(From left) Trevor Richards, Chris Richards, Lance Poka, Ray Mavroudis and Trent McFadzean.
FOR 674 games, Trevor and Chris Richards, Trent McFadzean, Lance Poka and Ray Mavroudis have bled blue and white.
The group has dedicated themselves to the Yenda Blueheelers, through good times and bad, and now they are saying goodbye to the game that made them some of the best players in the region.
Yenda president Adam Goldman said the impact the group had on the club cannot be measured and that they were would be forever grateful for their contribution.
“Certainly they’ll be involved with the club somehow going forward, and no doubt they’ll leave a bit of a hole, but we have some young blokes coming through the ranks,” Goldman said.
“So really it just leads from one era to the next and it gives the young guys a chance to create a legacy of their own, like these guys who are retiring have.
“What we’ll lose the most from the five guys is what they brought to the club off the field.
“Playing ability’s one thing, there’s a lot of good footballers out there - it’s more about the kind of atmosphere they brought to the club, to bring a winning culture to Yenda.
“But I’m sure they’re going to be hanging around the club, they’re those kinds of guys.”
McFadzean and Chris Richards only played minor on-field roles in 2012 due to injury, however the other three will leave large shoes to fill for the 2013 team.
Arguably the biggest hole to fill belongs to Trevor Richards, with the tough-as-teak veteran being one of the Blueheelers’ on-field leaders for 18 seasons, and one of the game’s gentlemen off it.
“A lot of people don’t remember Trevor playing in the Yenda sides that really didn’t even show up in the finals race. Everyone goes through the tough times, it builds character,” Goldman said.
Poka also also earned a reputation as one of the Yenda pack’s tough men, often sparking his teammates with a charging run or big hit in defence.
While Mavroudis showed dedication that all young players should aspire to replicate. He travelled from Wagga at least twice a week for training and games, just to wear the blue and white of his beloved club.
