Bayswater captain Joel Galvin joins father Gary as a 200-game player in the Eastern Football League

BAYSWATER captain Joel Galvin will join his father Gary in the 200-game club in the Eastern Football League when he leads the Waters out against Mitcham.

Joel Galvin (right) with brothers Mitch and Bryce and father Gary after the Division 2 premiership in 2016. Picture: Steve Tanner

JOEL Galvin has few recollections of his father’s decorated career.

Gary Galvin was coming to the end of his playing days when Joel was born in 1988.

But the Bayswater champion will join his father as a 200-game Eastern Football League player when he leads the Waters out against Mitcham this weekend.

Gary fell one game short of reaching the milestone at Bayswater, but completed his playing days at East Ringwood, Coldstream and Templestowe to reach 200 games in the EFL.

“He’s done a great job, makes you feel proud of what he has done,” glowing father Gary said.

“He has got me covered now, there is no problems about that, he tells me that, too.”

Joel’s career has largely mirrored his father’s. Both are two-time winners of the Wright Medal as the Division 2 best and fairest and Bayswater premiership players.

The star midfielder made his debut in a premiership year, collecting 26 disposals in the 2005 grand final triumph over Doncaster East.

Joel Galvin on the burst in 2010.

“It goes quick, it only seemed like last year or a couple of years ago I was 16-years-old making my debut,” Joel said.

“I look at it now and it’s 13 years, 14 years later and it happens very quick.

“I always laughed when people say careers go quickly ... now I’m at 200 games and 30 years old and thinking, bloody hell it has gone real quick.”

Both Joel and Gary are Bayswater life members, an award that sits uneasily with Joel.

“All I have done at the club is play, you see all the volunteers that put in a lot of time and have been around a lot longer than I have and still haven’t got life membership,” he said.

“It was a bit embarrassing getting it but it was definitely very rewarding.”

Joel was also inherited Gary’s famous No. 27 when he progressed to the seniors.

“My first senior game I was lucky enough to be able to wear it, the bloke who wore 27 at the time let me have it,” he said.

“Wanted to wear it for my first senior game and it has sort of just stuck.”

Joel produced a career-best campaign in 2016 and achieved a list of accolades any footballer would envy, adjudged best afield in the grand final win over Wantirna South, playing in a premiership alongside brothers Mitch and Bryce, awarded a fourth club best and fairest and named captain in the Team of the Year.

“The individual awards, you don’t hang your hat on those, it’s the premiership that you play footy for,” Joel said.

“The others were just a little bit of a bonus ... you only play because of premierships, they’re the ones you celebrate, they’re the ones you celebrate in 10 years’ time, 20 years’ time.

“The individual accolades, you don’t get to celebrate them, you celebrate them one night and that’s about it.”