Simon Trappel admits the lure of becoming the first player to clock up 300 games for Pirates was a strong motivation to lacing up the boots for another season.
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But more than that he just loves playing, and the club.
It's been a big part of his life for more than half of it.
"I've been there since I was 15," the stalwart reflected.
Now a father of two - Millie is nine and Elsie two-and-a-half - and with his own business (SJT Electrical), the 34-year-old said he feels like he has grown up at the club.
"It's definitely home," he continued.
"We joke about it; I've been at Pirates and known people at Pirates longer than I've known my wife (April)."
Already the club's most capped player, he said the 300 milestone is in the back of his mind. He's on about 270 games at the moment, COVID slowing things down the last couple of years.
"It is a big part of the motivation because no-one's done it before," Trappel said.
"But what drives me is still being around the boys and still enjoying playing football."
On Saturday he will start for the second game in-a-row this season after being named at inside centre for their clash with Moree.
Not a regular in first grade the last couple of seasons and with a few handy new backs at the club this season Trappel wasn't expecting too many run on opportunities.
He was content playing second grade, and coming off the bench for first grade or filling in when needed.
But injuries and COVID saw him handed the 15 jersey for their season opener against Quirindi. He went on play the full 80, pushing into inside centre when Jayden Kitchener-Waters came on.
It is where he feels he is probably better suited and is more comfortable, adding jokingly that "being a bit older and slower, inside suits me better".
That said, he has been working on "getting a bit fitter", doing some extra sessions at club trainer Jake Douglas' Snake Athletic gym.
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"I just wanted to enjoy my football a bit better than what I have been the previous years, being unfit," he said.
He also wanted to feel that if he was needed to play first grade he "could"
Younger brother James will also start against the Bulls coming in for Jackson Sharpe at half-back.
Trappel is expecting "a really tough game".
"They'll come out and be fairly physical, especially after they lost to Inverell (in the first round)," he said.
Pirates will have plenty of motivation of their own with the Bulls beating them both times they played last season.
Elsewhere Scone are at home to Narrabri and Quirindi host Walcha, while in the women's Pirates travel to Quirindi, Barraba/Gwydir host Gunnedah and Scone tackles the Blue Boars.
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