NOT many players – three to be exact – have played 300 games for the Essendon District Football League club Taylors Lakes like Craig Feeley has now done when he ran out onto the field for the final time against Sydenham/Hillside last weekend.

The Lions midfielder emulated his older brother Adam’s efforts in recent years of bringing up the milestone, and what better way to celebrate than knocking off its local rival in the B Grade reserve top-of-the-table clash by a whopping 131 points.

Feeley was named in the best six on the day, although he was not sure that was an honest reflection of his game.

“I played mainly in the middle, in the centre. I don’t know about being in the best, but it was good to have a win because Sydenham were undefeated so we were expecting a close game but we ended up winning by 130 points I think it was, so it was an awesome day. The club put on a really good spectacle for me which was quite special.”

The career highlight for the 28-year-old came in the form of a premiership, as well as a family affair in which the three Feeley boys ran out together in the blue and gold.

“We won the premiership in 2008, the B reserve premiership and last year I got to play with both my brothers in the same game, older and younger brother.”

The founding member of Taylors Lakes Football Club said it was also time to call it a day on his career, leaving only a small bit of hope he will run out for game number 301 one day.

“Not playing this week, I was tossing up whether or not to play this year at all so with six games to go (until number 300), I did the pre season, got through the six games. At this stage, I’m hanging up the boots.”

Feeley said he grew up in Taylors Lakes and now lives in Moonee Ponds, and said his retirement should open up the doors for some of the Lions’ “cubs”.

“The club’s in a good position where they’ve got five or six blokes missing out on a game each week, so with me going overseas, I can let a few of the younger guys come through (and play).”