By: Daniel Cencic
Twitter: @DC_EFL
Walking into Schramms Reserve as a fresh-faced teenager in 2000 to play under-18s, little did Greg Jarvis nor the Doncaster faithful realise it would be the dawn of one of the club’s finest careers.
Some 17 years, three premierships and five club best and fairests later, and Jarvis plays game 300 this weekend.
It is an accolade Jarvis never expected when arriving at the club, as his under-18 year of footy was the first he had played in six years.
“I’m really proud of it – it’s been a good club to be part of this whole time,” Jarvis said.
“When I came to the club, I definitely wasn’t expecting anything like this – I was just more getting back into footy, having a kick around with mates and I enjoyed it and so I stayed around.”
Jarvis would slot into the club seamlessly, playing five senior matches in 2000 before taking out the best and fairest in just his second year in 2001, followed by 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The 300-gamer remembers trying to find a spot in the senior side at the beginning of his career.
“It’s a while ago now – I remember hoping to secure a spot in the senior team at the start of the year (2001),” Jarvis said.
“We had a few decent players running around at the time.”
Jarvis believes his longevity and consistent form over the years has been a credit to his tireless fitness training and conditioning away from the club which has held him in good stead on the way to this weekend’s milestone.
“I’ve always tried to keep my fitness up and did a lot of running outside the club which probably helped,” he said.
“I did my best each week, plodding along and won a few awards along the way.
“I didn’t really expect to be playing seniors at this point in my career.”
Never has any job on game-day been too big or too small.
The versatile big-man continues to shine in 2017, including a scintillating performance against Norwood at home in Round 3 which saw Ewan McKenzie succumb to injury early in the match, leaving Jarvis to play the lone-hand in the ruck.
The imposing veteran still enjoys the challenges that arise across four quarters of football.
“I enjoy the challenge of being the number one ruckman when ‘Frankie’ (Ewan McKenzie) isn’t there,” Jarvis said.
“He’s our key ruckman but when he’s not there I enjoy trying to compete with the opposition’s best player and do the best I can I suppose.”
The Sharks have seen a number of iconic players through the doors at Schramms Reserve since the turn of the century.
From ex-AFL stars in Nathan Thompson and Heath Scotland, to club-greats such as Schimmelbusch and the Goodwins – Schramms Reserve has never been bereft of a household name.
For Jarvis however, one man stands out as the best he’s played with.
“Probably the best I’ve played with is Chris Annakis,” Jarvis said.
“He can break games open like no-one else I’ve played with.”
Three premierships since 2011 has added to the illustrious football CV of the reserved, unassuming big-man affectionately known as ‘Humphrey’.
Flags in 2011, 2013 and 2015 saw the Sharks climb into the EFL’s top flight under coach Andrew Tranquilli.
While choosing between premierships to many players is akin to choosing between their children, one flag stands out for Jarvis.
“I guess the 2015 premiership being in Division 2 probably means the most,” he said.
“We started in Division 2, went down to Division 3 and back up a couple of times, but to finally win Division 2 and get up into Division 1 is probably the most meaningful one.”
One-club players across 300 games are a rarity in today’s game.
For Greg Jarvis, ‘Shark Park’ has always been, and will always be home as the loyal 35-year-old has spent half his life in the blue and white hoops.
“I’ve never really considered moving,” he said.
“I love the place, as anyone would who has played at one club for 18 years.
“The committee are all good, good bunch of blokes are the players, and the loyal supporters we have.
“I’m sure pretty much everyone who has played so many games at one club would agree that it means a lot.”
Among holding premiership cups aloft and accepting best and fairest awards, Jarvis reflects on the earlier stages of his career where although the Sharks weren’t considered a top side, they always made the power of the day dread the Doncaster match-up.
“In the early days, we weren’t one of the top teams but we happened to go well against the team that happened to win the flag that year,” he said.
“In 2002, we won with a kick after the siren to beat Blackburn who won the (Division 2) flag that year (and) in 2005, Ringwood only lost one game that year and we beat them at home.”
“(Also) against Lilydale in 2003 when they hardly lost a game that year.
“So even when we weren’t the best team in the competition, we competed well against some of the top teams – they’re some of the more memorable victories even when we were up against it.”
In the latter part of Jarvis’ 300-game career, senior coach Andrew Tranquilli has been of great support on the journey in his seven years at the helm, for which Jarvis remains grateful.
“He brought us up from Division 3 and we’re now competing with the top five sides in Division 1 (and) I couldn’t say a bad word about him,” Jarvis said.
While still in impeccable form, Jarvis is keen to continue playing for as long as possible.
When the time arrives to hang up the boots however, the club Jarvis walked through the doors of as a hopeful teenager will always be home.
“As long as the body holds up, I’m happy to keep going – I’m still enjoying it (and) I’ll keep going for another couple of years if I can,” he said.
“When I finish up, I’ll always know I’ll have a home at Doncaster.
“It’s good to know I’ll always have a home at ‘Shark Park’.”