Blair rules

By Tania Martin
BLAIR Kuys can now proudly hang up his boots after more than 300 games.
The Emerald Bombers’ fullback was carried from the field at the weekend when he reached the milestone after more than 25 years.
Kuys, 31, first fell in love with the game when he was just six and says his big brother was to blame.
“I followed my brother … I was six years old and wanted to do whatever he did,” Kuys said.
He said his parents, Bill and Robyn, were also a big influence on his early playing years.
Kuys first started playing club football when he joined Emerald’s under-nines squad in 1985.
He went on to win two best and fairest awards and represented the Dandenong Ranges Junior Football League in the under-14s Interleague squad.
Kuys also got the chance to represent the YVMDFL in the under-18s interleague squad.
He captained the Bombers senior squad in 2005 and 2006.
But Kuys never dreamed of making it big in the AFL.
“I knew I wasn’t good enough but still loved the game,” he said.
In his 25-year career, Kuys has played in only one premiership winning team in the under-14s in 1993.
Kuys said career highlights were his 250th game and now his 300th in the reserves.
“We weren’t doing so well that year (of his 250th) and didn’t win any games that season except that game by one point,” he said.
Kuys said taking to the field for his 300th game was a milestone he wasn’t sure he would make.
“I wasn’t going to come back this season but decided it would be a shame to not finish and make it to 300 games,” he said.
“It’s a great way to finish my career.”
In the big milestone match on the weekend, Emerald’s reserves went down to Yarra Glen 4.5 (29) to 7.10 (52).
But despite the loss, Kuys said the highlight of the match was running through the banner before the match with his teammates forming a guard of honour.
He was also chaired off the ground after the match.