MATTHEW Harkin is a self-professed "busted up sort of footballer".
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But the Kolora-Noorat veteran's first Mike Hamblin Medal suggests there's plenty left in the tank.
Harkin held off four Warrnambool and District league reserves rivals - South Rovers' Brad Bushell, Old Collegians' Patrick Keane, Russells Creek's Coedie Carter and Merrivale's Sam Astbury - to score a thrilling one-vote triumph on Thursday night.
The 37-year-old - a multiple senior premiership player - was only going to fill in but ended up playing the entire, albeit shortened, campaign.
"I just kept filling in because we were really short," Harkin said.
It suited me, to be honest. We'd have two weeks on and then a week off. There were weeks I was playing but I was just too sore but you'd just play
- Matthew Harkin
"It's just how it sort of panned out. I definitely wasn't intending to win these sorts of things. I'm really happy to win but it's not why you play footy.
"My cousin is the coach, Paddy Glennen, and he sort of sucked me into playing. I was helping Ben Walsh on the bench with the seniors so I was more of an assistant to him than worrying about playing."
Harkin said the coronavirus-interrupted season had been of benefit.
"It suited me, to be honest. We'd have two weeks on and then a week off. There were weeks I was playing but I was just too sore but you'd just play," he said.
"Having a week off here and there (wasn't bad). The COVID year and having a few weeks off worked out all right."
A simple love of the game is keeping the schoolteacher involved.
"I've played footy for a long time and you only play because you enjoy it," he said.
"It's what everyone should play footy for, is enjoyment. That's at every level. I enjoy footy, I enjoy training - not that I train much - but I enjoy going to training.
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"It's good just helping out Walshy and Paddy. Everyone at the club, whether they're cutting the grass or they're the president or they're a past player or a social member, it's just a great place to be."
As for next season?
"I said I wasn't going around this year," he said with a laugh.
"I'm not sure yet. No idea. We'll see."
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