It's a question that has been asked in the inner sanctum at the Albury Sportsground this week and nobody is shooting the theory down.

If Hyde's not number one, the general consensus is he's mighty close.

The 36-year-old will join Peter and Terry Cross, Stan Gard, Jeff Duck, Reg Gard, Rod Coelli, Jay McNeill, Matt Fowler, Luke Packer and Luke Daly in playing 200 matches for Albury when he runs out against Wodonga Raiders on Saturday.

The truth is Hyde could easily have played none.

"To be honest I had moved to Tumut and was thinking about maybe going to play in the Canberra league," Hyde said.

"That was where the money was, I'm not going to lie.

"But because I was living in Tumut if I went to Canberra at the weekends to play I wouldn't have been able to see my family as much.

"So the thought of coming back this way and being closer to family was a big thing.

"I didn't know a lot about the Ovens and Murray.

"When I looked at Albury's list I knew a few of the players.

"Once again if I'm being honest I was looking at going to Wodonga because 'Shirry' (Matt Shir) was there.

"I also thought seriously about the Raiders too.

"It was going to be Raiders, Wodonga or Albury and I decided to go to Albury."

Paul Spargo and Daniel Maher were the tipping points.

Spargo had spent time with the left-footer at Richmond and Coburg while Maher and Hyde were teammates at the Murray Bushrangers.

Eleven years on, Hyde has delivered big time.

Since being moved on after 93 AFL matches, he's starred in Albury's 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018 premierships.

He won the Morris Medal in 2017, took out Albury's best and fairest in 2010 and 2013 and was awarded the Did Simpson Medal in the Tigers' 2009 grand final win over Yarrawonga.

Hyde's also coached for four seasons with Maher and Shaun Daly.

"The thing I found really difficult in Melbourne was that footy was your full-time job," he said.

"That was almost all you did. I studied part time while I was there, however footy was number one

"When I came to Albury I felt like I got more balance back between life and footy.

"That's when I started enjoying footy again.

"You could go away for a weekend with the family or go hunting.

"That's why I probably played some good footy as a kid. Growing up footy was just part of what you did but not everything, at AFL level naturally it's everything, but I guess that's just the industry, but it can be consuming "

Hyde's passion for hunting started as a youngster and, despite leaving his home town of Barooga to pursue his AFL dream as a teenager, still likes to head bush at every possible opportunity.

"I've always hunted," he said.

"Pop used to take us spotlighting rabbits at Cowra when I was a kid and that's where the passion started.

"Mum would drive me around spotlighting foxes while I was still at school and in the school holidays I couldn't wait to head to Nan and Pop's for the fishing and hunting trips.

"I probably enjoy it more now than ever though.

"I'd go every day if I could."

Former AFL star Daniel Cross said playing with Hyde had been one of the highlights of his return to Albury in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

They played for NSW together as 11 and 12-year-olds in the 1990s.

"The first time we met was when we went to Darwin as kids," Cross said.

"To come back and finish with him at Albury was great.

"He's a great leader.

"I know he considers Albury to be his home and that's pretty special considering he played professional footy."

While Cross is amazed by Hyde's durability to be still playing good football only three months before his 37th birthday, he said it was clear from day one he had enormous talent.

"He had a solid AFL career and has come back to the country and fitted in really well," he said.

"I remember playing basketball against him as a junior and he always had his sidestep.

"People have never been able to figure it out.

"It's just one of his skills and his longevity probably comes back to being pretty relaxed off the field.

"Everyone knows he loves camping and hunting and he's got that good balance.

"His girls at home to bring him back to earth and he's just a great country lad I guess."

Albury's Team of the Century coach Paul Spargo is another unabashed Hyde fan.

While they didn't always see eye-to-eye when they spent time together at Richmond and Coburg, Hyde says his influence was pivotal in him finding his way to the sportsground.

"I wouldn't say I had a bad relationship with 'Spargs' (Spargo), but I would't say I had a good one either," he said.

"All the players that year knew they were going to be moved on but 'Spargs' continued to try and help people.

"I'd had a run in with him while he was coaching Coburg so I didn't think our relationship was overly great.

"It got me thinking though if he was trying to help people, when he was going to get the arse, then what would he be like if he wanted you on the team and we were all going in the one direction."

Spargo, who was the mastermind behind the Tigers putting together the most dominant era in Ovens and Murray history, says Hyde has played a massive role in the club's sustained success.

"Chris Hyde is everything our club stands for," he said.

"Not only is he a brilliant footballer, but more importantly he's an outstanding person and role model.

"He's humble and respectful, self-motivated and hard-working, unbelievably courageous and selfless."

DANIEL MAHER

(Former Albury premiership coach)

'Hydey's' consistency year after year has been phenomenal.

I think he stacks up with the greats of not only Albury and the Ovens and Murray, but also country football itself.

He's been really influential with his attention to detail second to none.

He's so particular with everything he does as a player and coach.

I know I've learnt a lot off him over the years.

He's a great guy as well.

We used to wind him up about having hairy shoulders and then all of a sudden it disappeared.

The boys don't know what happened there.

MARC DURYEA

(Triple Albury premiership player)

There's no doubt he's the best Albury player I've seen.

Maybe the first few games when 'Crossy' (Daniel Cross) came back he was probably at a peak level.

Yet 'Hydey' has played at such a high level week-in week-out for so long.

Glenn Page and Stephen Ash were the best two players in our era, but 'Hydey' has been able to stamp himself on the big moments in big games since he arrived at the club.

It's the best 200 games I've seen anyone play at Albury that's for sure and there have been plenty of good players.

He's been fantastic and is a ripper bloke.

DALE CARROLL

(Triple Albury premiership player)

I don't think there has been a better 200 games played for Albury.

He's always had a fierce desire for success and his preparation as a player and coach has been inspiring to the older and younger players at the club.

It's been a privilege for everyone at the club to have either played with Hyde, been coached by Hyde or even watch Hyde play.

It's something he and his family should be very proud of.

ROD COELLI

(Former Albury champion)

He's been absolutely huge for the club on and off the field.

Hydey's been an ornament to Albury since he came to the club as one of the originals in 2009.

He's very competitive and is a huge club person.

To come to the club and play 200 games is a phenomenal effort and I'd say he easily fits into the category as one of Albury's better players over the years.

He's been a gun.