“I started my career at Yambuk and when they folded in 1988 myself and another young bloke, Alistair Down, decided to head over to Heathmere,” Wright said.

“We had a few mates there so we thought it would be good to play a few games.”

While Down was to go on and forge a long career with Port Fairy in the Hampden league, Wright liked what he found at Heathmere and dug in for the long haul.

Tomorrow Wright will line up for his 500th game for the Magpies when they take on Heywood in round nine of the South West District league matches.

Wright will line up in the reserves and the 45-year-old  is still a valued contributor, playing good enough football to hold his spot in the centre of the ground.

“I have always played on the ball and I suppose my best asset is that I am hard at it. I enjoy the physical side of the game,” Wright said.

“The game is not as tough as it used to be, which in some ways is good but in some ways it’s not.

“But the biggest change since I started is how quick it is now. Sometimes it can be tough to keep up.

“I have slowed down a bit and it takes a bit longer to recover after games but I still enjoy having a beer with the lads while watching the seniors.”

Wright estimates about 100 of his games have been at senior level with the remainder spent in the reserves.

Career highlights include a senior premiership in 2002 and flags at reserves level in 1996 and 2007, the latter of which he was coach.

Home for Wright is at the hamlet of Gorae, near Portland, while he works as a boilermaker  for Keppel Prince.

While 500 games represents a huge contribution to Heathmere, the father-of-three also plays an important role in the development of the club’s emerging talent.

Wright is the Heathmere Auskick co-ordinator, a role he has filled for the past decade, turning up on Thursday nights to take the youngsters through their paces.

“I really enjoy watching the kids in the Auskick come along and have fun and develop as footballers,” he said.

“For small clubs like Heathmere you need to look after the juniors. If you don’t then it makes it very hard to keep going.”