250 – no Kidding

By Justin Robertson
IT WAS a short but emotional run for Narre Warren footballer Steven Kidd.
From the steps of the clubrooms, through the gates and onto the field, past players, friends, family and legends who formed a guard of honour while Kidd ran by for his 250th milestone game against Pakenham over the weekend at the club he’s been a part of since 1994.
“I was very fortunate to run out with my three-year-old boy Mitchell,” he said. “It was very humbling.”
Kidd is the first player to rack up 250 games in the club’s seniors. The record for the most appearances is the 300 games by Sid McCoy in senior and reserves ranks combined.
“I’d probably say it’s not likely that I’ll surpass him, “Kidd said. “But never say never, I guess.”
While Narre Warren lost the match against Pakenham by 11 points at Kalora Park over the weekend, as far as milestone games go, senior coach Matt Shinners thought the defender played a decent game of footy in front of a big and vocal home crowd.
“We threw him around to plug some holes so he never really got settled,” he said. “We had a past players day, so all the old stalwarts got to watch the game and perhaps the emotion of it all got to him a little. But having said that, he’s been in good form this year and I thought he played quite well.”
Kidd’s first game for Narre Warren back in 1994 against Doveton is one of his cherished memories so far, but the back-to-back premierships coached by former St Kilda footballer Austinn Jones are of course his most memorable.
Shinners said the 33-year-old was also the youngest captain of the club, being appointed as a 20-year-old back in 1997.
“Like most young blokes he was pretty immature, but had a mature body on him as a young fella, which helped him to adapt to senior footy at young age,” he said.
“He played most of his career as a defender and has become one of the better defenders in the competition. He’s a tireless worker, an honest individual and has been a great servant of our footy club.”
But despite all the games of football Kidd has played for his club, it’s his mates that matter most.
“It’s been fantastic to meet so many life-long mates, even the guys that have finished their careers, we still talk weekly, which is terrific,” he said.
“I’ve been through the whole journey with Glenn Hamilton and pretty happy to have him by my side the whole way through.”