GSFL 2025: Top recognition as Railways’ player-coach Bodhi Stubber plays 200th league game in yellow and black

He was given a guard of honour at the start of the match and chaired off as the sunshine ebbed away at the end, the applause ringing throughout to recognise Bodhi Stubber as the life and soul of the Railways Football Club. The fearless defender and dual premiership captain received worthy recognition after playing his 200th league game for the Tigers on Saturday. The 30-year-old made his league debut at the age of 15, has won three GSFL premierships and is a three-time George Stephens medallist at his club and in 2023 was a joint runner-up in the Kleemann Medal. His milestone game against the Royals at the Keep the Sheep Stadium, was a fitting tribute to the player-coach, almost an exhibition match in fact, as he was able to indulge his considerable skills with a dominant display that finished with six goals. A modest man, he spent three quarters of the game setting up his teammates before taking the fourth quarter by the scruff of the neck and cutting loose himself. He converted four goals with perfect strikes in that period, boot connecting with ball as though launching a Burley from 50m through a 6.4m gap was the easiest thing in the world. He seemed embarrassed by the fuss, but he appreciated reaching the milestone in this most brutal of sports. “It’s great to have been able to play 200 games with such a great club,” he said. “I’m not great on personal milestones but it is nice to sit alongside some of the old timers who have done it.” His highlights did not come from individual honours. “Oh, I just love training, the mateship, premierships, the trips — everything which is great about country football,” he said. “I came through the juniors and have just loved it ever since. “That is the most important thing; you have to enjoy it, or there’s no point.” He is equally passionate about his coaching role, even though he has no intention of hanging up his playing boots. “I’m going to hang around for a bit yet,” he promised. Craig Bevan knows him well, as a clubmate, father-in-law and employee at Albany’s Aqua Ice business. He said Stubber was someone who leads by example. “He’s a hard man, a dedicated man and I think that hard work and dedication is rubbing off on the other players,” he said. “He sets an example and when the others see how hard he goes, they want to follow his example and not let him down.” Royals’ coach Darrell Panizza was also keen to pay tribute, rather than dwell on his side’s 119-point drubbing. “Congratulations to Stubber, he had a really good match,” he said. “He has been an ornament to the game and to the Great Southern Football League.”