Since the age of four, Trent Scannell has donned the red, white and blue guernsey.
A lifelong Bulldog, he will play his 300th game for the club this weekend when North Heidelberg’s reserves take on Montmorency at Shelley Reserve.
Scannell bleeds red, white and blue and his dedication to the football club has been enormous.
A member of North Heidelberg’s 2005 Division 1 and 2014 Division 2 premierships, he was also selected in the Division 2 Team of the Year in both 2012 and 2013.
His contribution to the club has not been confined to just the playing field. Scannell has been a committee member and is also life member of the club.
Speaking to NFNL.org.au ahead of the milestone, Scannell said North Heidelberg had been and always will be his home.
“I got offered to move clubs in the early part of my senior career, but I never thought about it to be honest as I had no intentions of going anywhere,” he said.
“I have been involved in the club for years and I’m still heavily involved still so basically I’ll be going nowhere.”
Reflecting on his highlights during his time at the Kennell, Scannell listed the 2005 and 2014 premiership triumphs as his favorite achievements.
“The most memorable moments would be the grand finals as I have never played for individual awards,” he said.
“The two senior grand finals wins were pretty special and something I’ll look back on when I finish my career.”
Having spent most of his career in defence, Scannell has spent the majority of his playing days trying to minimise the impact of some of the league’s best players.
He lists Matthew Amad and Gary Moorcroft among some of the best opponents he has played on.
“Early days it was tough playing on blokes like Matty Amad, while a few blokes from Monty gave me some tough days,” he said.
“It was always hard playing Bundoora who had Gary Moorcroft and a few other guys who were too fit for me at times.”
Scannell also played all his junior football with the Bulldogs and still recalls fondly an under-11 premiership back in 1998.
“I was very young when I played in my first premiership against Eltham at Epping,” he said.
“Ralph Lynch coached me, and he was one of my favorites over my time at the club. Getting a win that day was one of my favorite moments of my career.”
Scannell also paid credit to Leigh Gray and Shane Harvey, who he listed as two of his greatest influences during his time at North Heidelberg.
Despite notching a significant milestone this weekend, Scannell said he had no intention of hanging up the boots just yet.
“I’d like to keep going,” he said
“I keep finding a way and at the moment the younger players are keeping me going so until my body gives in, I’d like to go on for as long as I can.”
