While 69-year-old Dennis’s mates are sipping on the sidelines, he’ll be headfirst in a scrum for the B Grade grand final

MOST 69-year-olds would be content sipping on a beer, sitting back and watching the footy. But Palmerston Crocs veteran Dennis Bree is lacing up his boots to take the field today in the B Grade Grand Final at Marrara’s Rugby Park

Dennis Bree, 69, is playing in an NTRU Grand Final for Palmerston Crocs today while grandson Hamish Blake, 12, is playing in the U12 Grand Final. Picture: Glenn Campbell

MOST 69-year-olds would be content sipping on a beer, sitting back and watching the footy.

But Palmerston Crocs veteran Dennis Bree is lacing up the boots, packing scrums and lifting in the lineouts and will today take the field in the B Grade Grand Final at Rugby Park in Marrara.

Grand Final day will be a family affair for the Brees, with his grandson Hamish Blake also playing in the U12 decider for the Crocs.

The front rower first pulled on the boots for the Crocs in the inaugural season in 1976, 44 seasons ago.

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“I’ve been in a few, I’ve played every season since rugby started in the Territory in 76 so the only ones I remember recently were 2016, 2014 and 2010,” he said.

“I think probably out of those, the memory I have is I think 2010 when my son captained the team, that was fantastic.”

Mr Bree said watching his grandson Hamish play would make this Grand Final day equally special.

“It’s really hard to put words to it to be honest, it feels very, very good, to play on the same day as him,” he said.

“I’m very fortunate, I’ve managed to get to this stage with the body holding together so it’s a fair bit of luck.”

He has no plans to stop either.

“I’ve never had the thought of stopping at all, instead it’s the reverse. Around three years ago I ruptured my bicep tendon and so I had 12 months out of the game so I missed part of two seasons,” he said.

“I was back on the paddock 12 months after the year was up which is what the doctor told me to stop playing for … I missed it so much.”

Mr Bree said he loved the physicality of the game, along with standing side-by-side with his teammates.

“I like the physicality of it, there’s no question. Running into people’s a lot of fun but probably the main thing is I like playing in a team,” he said.

“You get to know people and they’re a great bunch.

“It keeps you healthy, keeps you feeling a bit young even though when you look in the mirror you know you’re not.”