Dan Leslie will break Stan Sargeant’s games record of 289 in the home clash against Yarrawonga.

“It’s going to be one of the biggest days in North Albury history,” Tony Burns said.

“When you say Dan, you’re talking loyalty and he hasn’t just got the respect of North Albury people, it’s just country football everywhere.”

When the Hoppers announced a six-figure debt in early 2014, a host of high-profile players quit the club.

Leslie had an offer from Goulburn Valley outfit Benalla, but stayed put.

“Mate, if anyone was going to break the record, I’m so privileged and happy that Daniel is the one for the time and effort that he’s put into the North Albury Football Club,” Sargeant said.

Leslie debuted, on the wing, against Wangaratta in round 10, 2000.

Apart from a season at Perth in 2005, the 35-year has spent 18 years at the Hoppers.

His resume is comparable with almost anyone who’s played O and M.

Leslie first built a name as a boom centre half-forward, before moving to defence.

He then pushed into the midfield in his 30s.

Leslie has had all the attributes – power, pace for a big man, long kick, the list goes on.

But even after almost two decades at the league’s top level, he still looks like he’s carved out of stone.

“I’ve always been into my fitness, ice baths after the game, I make sure I do everything right before and after games,” he said.

“It does pay off when you get a big older.

“(Former North coach) Corey Lambert was big on it when I first started, he was in his prime when I got to North.

“I took a bit of that on board and, from a young age, I’ve always made sure I was in good nick.

“Even in the off-season I stayed pretty fit, I think it does help.”

To showcase his longevity, Leslie won his first club best and fairest at 30.

It’s only the league’s elite, like 12-time Wangaratta Rovers best and fairest Rob Walker, who have won the top awards well into their 30s.

“It was probably just a change of position (to the midfield) when ‘Aker’ (former coach Jason Akermanis) came on board,” he said.

“I jumped into the midfield just a bit more and I think they class it a midfielders award, the best and fairest, so maybe that had something to do with it, I suppose.

“I don’t know, but obviously I’d played some pretty good footy before I was 30.”

Leslie’s devotion to fitness, which would be virtually unsurpassed at bush level, has also played a role in his limited injuries.

“I’ve broken the same finger three or four times and I did have that one year where I did a medial and a bit of an AC in the shoulder,” he said.

“Other than that, I’ve been pretty lucky.”

Sargeant travels north every winter so he doesn’t see all the Hoppers’ games, but he’s watched enough of Leslie to know why he’s so good.

“He’s an all-round footballer, he can play just about anywhere in the side,” he said.

“He can play in the forward line, on the ball, in the ruck or the backline.”

The pair caught up at Bunton Park ahead of the game.

“Stan’s a legend of our club,” Leslie said.

“He’s the sort of guy who comes into the room and everyone’s in awe of him.

“Obviously, he’s our greatest player that we’ve had at North Albury, I think that will stay that way for a very long time, so it’s obviously a privilege to match him in games and overtake him.

“Yeah, take nothing away from him, he’s one of a kind Stan.”

Sargeant, who has kicked the highest number of goals in the league’s 125-year history with 1096 and was last year elevated to Legend status at the league’s Hall of Fame, will be there too.

And Leslie’s team-mates did the right thing by the occasion in thrashing Myrtleford in a margin nobody saw coming in the opening round.

The Hoppers carried the greatest buzz into the season after the strongest recruiting campaign.

But Yarrawonga’s performance against Albury, in the first half at least when it led the grand finalists by a stunning 46 points, indicates it will take a mighty upset from the Hoppers to celebrate Leslie’s record in the ideal fashion.

However, Leslie’s standing could be just the motivation on a momentous day.