MPNFL 2019: Karingal’s Luke Van Raay set for 300-game milestone
Luke Van Raay is set to become Karingal’s third 300-game player on Saturday.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Luke Van Raay experienced the highs and lows of football in his very first senior game for Karingal in 2000.
Lining up at centre half-forward on Mornington’s Andrew Morrison, 18-year-old Van Raay got on the end of a kick from his coach Digger Watts in the opening quarter.
“My first possession was a goal and then I thought, ‘this is going okay’, and I reckon ‘Morro’ had 35 on me and we lost by 100 points,” Van Raay said.
Van Raay, 37, who plays his 300th senior game for Karingal on Saturday, started out as a forward — he booted 85.12 in the Bulls’ under-18s — but has made his name as a defender.
He’s been a warrior, and fiercely loyal.
Like his great mate Michael Burke, Van Raay has stuck by Karingal through thick and thin.
The Van Raay-Burke friendship is legendary at the Bulls. How many best mates play 300 senior games, all for the same club?
“We sit next to each other before the game, at half-time, after the game, at selection,” Van Raay said.
“It becomes a habit, and a good habit, you know. It’s a home.”
Van Raay often gets ribbed for kicking it to Burke, one of the finest footballers to lace up boots in the MPNFL.
“They do love that on the hill, I hear about it from the guys who’ve had a few beers,” Van Raay said.
“But there are worse people to kick the ball to. I think if you’re unsure, give it to Burkey.
“The thing about Burkey and Bevan Malloy, they call for the ball before you even get it. So you don’t have much of a choice. You hear that voice booming and you turn around and there they are. So why not?”
Van Raay looked unlikely to make it to 300 when, aged 35, he ruptured his ACL in 2017, stuck on 283 games.
But he returned to the field last season and is feeling better than ever in 2019 as the Bulls have rushed to a 7-0 start.
Van Raay has achieved it all, except one thing — a senior flag. He’s desperate to win one.
“This year is as good a chance as any that we’ve had,” he said.
“(We have a) great team, a lot of depth, the club’s going along quite nicely. It’s a really good time to be playing footy for the Bulls.”
Van Raay received offers from clubs early in his career but can honestly say he never seriously went close to leaving Karingal.
MARC HOLT KICKS NINE GOALS AS KARINGAL REMAINS UNDEFEATED
MACGOWAN PROVIDES GRUNT AS MORNINGTON SECURES FIRST WIN
“For me it’s a lot harder to leave than it is to stay,” he said.
“That’s a pretty brave thing. Some people do it. I’ve been heartbroken when certain people have left Karingal over the years but now you understand. Times have changed and people have to look after themselves. There’s big money around in local footy now. People go and chase money now, it’s a bit more accepted. In the first half of my career it wasn’t, but now it becomes a bit more common. Not too many clubs are after a 37-year-old to join their club, so I’m happy where I am.”
And, make no mistake, the Bulls are happy to have LVR.
All the signings of the 2024-25 Ovens and Murray league off-season
The off-season is well underway for Ovens and Murray league clubs who have unveiled a host of recruits for 2025. Here are all the moves in our signing tracker.
Analysed: Every Gippsland Power boys’ season
From likely first round AFL Draft selections in 2024 to those worth keeping an eye on for future years, we’ve profiled every Gippsland Power boys’ season. See it here.