By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS
ONE of the WRFL’s most distinguished and most respected players, Tim Jenkins, will play his 250th match this weekend.
The St Albans star has been a great ambassador for our league for many years. This Saturday he will reach another special milestone in what has been an illustrious career.
Jenkins has achieved almost all there is to do in football, he has won two Barry Priest medals, won club best and fairest awards, been named in the Division 1 Team of the Year on several occasions, represented the WRFL in the Community Championships and played in the Vic Metro team.
However, the one thing that has eluded him, is a premiership.
Not one to dwell on what he hasn’t got, the Saints skipper says some of his best memories on the footy field has been watching others succeed.
“Playing in finals, those games are the games I remember the most,” Jenkins said
“Playing in other people’s milestone games is always special.
“One of my fondest memories is when the Reserves side won the flag. The lead-up to the match was exciting. I remember I couldn’t even watch the game because I was so nervous and I really wasn’t a part of that team.
“Seeing other people have success is a big thing for me, those are the things that I remember.”
Jenkins has always been involved with the St Albans Football Club. He grew up in the area and after more than 15 years of service, has never decided to leave his home at Kings Park Reserve.
“I grew up there, there was about six or seven of us that lived a couple of streets away from each other,” he said. “Most of those guys are still playing with St Albans now.”
Jenkins said he got a shock when he played his first senior game for the club.
“My first senior game was against the Port Colts and they were tough,” he laughed.
“That was an interesting introduction to senior footy.
“It was a wake-up call. Coming from junior football you think you know how to play the game, but you quickly realise that’s not the case.”
This Saturday, St Albans will take on Werribee Districts at Soldiers Reserve in their first game of the 2017 season.
“We didn’t get to play last weekend, so we are all excited to get into it,” Jenkins said.
“The aim is to play finals this year, we have worked really hard over the pre-season.
“The work that Fab (Carelli) has done over the past 18 months has been great. We are a long way ahead compared to this time last year, which will keep us in good stead.
“Last year we lost six games that were pretty close. If we can turn most of those games into wins this season, I don’t see why we can’t play finals.”
Werribee Districts host St Albans at Soldiers Reserve on Saturday. The game starts at 2.15pm.
Last Modified on 06/04/2017 12:47