Brad Poynter celebrates 200th game with Albury United after six-year break

The Albury United defender celebrated his 200^th match for the Greens after he returned to the club this season from a six-year hiatus.

Poynter played in United's golden era where it won six league titles and six cups between 2002 and 2015.

He took a break in 2012 after the Greens won the cup in 2012 under Scott Kidd and returned in 2015 when Matt Campbell took the reins and steered the club to its ninth league championship.

Campbell returned to the top job this season, which coincided with Poynter's return.

"I came back again this year for a bit of health and fitness and those sorts of things I guess. It's a great club to be part of, so it was an easy decision to come back for a kick," he said.

"My ambitions were probably to come back and just more or less be part of the club, running around in ressies and being as competitive as I could.

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"It's a bit hard because you don't know how the body is going to handle coming back from six years without playing.

"I've come back pretty good so far and been able to help out in a couple of senior matches this year which has ticked me over the 200 games."

Poynter is realistic about his goals this season and doesn't expect to be handed a regular spot in the senior side.

"The senior team is pretty competitive. When they're fully fit and everyone is available, I think it will be pretty hard to break into," he said.

"There's been a couple of injuries and circumstances early in the season so far that have created opportunities and I've been lucky enough to get a game or two.

"There might be other games throughout the season, but to be fair I'm probably more of a fringe player these days.

"If there's help needed, I'll put my hand up as much as I can."

His teammates ensured it would be a milestone to savour with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Albury Hotspurs, even after they were reduced to 10 men.

"It was pretty remarkable really," Poynter said.

"We were 2-1 down and went to 10 men and there was only 10 minutes left, so it was looking pretty dire.

"Credit to the boys, they worked really hard for the whole game and we just wore away at Spurs.

"Even with losing a player, we were good enough to still create a couple of opportunities and take them."

Poynter is keen to remain involved with the club and didn't rule out a return to junior coaching in future.

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