This Saturday he will reach the 300 game milestone against Barossa District at Williamstown.

“It’s good to get there but there’s a couple of others who could’ve been at the same number if not for interruptions,” Doecke said.

“Nick Reimann has had injuries plus he spent a couple of seasons at Central District, Craig Hadden was away in Sydney for a couple of years so those guys probably deserve as much recognition.

“It’s a nice number but it’s more important that we win the game as it will be really important to our season.

“I’ve been fortunate to play at the one club my whole life, that’s pretty special in itself.”

Quizzed on his toughest opponent, Doecke declined to single out one player.

“I’ve seen some great periods in all clubs. There was South Gawler with Malcolm McGrath, Jeff Brown and Eddie Schwerdt who were incredible, Gawler Central with Wilbur Wilson and Matt Slade.

“In the 90s Nuri were dominant and Kapunda had some great players like Danny Deptula and Jason McKenzie in their good years but Tanunda seem to always have had a couple of guys you really admired like Adrian Cachard.”

It was McGrath, when he was at Angaston, who first appointed ‘Decker’ as captain after seeing his intense desire.

“Matthew is a very special type of player,” McGrath said.

“He’s hardworking, honest and very consistent. He takes every loss personally which makes him better as he works so hard and pushes others to work hard.

“He deserves every accolade he gets. He was a pleasure to coach because he always listened. I rate him alongside Eddie Schwerdt as the best I’ve coached.”

Matthew Doecke fact file

• 299 A grade games

• Has only missed three games in 17 seasons, one for a uni exam

• 9 senior BL&G Association games

• BL&G ‘team of the year’ five years in a row (1997-2001)

• Best on ground in 1999 grand final loss

• Premiership captain 2003

• Longest serving captain of Angaston, 13 seasons, 1996 onwards

• Club best and fairest four times

• 342 career goals, best return of eight v Nuriootpa