The football gene runs strongly in the Maddock family.
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There must be something in the water at Tallangatta that has kept loyal Hoppers John senior and John junior coming back year after year.
Between the father-son duo they have held just about every role the club has to offer.
John senior has been president, secretary and coach, while his son has followed his lead as coach, assistant secretary and vice-president.
"I've played a game every year since 1979 in Tallangatta," John junior said.
"It runs in the genes I think," John senior said.
"His grandfather played into his 40s, I played into my 40s and John's in his 50s. We're getting better as we go."
The Maddocks long playing career isn't just reserved to the football field either, with John junior's sister, Kristin Mckimmie, still a keen netballer for the Hoppers.
John junior's 18-year-old son, Jake, admits he and his two brothers, Mitch and BJ, have a glimpse at what's ahead of them.
Saturdays are a family affair for the Maddocks.
John junior recalls a practice match where he played alongside all three sons and cousin, Bailey, as a memorable moment.
As another winter rolls in and temperatures drop in the Valley, John senior reflects on his own playing career.
"We had some tough days," he said.
"It was snowing at Mount Beauty one day and they ran the snow plough.
"When you deal with snow it turns sort of into ice, so you had these lumps on the field and you had to be careful of going for the ball.
"There'd be one at centre half-forward, one at centre ground and one at centre half-back.
"You'd be running down the ground over these hurdles.
"It was all in fun. All for a game of footy."
One of John senior's biggest highlights comes from a game he said he was never supposed to win.
"A standout was playing Ovens and Murray country championships with Horsham," he said.
"It was the first Ovens and Murray country championships we won and in the side there was 11 or 12 former VFL players.
"We weren't expected to win over in Horsham and we won.
"You never forget talking to those people and those blokes who had been through the ringer as far as the top level is concerned."
He recounts Frank Hodgkin and Kevin Smith as being some of the toughest opponents he ever faced out on the field.
Maddock played seven senior games in the O and M with North Albury but missed the camaraderie of playing alongside teammates he had grown up with.
The loyal Hopper has played only one game for another club, helping Chiltern's reserve side out when they were short on numbers.
"In a 10-year period from 1989 to 1998 the club was fortunate enough to have four winning grand finals and three losing ones," he said.
"It was probably the most successful period that Tallangatta and a club in the league would have had in a 10-year period.
"Just playing with a lot of mates that I grew up with was so enjoyable at that time."
He recalls Dave Healy, Karl Elliott and Darrell Butler as some of the great players he lined up with over that decade.
"They were blokes you wanted to play footy for and didn't want to let them down," he said.
John Senior agrees that witnessing locals succeed is always sweet.
"When you've got 17 or 18 players who were kids that all grew up in the same town, it's very rewarding and I think they remember those years as far as footy goes," he said.
Jake can already relate after winning an under-17s premiership with his long-time mates two years ago.
Interleague matches provided John junior with some good times, and he once took out best on ground during a clash at Sandy Creek.
The three generations of Maddock men all agree it's the social element and sense of community that they find so rewarding in being long-time club members.
"Especially through tough times with droughts and floods, it's a good meeting place where people let their guards down and have a yarn," John senior said.
"That's why it's so disappointing this year," John junior said.
"We've been on the brink of a drought, then fires, then this (coronavirus).
"Everyone has a story to tell. That's the hardest part."
With football still at a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic, John junior has been using his free weekends to help re-fence properties affected by the bushfires.
The Maddocks will tell you it's second nature for them to help out, something that has been instilled in them for generations.
"I get that from that side of the family," John junior said.
"I just want to see the club survive. I usually try and help out when I can and volunteer," Jake said.
"It's always been in my blood really to help out.
"It's engraved into me from past generations, just to be involved and do something for the community."
While John senior has taken a step back from football, he's now found a new activity to keep him busy.
"I've started playing a bit of bowls, which I'm no good at," he said.
As Tallangatta and District league clubs wait too see what the fate of the season will be, John junior admits he'd still like to take to the field down the track.
But, as is his selfless nature, not if it comes at a cost to others.
"I don't want to keep an 18-year-old kid out," he said.
"It's been my motto for the last five years.
"If those kids are on the bench missing out because of me, I'd step aside and let them play."
