MARC Brilliant has hung up the boots after twenty years of football with the Stawell Warriors.
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Last Saturday marked a special occasion for Brilliant as he not only called it quits on a colourful football career, but also celebrated his 300th game.
Starting in the year 1995 Brilliant opted to miss his last season of junior football to play open age football alongside his father, Ian 'Ernie' Brilliant.
In that year Warriors were a part of the now defunct Ararat and District Football Association.
Brilliant and his father were able to secure the reserves premiership that year as did the Warriors seniors side.
"Not only did I get to play with Dad, but we won the reserves premiership," Brilliant said.
"I'm guessing not a lot of people can say they have done that."
In that same year Brilliant debuted for the seniors.
In 1999 Warriors crossed over to the Wimmera League and joined the Stawell Football Club to become the Stawell Warriors.
That year was the first of three reserves best and fairests won by Brilliant with the second and third coming in 2001 and 2013.
In 2000 Stawell Warriors seniors won the premiership.
"It was a big day for the club as we had all four grades in the grand final and really only seniors were meant to lose," Brilliant said.
"I played the last nine games and two finals, but was dropped for the grand final. Although disappointing not to play it was one of the best times that I have been involved in the club."
In 2003 Brilliant won the reserves leading goal kicker.
From 2007 to 2010 Brilliant was lucky enough to be captain of four consecutive reserves premierships.
In summary his 300 club games have included 66 senior games, 234 reserves games, five reserves premierships, three reserves best and fairests, three reserves runner up best and fairests, reserves leading goalkicker and emergency for the 2000 senior premiership.
The biggest highlights for Brilliant over his 20 year career included the 2000 senior premiership grand final day and the week that followed, four reserves premierships as captain in the Wimmera Football League and playing in a premiership with his father Ernie in 1995.
