Only a select few players manage to play 300 games in the VAFA and this year the VAFA welcomed in two new in Luke Wintle and Shaun Payze as members to the 300 Game Club. To be eligible for membership a player must have played a combined 300 senior, under 19s or representative matches in the VAFA.
Luke Wintle has been one of the stars of the VAFA over a career that started for his beloved St Bedes/Mentone Tigers in 1997 as an Under 19 player. Wintle has played 299 senior games for the Tigers and he has represented the VAFA on four occasions including 2002, 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Wintle was club captain from 2001-2008 and is a three time premiership captain of St Bedes/Mentone Tigers on their magnificent run when they captured three straight flags from Premier C to Premier (2006-08).
Wintle won the both the Ian Cordner Medal in the club’s 2007 Premier B Grand Final win and the Jock Nelson Medal in the 2008 Premier Grand Final as the best player on the ground.
Averaging more than a goal a game Wintle was named captain of the St Bedes/Mentone Tigers team of the decade (1993-2003).
Wintle won the club best and fairest in 2001 and 2008 and has been runner up in his club’s best and fairest in a further six seasons.
In 2009 Wintle was awarded Life Membership of St Bedes/Mentone Tigers and with the addition of his most recent honour of the 300 Game Club of the VAFA, who is to say there won’t be many more awards to come.
Beaten by Old Xaverians for the 2013 Premier premiership, Wintle will play on in 2014, “I am keen to go around again next year, we have a young list and hopefully we can carry the hurt of this year into next year” he said.
“The VAFA is a fantastic competition and I can’t imagine playing anywhere else, I have met great people that I have played with and against and I am very honoured to get this recognition”, Wintle told the guests at the AGM Dinner.
From everyone at the VAFA, congratulations to Luke Wintle on becoming a member of the 300 Game Club.
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