By Beth Newman
Andrew Housego has played 249 games for Mayne, with just one final.
This weekend, the loyal Mayne Tiger notches his 250th, but it’s the chance to taste some premiership success that could be his real reward.
A natural athlete, Housego’s base fitness has seen him continue to be one of the Tigers’ best over almost two decades, says former Mayne coach, Mitch Ferguson, who played alongside Housego as well as coaching him for six years.
“You go and jog a lap and he clicks and grinds…it takes him a while to wind up ,”he said.
“He’s one of those athletes that can turn up in March and beat everyone in time trials.
“He’s just naturally fit and has incredible recuperative abilities that have kept him going.”
The man who spent 11 years as Mayne’s captain has influenced many Tigers, but we asked Andrew Housego who had the biggest impact on him.
Rob Dickfos
Rob was my coach for a good section of my career, throughout my prime years as a player, so he’s right up there. He was really good, I think, we had a lot of lean years, not having the playing quality we do now but he still managed to make us competitive without that quality. He got the best out of me and he fits my character in terms of being a very competitive person.
Murdoch Campbell
He is my father-in-law and was Mayne president for a few years. he was instrumental in resurrecting the club and getting it back in the competition in 2001 and was president throughout those lean years. He’s always been a big supporter of mine in footy, and now he’s my father in law.
Luke Ferguson
Luke’s been my best mate for many years, since he started playing with Mayne back in 2003, it might have been. We lived together for a few years back when we were single boys, one whose gone through those lean times. year or two younger than me, going through the same sort of thing together, viewed as more experienced guys in the team. Desperate for that success and keen to help the younger boys learn.
Corey Lynch
Corey was the Mayne captain when I first started playing senior football. I only played with him for a few years but he was my example of how to play senior football and how to be a senior footballer. Just his courage, his competitiveness, his commitment to the contest and how he always gave 100 per cent at every opportunity.
Mum – Margaret Fraser
Mum was the one who drove me to football all those years a junior and she was the one who got me to Mayne as a 15 year-old, after I played my first years at Redcliffe. In order to further my football she moved across to Mayne as a 15 year-old so she used to drive me to games from that point as well. She’s still there at most games now.
