The Terang Mortlake footballer will follow in his father Jamie’s footsteps when he wears the old Mortlake Cats jumper on Saturday.

Terang Mortlake – the result of a 2002 merger – will pay hommage to its past with the blue and white hoops to make a special appearance against arch rival Camperdown at DC Farran Oval.

Dylan, 21, is one of a handful of current-day Bloods senior footballers who still live in Mortlake.

His brother Lachlan Wareham and cousins Isaac Wareham and Harry Hobbs all have strong ties to the Cats.

“It is pretty special, not just to me but to the supporters,” Dylan said.

“It is good to recognise (the Cats) because a lot of people never thought that would happen.

“I never thought I’d play in the hoops.

“My dad played at Mortlake with his two brothers, Paul and Wesley, Harry’s dad Peter and Chris Baxter’s dad Clive played too.”

Dylan said the amalgamation was the right decision.

Terang Mortlake has won 14 football and eight netball premierships, across different grades, since joining forces in the Hampden league 17 years ago.

“If both Mortlake and Terang tried to be standalone now, with the way everything is with people moving away, Terang wouldn’t be strong and Mortlake would be struggling too,” he said.

“We’d be pretty ordinary Hampden league teams. We are strong (together) and it helps us that Terang and Mortlake are very family orientated. A lot of brothers play together.”

The celebration day, which will include auctioning the Mortlake-inspired guernseys, will also usher in DC Farran Oval’s new facilities.

“We trained there the other night in the new shed and it’s bloody great,” Dylan said.

Dylan hopes he can lift his form when he plays against the Magpies in the second-versus-third clash.

He is happy to be back in the senior side, labelling his performances this season “not real flash”.

“I went back to the twos and managed to sneak back up last week against Koroit,” Dylan said.

“I am more relieved just to play in the hoops – it’s probably my first and last opportunity.”

The Bloods are pecariously placed in the top five with Warrnambool and Portland in close proximity.

“I think it (the round 10 clash) will be pretty full on,” Dylan said.

“Camperdown are going terrific and flying and we are starting to find our feet now. It will be a good game.”