AFTER making his senior debut in 1998, Jason Dean has become one of the greats of the North Heidelberg Football Club.
A loyal one-club player, Dean reached his 300-game milestone in the Bulldogs’ Round 17 win over Mernda.
NFL media manager Samuel Zito caught up with Dean ahead of his fourth Grand Final and final senior game against the Fitzroy Stars this weekend.
SAMUEL ZITO: You’re back into another Grand Final. What’s the mood like heading in?
JASON DEAN: It’s really good down at the footy club. All the boys are pretty pumped. Fitzroy Stars obviously gave us a really good run for our money the other week so we know that we have to put on a good show to win. Everyone at the club is pumped for the big challenge.
SZ: What’s it like to be back on the big stage after a few years away?
JD: You’d obviously like to play in Grand Finals as often as possible but they only come around every now and again, even if you’re lucky. There are only four of us (Dean, Trent Scannell, Ali Assi and Blake Holmes) that played in 2005. We’re pretty pumped to get another win.
SZ: The side’s had a tough opening two weeks of the finals series. What have you made of the loss to Fitzroy Stars and the comeback win over Mernda?
JD: They always say that finals footy is different footy and we just haven’t really adapted to it. We’ve got to come with our A-Grade game this week and hopefully we turn up ready to go.
SZ: Have you decided whether this weekend will be your last game, or whether you will go on again next year?
JD: I will keep playing in the reserves next year. I think the game is getting a bit fast for me and I’m slowing down. I’m 34 and I think I’d like to just play in the seconds and give the younger blokes coming through a chop out.
SZ: You played your 300th senior game against Mernda in Round 17. Are you proud to be a one-club player?
JD: I’ve loved playing down at North. All my mates are down there and I’ve never had an interest in going anywhere else. It’s been a great club to me.
SZ: Have you ever had offers to play elsewhere?
JD: I have had other offers over my time but as I said, all my mates play footy at North and I have always said that I’d rather play with my mates than go elsewhere and play for money.
SZ: Who are the teammates that stand out as the best you’ve played with over the 300-game journey?
JD: I’ve been lucky enough to play with some really good players. Some of the best were Jamie Shaw, Jason Heatley, Anthony Martello, Leigh Gray, Robbie Powell and then there’s players like Jason Baldwin and even now with Harvs. Guys who are legends at our club. It’s been good to play for such a long time with a lot of different blokes.
SZ: Is there a particular opponent who you consider to be the best you have played against?
JD: Probably Brett Jeffrey I think. Every time you were playing against Northcote Park you knew you were in for a hard day coming up against Brett. He was an exceptional player.
SZ: How have you found playing under first-year coach Stephen Saddington?
JD: He’s been really good and has been fantastic for our football club. He has brought a lot of other guys along with him. All the playing group getting on really well with him. He is serious when he has to be, but he can also have a joke with the boys. All the boys really respect him and he has been really good for our club.
SZ: The club has also brought in some big-name recruits this year, including players like Jeff Ryan, Lachie Dowling and Marc Lonergan. What impact have they had on the playing group?
JD: As soon as they came in there was a change in attitude at the club. We’ve all got a fair bit of confidence from them and they have brought a lot of professionalism with them. They have been fantastic for us too.
