THURGOONA stalwart Shane Borella is hoping new Bulldogs coach Brett Doswell can see the benefit of picking him in the seniors this season.
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At least twice would be nice.
Borella is stuck on 98 senior games after making his debut in 1998 as a 16-year-old under Tony Way.
On Saturday, he will play his 304th match and surpass Richard Quinn as the all-time games record holder at the kennel.
And while two-thirds of those matches have been in the reserves, Borella hasn't totally given up hope of notching 100 senior matches.
"I haven't given up hope of playing my 100th, it's just up to Dos (Brett Doswell) to pick me I guess," Borella joked.
"My last senior game was in the 2011 grand final loss against Kiewa-Sandy Creek.
"I've probably had a few opportunities to notch the 100 since then but I have either got injured or have just been a bit lazy.
"Realistically, I've probably only got myself to blame that I haven't played more senior games."
Borella started playing juniors at Thurgoona in 1993 and has spent his entire life at the club except for a season with Walla in 2005.
He also spent 12-months in Perth in 2012 with work commitments.
The 37-year-old is proud of the achievement.
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"It's rewarding to break the record, knowing that I've been through the tough times as well."
And while Thurgoona is now established as a league powerhouse, Borella vividly recalls the dark days.
"I remember playing in a game against Dederang-Mount Beauty where we didn't score in the seniors," he said.
"But the culture has changed enormously since those days.
"We have come a long way since then, success has certainly brought a better culture
"There is probably only a few of us still around from those dark days.
"Brett James is still having a run around in the two's and Mark Haydon who holds the record for the most senior games, and that's probably about it."
Borella credits Tony Way who took over the presidency in the mid 2000's as the catalyst for Thurgoona becoming a powerhouse.
"Things certainly started to change for the better when Tony Way took over the presidency in around 2006," he said.
"He got a few other good guys on board as well and it sparked a major turnaround in the clubs fortunes."
Borella rates playing in five reserve grade grand finals and winning four among his career highlights.
He is a bit apprehensive about Saturday's milestone after previously saving some of his worst performances in milestone matches.
"It's fair to say my 200th match against Wahgunyah I had a shocker," he said.
Borella admits he is unsure to how much longer he will keep playing for.
"I've retired four years in-a-row now I think," he said.
"But with player numbers dwindling I sort of said I will play when they are short and end up playing a full season."
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