team at the start of the year.

Bongart said getting the team together has kept his passion for playing alive.

“After Covid, trying to get the club together and get the boys back together, that sort of kept me going,” he said.

“We only had six players on the Monday before the first game (of the season) and we’ve now got a full list this weekend.”

The highlights for Bongart include his best and fairests and his season in 2015 when the club made the preliminary final in seniors with former Hawthorn player Mark Williams at the club.

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He said being able to be selected in the same team as others who have played at the highest level was a thrill.

Bongart said playing with his sons was something he will never forget.

He played with all three in 2018, becoming the first and only player so far at the club to do so.

“It was sort of a target around that time to get a game in with all three,” Bongart said.

“I had the first then it went to all three.”

And for him it was an experience separating the father and son relationship into a teammate relationship for matches.

“You train with them and then they are calling you dad and the team gets stuck into you and calling you dad,” he said.

Bongart is excited for the club’s future with new changerooms expected next season and the club embarking on a recruitment spree to celebrate.

The club stalwart said he was happy to play again and was confident his body would be right for another year.

He wanted to thank those at the club who have been around for every game and helped him out during the time at Ballan.

The Ballan Football Netball Club, in return, was full of congratulatory words for its veteran.

“Jayson Bongart‘s commitment the Blues is unrivalled,” the club said.

“Jayson has played a defensive role throughout his career with the Blues, and his dedication is proven by his coaching roles within the club, coaching our junior sides for ten years, winning multiple Best & Fairest awards and receiving his life membership last year.

“A career highlight for Jayson was the day he was fortunate enough to play a winning senior game with his three sons, Austin, Harley and Ryan in 2018 for the Blues.

“Jayson is an absolute inspiration at the Ballan Football Netball Club and we look forward to seeing what he can accomplish in the years to come.”

The team plays Gordon at Gordon Recreation Reserve at 12.45pm.