Sport
29 July, 2026
Game 400 for Josh
LONG-time Timboon Demons clubman Josh Drysdale was celebrated on Saturday, reaching the 400 game milestone.
Drysdale started at the former Timboon Saints as a 12 year-old in 1995, going on to play his first reserves game as a 16 year-old before making his senior debut for the Saints a year later.
In his time for firstly the Saints and then after the merger with Heytesbury in late 2002 the Timboon Demons, Drysdale has put together 141 senior games and now 259 reserves matches for his hometown.
Apart from a solitary season for Colac and District team the Western Eagles, Drysdale has spent his entire career representing Timboon teams.
“I just feel a little bit old when I’ve played that many games but it was a really good day,” Drysdale said.
“The club looked after me really well, they did some nice things for me, which was good.”
Having played the majority of his career as a ruckman or key defender, Drysdale got to play forward in his milestone match, kicking a goal in the big 122-point win over Dennington.
“If you’d seen me kick on the weekend, you’d know why I haven’t played forward very often.
“The lads sort of fed me a fair bit, which was nice of them, but I hit the goalpost a couple of times too, so I probably should’ve kicked a few more goals to be honest.”
Drysdale’s goal came at the golf course end of the Timboon oval away from the crowd, but was well received by his teammates.
“The boys really got around me when I kicked it which was quite good.”
The after-match celebrations were low key but the 400 gamer was well looked after.
“Had a few cans with the lads, I didn’t have to buy many at all which was good.”
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Drysdale’s fitness at the age of 44 can, in part, be put down to his employment at the Timboon Nursery.
“I work for Danny Lee, he’s been the boss for the last five or six years, and I had Trevor Bullen before that, and I’ve been there for 15 years.
“I do a lot of walking and lifting and stuff, so yeah, that does help with the fitness, I was a baker before that, but I really enjoy growing plants.”
Drysdale is an active participant in the Victorian Athletics League masters section.
“I run the 300 metre and 800 metre races, it’s all handicap, I really enjoy it and it keeps me fit too.”
Basketball has been big as well in Drysdale’s sporting life.
“I play basketball at Timboon and used to play in the CBL (Country Basketball League) when Timboon had a side.
“I played at Camperdown and Terang for a couple of seasons and used to play a bit of cricket but got too old to stand in the sun for too long.”
Saturday’s game was Drysdale’s fourth appearance for the season and he was realistic about the prospect of many more.
“There’s not many games left, starting to get a bit sore.
“The club’s junior ranks are really strong, we’ve got some really good under 18s coming through, so hopefully those lads can fill the spots from now on.”
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