Wangaratta's Mat Grossman is closing in on 100,000 kilometres of travel heading into Sunday's grand final against Lavington.
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When the lightning-quick defender signed after 40 games with Williamstown in the VFL in January, 2012, the Pies could never have imagined he would still be there seven seasons later (Grossman spent 2015 at Avondale Heights).
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"I've been travelling for so long because I've developed some incredibly close friendships at Wangaratta," he said.
"Many of my closest mates play or live in Wangaratta, so travelling two and a half hours up the highway isn't the end of the world when we get to run out with each other and kick around together.
"The people involved with the club are also ripping people and I couldn't think of anywhere else I'd rather be playing footy."
Team-mate Daine Porter spent 10 years travelling from Melbourne but, unlike Grossman, has family in Wangaratta.
"He's really passionate about the club," he said.
"You normally get these outside guys that come from Melbourne and turn up on the weekend, collect the pay cheque and head back, but he's the opposite, he's really invested in the club and has since he arrived."
Porter was a long-time travelling mate.
"It is hard, I suppose it depends on how much you want to play footy with the club," Porter said.
"It shows how much he loves the club and how much he wants to be a part of it."
Grossman has averaged around 14,000kms a year.
"I've only been through one car surprisingly," he said.
"I'm not a huge fan of driving up myself but Ben Douthie has been a lifesaver in that regard as he doesn't mind getting behind the wheel of "Black Beauty" (Toyota Hilux) and charging up the highway.
"I reckon we've covered just about every topic possible over the years.
"Those trips together are also memories and part of the experience that I will cherish for many years to come, although I'm looking forward to a bit of a break from the Hume (highway) over the off-season though (laughs)."
Coach Luke Morgan has naturally played with a number of travellers in his career, but says both Grossman and the Pies are unique.
"It says a lot about his personal character, there's no doubt about that, but it also says a lot about the football club and the environment that's been created here at Wangaratta," he said.