THIRROUL veteran Aaron Beath has long been considered part of the furniture at Gibson Park and that will literally become the case when he notches his 300th first grade game for the Butchers on Saturday.
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It’s certainly fitting given how much the Butchers stalwart has in common with the ‘Aaron Beath Stand’ named in his honour this week.
Both are permanent fixtures at Gibbo, both have seemingly been around forever and, despite picking up some wear and tear along the way, both continue to do the job week after week, year after year.
Eighteen years to be precise since debuting as an 19-year-old in 1998, winning his first premiership – the first of five in Butchers colours – under his uncle Phil Ostwald a year later.
“It was out Dapto Showground we got the win on a Friday night so it’s a bit ironic we’re playing them this week in my 300th,” Beath said.
“Growing up playing juniors all you want to do is play first grade for your local town and I was lucky to do it at 19 years of age. The next year was pretty special.
The sides in 2003, ‘08 and 2014 were similar sides, we were far and away the best sides those years but in 99 we were running last heading into the last round. From there we strung seven or eight wins together and snuck into the finals and up winning the grand final. They’ve all been good and I’ve been pretty fortunate there”
Along the way he’s picked up a host of individual honours – including first grade player of the year in 2003 and leading point-scorer in 2006 – but it’s the blue and white running through his veins that keeps him coming back.
His father Aiden was part of John McCarthy’s 1973 premiership-winning side. Aaron’s gone on to win the 2008, ‘12 and ‘14 flags alongside John’s son Ty. His brother-in-law Brent Grose, who’s uncle Ian was part of the ‘73 side, was also there in 2012 and 2014 among numerous other family connections.
For a club that’s rarely been flush with cash, Beath says it’s the family culture that’s seen the Butchers make every finals series since 1994.
“It’s a family club and we really are a family,” Beath said.
“I treat all the boys like I would my brothers. Everyone’s treated as an equal, whether you’re a first-grader, third-grader. We’re just a really tight group and people who come from the outside just buy into what we’re about.
“If you want to chase a couple of hundred dollars you can go down the road but you can’t buy what we have here – it’s a special place.”
As for how long he’ll continue, he will play on next year wherever the club needs him to be
“I’ll definitely play again next year. I’m just happy to stick around the joint and if they need me to play first grade I’ll play first grade,” he said.
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