MPFNL: Guy Stringer pulls on boots again for Sorrento

At 50, and six years after his last game, Sorrento’s Guy Stringer pulled on the boots. He explains why, and talks about the experience.

Guy Stringer with his children, Olivia, Rushton, Archie and Emmison. Picture: Facebook

It rankled Guy Stringer that he didn’t get more kicks, but that’s the competitor in him.

At 50, and six years after his last game, Stringer pulled on the boots again on Saturday —grabbing a rare opportunity to play alongside his two sons, Rushton, 20, and Archie, 17.

Sorrento’s reserves were short and the call went out to Stringer, the MPNFL games record holder, to help out.

He said yes — he’d do anything for the Sorras — and then the idea was hatched to get his two boys to play, too.

Archie plays for rival club Mt Eliza but got a special permit to play for Sorrento.

Rushton plays for Moulamein in NSW and left Deniliquin, where he lives, at 5 o’clock in the morning, driving five hours to Rosebud.

It was an opportunity too good to pass up.

Guy Stringer.

Sorrento lost to Rosebud, 46-8, but Stringer said the experience was a highlight of his footy career.

“It would have been a bit more fun if it was five years ago when I could get a kick,” he joked.

“I sat at full forward and didn’t do much at all. I ran around and the hammys got a bit tight. I haven’t done enough running and kicking.

“I probably trained a bit too much Thursday night I think.”

Stringer said he was proud of his sons for wanting to make it a special day.

“When I asked them they were like, yeah sure,’’ he said.

“They couldn’t get out there quick enough…it was a good opportunity because they probably won’t play together ever again.

Stringer quipped: “Archie could have kicked it to me but didn’t so he’s in the bad books.”

Guy Stringer had a remarkable career; he was local footy’s Benjamin Button.

Rarely injured, he became the first MPNFL player to reach 400 senior games in 2015.

Stringer played in seven premierships — one as a kid at Pines and then six during Sorrento’s golden era.

“They started raining so I got lucky,” he said.

“I was really lucky…I only had soft tissue injuries at the end...calves or hammys, I never had them before.

“I enjoyed it and loved it so why give up if you can still do it.”

Sorrento legend Guy Stringer. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Stringer said Sorrento, coached by ex-AFL Saint Troy Schwarze, was a juggernaut back in the 2010s.

“The place was going so well, I think we ran out with only three imports most weeks and the rest were local kids,” he said.

“I always put my hand up to do interleague…meeting people and travelling around Victoria as we did back in the day with Goose (Simon Goosey) and the boys. It was a great time.”

Stringer said Sorrento footy club was “still the same’’, vibrant and with a strong culture.

“There’s still a good contingent of past players up on the deck which to be honest they probably pip most clubs for that,’’ he said.

“They all live down there, Bernie Lynch, Pete Lynch, Andrew Callaghan, Chippy Gladman, they all still live in the area, Brad Phillips, Kev Lynch…I mean, you’d probably struggle to find 10 past players at a lot of clubs each week, and Sorrento would have that.

“So there’s still a good feel about it.

“And netballs great.”

Guy’s dad Keith Stringer played over 200 games for Sorrento, including the 1969 and ‘79 premierships.

He had a splendid career but, dogged by knee problems, he hung up the boots at 32.

When his son Guy began playing footy, Keith quietly hoped his boy would manage a few games.“Well, he’s certainly left me in his dust,’’ Keith said in 2015.

Schwarze said Stringer was “a once in a lifetime player”.

“He’s a ripper. I say to our boys, ‘you will tell your kids that you played with Guy Stringer’,’’ he said in 2015.

“And there are not many players you’ll say that about.’’

Beau, Gordo and Guy Hendry. Picture: Jason Sammon

*Father-sons combinations are rare in local football.

Perhaps the most famous in the Mornington Peninsula league is the Hendrys; dad Gordo played with sons Beau and Guy in the seniors in 2013.