Tara Murray
When Dean Formosa first started at Albanvale, he couldn’t have imagined 20 years later he would still be donning the blue and white jumper.
On Saturday, Formosa, the Cobras games record holder, played his 500th game as part of the Cobras reserves side against Sunshine Heights.
Speaking before the match, Formosa said it was going to be a special achievement.
“It’s good and it’ll be good to see a lot of people who have played a part in my career on the day,” he said.
“My brother is setting up a gazebo in the pocket which is named after my father. It’ll be good to see all my mates and family there.”
Formosa joined the club in 1993 when he was six. He had to wait another year before he could play as he was too young.
Since then he has played a number of different roles and won a number of awards. He captained the under-10s in 1996, he’s played in two premierships, he won a best and fairest, been senior captain, senior playing assistant coach, senior co-coach and was awarded club membership in 2015.
Formosa said it was the people around the club that kept him coming back.
“I think it’s just the footy club and how much of a family oriented environment it is,” he aid.
“I’ve got a lot of good mates I’ve met through there.
“It’s a really good outlet away from work life.”
Formosa said the two premierships were the highlights of his career. The first was a reserves one in 2010 and then a senior one in 2015.
“Finally being part of the senior premiership in 2015 was special” he said.
“The club started in 1978 and we had not won a senior premiership.”
The 37-year-old knows his playing days are coming to an end in the near future. He said another premiership would be a good way to go out.
Formosa said the timing was right he would probably look to head down the coaching ranks.
He was co coach last season with Andrew Bryson, but the timing wasn’t right to continue.
“I’ve got two young kids,” he said.
“I’m coaching them in soccer. Some of their friends play soccer and they choose to play soccer. I had no idea what I was doing, so I looked at YouTube.”
Formosa said a lot had changed since he first started from the way the coaches approached it, the physical and the off the ball stuff, along with the speed of the game.
After starting this season in the seniors, Formosa made the decision to step down to the reserves.
“It’s a lot faster or I’m just getting slower or both,” he said. “It’s a young person’s game.”
The Cobras made a quick presentation to Formosa before the reserves game, while there was a larger presentation following the senior game.
Cobras president Adam Borg said Formosa has been a great loyal servant for the club for more than 30 years.
“His professional approach to this club and his own game each and every week is a real asset of his character,” he said.
“He’s always striving for the club to improve in any way.
“As a club you always hope you are setting the foundations for its members to want to be there, Dean’s personal milestone is a great reflection on that.”.
