Heaton Jarrad has played with Killarney since day dot so it's no surprise the club did something special after its final regular-season match ever in the Grassmere Cricket Association.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He didn't expect the honour bestowed on him.
After the game the Killarney clubrooms were renamed the Heaton Jarrad Pavilion.
READ MORE:
"I was quite surprised because at the end of the match people were gathered around to do something and I had no idea what," he said.
Jarrad, who played in the club's first ever match in 1985, heard there was perhaps going to be a mental health information session so thought it was that.
"When (teammate) Jason Hutchins said we're here for Heaton Jarrad, I thought 'oh no'," he said with a smile.
"I looked up and saw (the new sign) and thought 'oh really'."
The sign was covered during the game.
Jarrad said he loved the surprise and was humbled by the honour.
The one-club player gave a special thank you to his wife, Julie, for being supportive of him playing cricket for decades.
The veteran, who has played about half the matches this season, said he got a call-up for the final round against Grassmere.
He was thrilled to bowl a few overs but was filthy he got bowled for a duck when batting.
The Crabs are playing Hawkesdale in a semi-final at Hawkesdale on Saturday.
It's been a big turnaround after they finished bottom-of-the-ladder last summer.
It'll be the the last GCA finals series as the association decided the 2020-21 season would be its last.
Jarrad said it was disappointing the GCA was finishing up.
"If people are drifting away and you can't get players, I'm not quite sure what the alternative could be," he said.
"I never expected it to happen, certainly when we had an A and a B and a C grade all playing and then winning - I don't think anyone could have dreamed of the association shutting down," he said.
There won't be any GCA for Jarrad to play next year but he's found an alternative.
He was introduced to the Veterans Cricket Victoria over 60s competition last year and is playing with Hamilton.
"That's been fantastic because finally again I've been able to play cricket with people I would consider peers," he said.
Now he wants to see a Warrnambool over 60s up-and-running.
"Surely in-and-around Warrnambool there have got to be enough people to form an over 60s team."
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.