But with their break shortened and the family driving home on Thursday, it's his kids who confirm he will be driving into history on the weekend when Coleambally host the Northern Jets.

"Yes!" they call emphatically over the phone when Pound is asked if he'd be back for Saturday's final round, and a record 334^th first grade appearance for his club.

Hannah, 13, Alex, 11, and Harvey, nine, must be keeping their dad young at heart.

At 43, Pound will move past Damian Mannes' record of 333 senior games for the club.

All three say they love watching him play.

"Yes, except we're going to be better than him," Harvey says.

You get the feeling Pound would be happy with that. He's happier out of the limelight and is almost a reluctant record-breaker.

"We were going to be on holidays but we're getting back early so it looks like I'll have to fill in for someone," Pound says.

"It won't mean a lot (334). I'm pretty good mates with Damian Mannes so it's not going to mean much to me at all. I played a fair bit with him. He was very reliable, a top bloke to play with. He was always in the top few players of the day."

When Pound debuted for Coleambally back in 1998, he couldn't imagine what 2021 would look like, let alone consider that he'd still be playing first grade.

He says it's family now that keeps him coming back.

"The wife. Lauren's playing netball so I've got to follow her around, and the kids," he says.

"They needed some numbers for reserve grade so I thought I'd help them out with that. But then they got some injuries in first grade so I had to step up there."

It isn't the first time he's stepped up. He did in 2005 when the club won its last flag, a stunning victory to claim the Coreen League premiership against Coreen-Daysdale United.

One early moment was a long bomb from the boundary to keep them in touch, and then he was instrumental in the comeback with his work in the midfield.

"2005 is the highlight, for sure. To come from behind and win, that was pretty special," Pound says.

"The best thing was it was a team full of locals. All local blokes and I don't think that's happened for a long time."

Pound shared that success with brothers Dean, Carl, Jay and Tony (another 300-gamer at the Blues) and playing with his siblings was the ongoing highlight of his career.

While injury forced Jay into retirement in 2015, the other four played together in the 2016 preliminary final miracle against the Northern Jets. Shane kicked two goals in the fourth quarter, including one from outside 50 metres in time-on in the last quarter, and then the match-winning behind when extra time had gone into golden point.

Pound was named on a half-forward flank in Coleambally's team of the half-century in 2015, a team that had Damian Mannes named at full-back (and Carl on a half-back flank).

The Blues have had a tough season but Pound says the social aspect of the community and watching his own boys play keeps him around the club.

Coleambally co-coach Curtis Steele paid tribute to Pound after he equalled the club record two weeks ago against Marrar.

"He played really well, one of the best he's played this year - on the big stage, in front of everyone there for him, it was good," said Steele, who's enjoyed the privilege of coaching and playing with Pound.

"You've only got to tell him something once and he'll do exactly what you ask.

"He's a well-known senior player here and the respect that he gives back to you is unbelievable... I'm only half his age but his ears are always open and he's happy to do whatever you need.

"He's been good for us this year. We can throw him in the midfield for five minutes and down forward. If we manage him and give him the right time on the field, he's bloody good for us."

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