One of the Ararat Eagles' favourite sons has celebrated a milestone almost a decade in the making.
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Aaron 'Dottsa' Jenkins notched up 200 senior matches a fortnight ago, with his achievement spanning three clubs as Eagles' stalwart Paul Bulger explains.
"I was president when he first started playing at Prestige in about 1995 and through that Prestige and Prestige-Trinity stages he played close to 100 games for them," he said.
"So this is a culmination of games played at the three clubs through the merges."
Following the merger Jenkins played for the Ararat Eagles in the Lexton Plains Football League on and off for a couple of seasons before making a successful move to Tatyoon in the Mininera and District Football League.
"He played in three premierships for Tatyoon I think, but then came back to the Eagles to finish his career which was great to see," Bulger said.
"His family is a bit of a legacy with his uncle Brian a former league best and fairest winner back in the Ararat and District days, and he was also a former premiership coach.
"His father Wayne was also a life member of the club and Aaron spoke very emotionally after his milestone match about that.
"It is pretty special also the fact that he grew up with his father playing with myself and Johnny Coole and now he is playing with my sons (Brent and Nick) and one of the Coole boys (Mark)."
During his time with the Ararat Eagles Jenkins has held various coaching roles, including as the reserves main man and an assistant position with the senior team.
On field he is described as a reliable defender usually holding down the centre half back or full back position.
Jenkins was named Prestige-Trinity's best player in the 1999 grand final, which the Dragons lost to United by 38 points, while in 2011 he won the Ararat Eagles' senior best and fairest.
Bulger said the club's newest life member was a great personality to have around.
"He had a couple of years on the sidelines due to some health issues, but for someone to be playing since '95 and I don't think he is that old, it is not a bad effort," he said.