Katamatite's Jayson Bigg runs through the banner for his 300th game with his children.
Three goals for the third three hundred game player at Katamatite is a pretty fitting result for a pretty Bigg feat.
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Katamatite football club celebrated the milestone of Tigers stalwart Jayson Bigg in style on Saturday, dispatching Blighty by 95 points in round 10 of the Picola District League at home in front of a crowd crying for the milestone man to hit the scoreboard.
The Tigers faithful needn’t wait long.
“He kicked the first goal of the match,” Katamatite teammate Mark Mills said.
“Even the backline ran down from the other end to get around him.”
As Bigg crossed the painted white line for his 300th senior game at the club with his children by his side, a quick glance at the list of his achievements mightn’t be so quick after all.
But most significantly, Bigg is a community clubman first and foremost.
Donning the yellow sash for 300 games is an achievement many footballers won’t achieve at Katamatite, only two having done so prior, let alone captaining over 100 of them and winning a senior best and fairest in and among there too.
But his off-field service is also highly regarded at the club, as a former under-17s coach, a current Auskick coach and volunteer who has helped the Tigers through numerous events, fundraisers and building projects.
While not a part of the 2025 premiership 22, Bigg’s impact for two and a half decades certainly laid the foundations for the club’s first premiership since 2001.
“To have those types of people at community level, you can’t put a price tag on that,” Mills said.
“He’s always willing to give his time, if there’s any jobs that need doing, you can always count on ‘Biggsy’.”
A respected and ‘fair’ footballer, Bigg is a player ‘every club would want’ on its list, but only the Tigers have been so fortunate.
“He’s one of the guys you love to have... he’s hard at the football and always does the team thing,” Mills said.
“He loves Katamatite, and he’s a fair footballer that’s well respected by every other club. I think that speaks volumes to who he is.”
Across the PDL landscape, another star member of the league celebrated game 200 - Waaia’s Jesse Trower.
A three-time premiership captain, Trower has been one of Waaia’s prized home grown products, having developed through the town’s juniors, and save for a short stint at Deakin Reserve for Shepparton, has remained loyal to the red and black guernsey.
Waaia’s Jesse Trower played his 200th game for the Bombers on Saturday.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The club extended its gratitude to Trower’s services, both on and off the field, in a statement via social media ahead of Waaia’s clash with Picola United - a match it would win by 64 points as the now playing-coach hit the scoreboard to the sound of cheers.
“Jesse’s contribution to the club extends far beyond his playing career,” the club posted.
“He has generously given his time as fourths coach, thirds coach, and now leads from the front as senior coach.
“Off the field, he has also served in several committee roles, most notably as vice president.
“Always willing to lend a hand wherever needed, Jesse’s commitment and passion for the Waaia FNC are evident to all.
“It is an outstanding list of achievements already, with no doubt many more still to come.”
