After all, the tough Albury co-captain is 30 and has carried shoulder and knee injuries throughout his decorated career at Albury Sportsground.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth ahead of his 200th match against Lavington today.

Packer has been in sparkling touch in the last line of defence, with long-time Tiger supporters struggling to remember him being in better form since he arrived at the club in 2001.

“Things have been going OK,” Packer said.

“The last few years have been a battle with my knee playing up, and I was flat lifting my arm up for a while there.

“I’m just a lot fitter this year and not as sore.

“You never know what’s around the corner though so I’m just trying to make the most of it.”

Packer couldn’t have written the script better for his 200th match, with his good mate and fellow backman Mark Bush bringing up the same milestone against the Panthers.

Bush played 113 matches for rival club North Albury before switching to the Tigers in 2007.

He returned this season after two seasons with Thurgoona and admitted there were doubts how he would fare as a 34-year-old in the O and M.

“When I was thinking about coming back to Albury I spoke to ‘Hydey’ (Chris Hyde) and he said there were no guarantees for spots in the side and I was happy with that,” Bush said.

“That’s how it should be.

“To tell you the truth though, this is probably the most I have enjoyed footy for the past seven or eight years even with the success we have had.

“I don’t know whether it‘s because I’m getting closer to the end, but I’m loving going to training and playing.”

While Packer and Bush have been through lean seasons, the highs have outweighed the lows.

Packer joined the Tigers from Walbundrie when they were rock bottom, but remained loyal and was rewarded with premierships in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014.

Bush also had to navigate through a rocky start to his career after joining North Albury from Berrigan in 2001.

“The first O and M game I watched was the 2000 grand final between Corowa-Rutherglen and North Albury and I went to North the next year,” Bush said.

“I don’t think I played a full game of footy in my first season.

“I got a bit fitter over the off-season though and the next year was better.”

Much better.

Bush played on a wing in North Albury’s 2002 flag under Corey Lambert before joining Albury in 2007 and tasting success under Paul Spargo in 2010 and 2011.

He missed the Tigers’ flag in 2009 with a knee reconstruction.

“In my first six years at Albury I probably missed 35 games; it’s a good personal milestone to play 200 O and M games, especially on the same day as Luke Packer,” he said.