Shepparton stalwart Rowan Hiscock reaches 250 games

"It's taken a while, but I've finally got there," Hiscock said.

"Last year winning the premiership was great to get that reward and the body is holding up okay.

"When I first started out, I didn't think I'd ever see a flag in my time at Shepp.

"But we got a good group of guys together who enjoyed being together on and off the field, even though it wasn't going so well on the field, and it went from there."

Shepparton caretaker coach Troy King remembers when Hiscock walked into the club as a "skinny kid" all those years ago.

"Back 13 years ago when I was still playing at Shepparton he was just coming through the thirds, he was a real skinny kid, but he's worked really hard on that and spends plenty of time in the weight room," King said.

"His longevity and loyalty has been brilliant, he's stuck fat through some tough times and it was great to see him get the reward last year with a senior premiership.

"He's a real Shepp boy through and through and is here for all the right reasons."

As well as the weight room, Hiscock spent plenty of time at the hairdresser in his early years as a Bear, but soon ditched his trademark shock of blond hair for something a little more manageable.

"Back when I started I had the long blond hair, then it actually changed one day. We had Mad Monday and I was going as Mick Fanning, the boys told me I had to fully commit, so I shaved my head. No-one recognised me at all so I probably got away with a bit more than usual that year," Hiscock said with a laugh.

"Since then I've just gone with the natural colour."

And as most footballers do, Hiscock has a couple of traditional routines he practises every weekend.

"Normally I'll have a pasta on a Friday night," he said.

"And on a Saturday morning I'll listen to some country music to relax a bit."

When you add up all 250 games, that is a lot of spaghetti and Kenny Rogers.