“Snowy” about to set new all-time games record for Old Scholars football

It’s been 25 years since Brendan Loveless first pulled on the boots for DOSA, and his footy CV reads like a shopping list – and he’s set to make a remarkable addition to that list this weekend.

Brendan Loveless of the DOSA Football Club breaks the games record in the OSFA this Saturday overtaking the current games record holder Bill Trethewie of University FC (416) by playing game 417 against St. Virgils at the TCA. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

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FEW people can say they played footy in Hobart with AFL legend Billy Brownless or with their own son in his senior debut, and after tomorrow only one man will be able to say he played more games than anyone in the Old Scholars suburban footy league.

DOSA stalwart Brendan Loveless, 45, will pull on the boots for one of his last games in the Old Scholars as he eclipses the all-time competition games record held by another local legend Bill Trethewie, of University.

It will be the 417th time “Snowy” laces up for the mighty Roosters.

As a show of respect, the senior match between DOSA and St Virgils at the TCA ground will be played at 11.45am to make the reserves match at 2pm the feature of a landmark day for Loveless, DOSA and the Old Scholars Football Association.

He’s not one for a fuss, and would have preferred the big day to fly under the radar.

“I never intended to get the record I just kept on playing – it became a habit over 25 years,” Loveless said.

“I wasn’t going to keep playing but when Bill’s record was so close I thought, stuff it, it would be stupid to quit when it was so close.

“There are only two more games in the season plus finals if we make it, and then that will be it for me. I might fill in every now and then, but it’s more about letting the kids have a crack.”

In 25 years of football, Loveless has had two knee reconstructions, three years as senior vice-captain, five as captain, 11 grand finals, two senior premierships, three senior best-and-fairest awards, five best-in-finals awards, four best clubman awards, one OSFA Team of the Year, DOSA Life Membership and OSFA Life Membership.

Loveless played with 198-game, 441-goal Geelong star, Bill Brownless, in 1998.

“His brother Blair was coach so Billy came down and had a game with DOSA. That was good fun,” he said.