Trenerry, 47, ran out for Barooga in the midday game alongside the eldest of his three boys, Will, in what was the first game the pair had played together.
And it just so happened to be game 400 for Will’s old man.
“I just wanted to play a game with one of my boys and it just worked out to be in game 400,” Trenerry said.
“At the start of the year we worked out how many games I needed (to reach 400) and so I just tried to stay out there and get to it. It was a lot of fun, it was good to be able to give Will some direction and messages and not do it from over the fence.
“I played full-forward and then had a run through the middle ... Will’s nearly 16 and he played forward pocket and half-forward flank, so I was close enough to give him some direction.”
Trenerry’s story is one many in the Moira Shire region know all too well.
A 300-game life member at Yarroweyah, a former coach at the Hoppers, former assistant coach at Strathmerton, a year at Picola United and one senior premiership at Bunyip.
Out of those 400 matches, 330 have been played in the afternoon timeslot where Trenerry made a name for himself as a hard-edged and talented on-baller.
Trenerry revealed he’s only spent one year away from the footy field and clubrooms, with memories formed inside the latter the main reason why he continues to pull on the boots.
“(I keep playing) for the footy trips,” Trenerry said with a burst of laughter.
“Nah, it’s the people you meet. You meet so many different people and I’ve got a lot of good mates at so many different clubs ― I just love playing.”
His connection to Barooga may have originated in the latter years of his footballing journey, yet it was so his three boys could test themselves in the Murray league in the early years of their careers.
The owner of Mad Dog Boats coaches his twin boys Noah and Beau, aged 14, in the fourths at Barooga.
“I took the kids to Barooga and my first-ever senior coach Greg Hazelman was coaching the ressies and he asked if I could play and I thought, ‘I may as well have a run’,” Trenerry said.
“It was more to help the club out, they were struggling for numbers, so I said I could help. I just didn’t want to be playing (for the sake of playing) and I’ve always said that I don’t want to keep a kid from missing out on a game.”
And, while footy is an outlet from his business and everyday life, there’s also another key reason for being involved every Saturday during winter.
“I love being able to give back,” he said.
“Hopefully there’s something I learnt across my career that I can give back to the next kids coming through.”
