CHAMPION veteran footballer Brodie Filo will play his 500th game of senior football on Saturday when reigning premier Rovers begin their flag defence in a local derby showdown against the Magpies.
The Rovers will be ‘the hunted’ but that doesn’t worry seasoned campaigner Filo who is fresh from winning the highest individual honour in the Northern Territory Football League - the Nichols Medal for a third time.
The 500-game milestone for the 35-year-old comes from a procession of back-to-back seasons, accumulating about 40 games a year, in numerous leagues across Australia, including the Ovens and Murray, NTFL, and Bendigo league.
In that time, he’s notched up 499 games, 480 goals and named best player 211 times.
Filo won the O&M Morris Medal league best and fairest in 2018, the Nichols in 2016, 2020 and 2025, four best and fairest awards at Nightcliff, and one at Eaglehawk.
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He has also won three flags at Nightcliff, and one each at Eaglehawk and the Rovers.
Filo is still eyeing off another five years of playing good footy, as his body is holding up well off the back of consistent O&M and NT seasons.
Looking to Saturday’s clash against the Magpies, Filo believes it's an encounter that was underrated, with punters expecting the Rovers to win comfortably over the ‘Pies.
“They probably think we’re going to come out and smash them because they’ve lost a lot of their veterans they’ve had over the years," Filo said.
“But Wang has always been a proud club and will bring out a good side and we won’t be underestimating them at all.
“I know they’ll be really young but at the same time so will we.”
The midfielder is excited by the prospects of the Rovers heading into the 2025 season with last year’s premiership in hand, something he said took the whole club, supporters, and the town to achieve.
“At training on Tuesday night there were a lot of young kids there which was very positive because we have a big crew from Melbourne, who have a lot of experience.
“It’s going to be a good season because last year Yarrawonga was the team to beat and it’s always hard to be the hunted.
“It could go either way and we could get a bit ahead of ourselves, but I think we’re ready to knuckle down and play our best footy.
“We only had one season with the current Melbourne boys and we’ve retained a lot, however, Elmer (Alex Marklew) and Jack (Gerrish) have been big losses, but we’ve brought in a few good, key players.
“A few of those younger boys will probably fill roles other players have left.”
Filo is looking to take on more of a mentor's role to help out coach Chris Naish, given that co-captain Tom Boyd is injured and not on the track.
“I know what I was like when I was a youngster, you always had those older senior players to show you the way and help you improve," he said.
“We have a really good bunch of kids and hopefully I can teach something, someway to benefit their footy.”
Filo said the O&M this season should be interesting with North Albury and Myrtleford now contenders, and former Rovers coach Daryn Creswell expected to make a positive difference at Corowa.
“The Ovens and Murray is getting better and better every year with its depth and it’s really good to see these clubs fight at the top,” he said.
“Wang, Yarra and Albury were the best sides for 15 years, and it’s good to see it equalise because no one wants to go and watch 100-point drubbings.”
He encouraged the community to get down to support the two local clubs on Saturday at the WJ Findlay Oval and throughout the season.
