Sport
18 June, 2026
Milestone man 'Jono' laces up for 500th
In celebrating his 500th game of football this Saturday, Eagles player Clinton Jonasson will return to where it all started: Brim.
'Jono', as he's better known, is both a stalwart and veteran of both Brim Football Club and the Warrack Eagles.
The clubs merged in 2001.
Jono started playing minis (under 13s) at seven, and it was because of a family member that he pulled on the Brim jersey.
"I started at Brim because my uncle Darren Pitt was playing in the seniors at the time," said Jono, adding that he also had friends from school who played with the club.
"He took me along, and it all started from there."
Friends were the reason he liked footy early on, and to this day that appreciation hasn't swayed.
"Everyone would play football, having fun," Jono said.
"It was what you did.
"Everyone was welcome at the club and it had a great side socially."
Over the years, Jono reflected, his love for the game hasn’t changed.
"I still love it," he said.
"As the years went on most of my mates from school finished playing but the best thing is the people you meet: people you play with, friends you make.
"That's what it's all about: the community involvement, the camaraderie, the sportsmanship ... it's the best."
At seven, Jono said, he never dared to dream he would reach a milestone like this.
But he has never played for milestones.
"They just came along with the love for the game and what the game gives you," he said, laughing.
"To play my 500th at Brim where it all started is going to be pretty special."
Over the years Jono has played just about everywhere on the park or, in his own words, wherever the team has needed him to play.
He said his role within the side had developed over the years into helping many youngsters, passing on his experience and knowledge.
But Jono also had to adapt when Brim and the Eagles merged in the early 2000s, and he admits the amalgamation came as a shock.
"We had just finished runners-up in the 2000 Mallee grand final and were looking to go one better," Jono said.
"We did all the pre-season, and only a few weeks from the 2001 season starting I remember having a Saturday training session organised, which seemed strange.
"We arrived, did a lap and then were told we were going to be merging with Warracknabeal Lions as of now.
"We were all a bit shell-shocked."
Jono said he went from being part of the Brim Eagles on Saturday to the Warrack Eagles on Tuesday, when they all trained together for the first time that night.
"We had about 60 players at training on that first night," Jono said.
"That season, with so many numbers, everyone had to perform and train to get a game, more than any other year.
"From then on we rolled on as the Warrack Eagles."
Jono said in all his footy years he had never considered hanging up his boots, but he had faced a challenge here and there, including when he had to step back from the game he loved to start his own cabinetmaking business.
"I had to put a lot more time into organising that and I couldn’t commit to a couple of nights' training to play seniors," Jono said.
"So I played seconds that season, and by halfway through the year I was playing seconds and seniors every Saturday.
"So, no, I have never considered hanging up the boots, even some Sundays when I'm a bit sore and doing recovery.
"I just look forward to the next game and the fun it's going to bring."
Luckily, injuries have been kind to Jono over the years, with the main one being a broken bone in his wrist in 1999.
After being sling-tackled in a game at Walpeup, he landed on his wrist, forcing a six-week spell on the side.
Jono's also seen a lot of changes in the game over the years but he said the biggest was the game's physicality, saying it had been cleaned up a lot.
He's also seen a significant decline in the number of players, which he attributes to several factors.
Of course, having played many, many seasons, Jono has racked up some favourite memories over the years.
"Playing my first senior game as a 16-year-old at Brim," he said.
"Another big highlight was being a part of the first Warrack Eagles' senior premiership side in 2002, along with the first Warrack Eagles' reserves premiership side (undefeated) in 2012.
"The biggest highlight was to play my first senior grade game of football with my eldest son, Kynan.
"We've now played around 60 games together."
Among his other favourite memories at Brim include being awarded the under 16s best and fairest in 1993 and claiming the best club person award in 1999.
He has also had his fair share of accolades and a bit of success at Warrack.
"I was awarded Warrack Eagles' reserves best and fairest in 2005, and we played in four consecutive grand finals for the Eagles: 2009 (seniors) runners-up, 2010 (reserves) runners-up as coach, 2011 (reserves) runners-up and 2012 (reserves) premiers," Jono proudly recalled.
Asked how many more games he had left in him, Jono said he personally couldn't answer that question.
"But my youngest son, Zander, said I have to keep playing until I play a game with him and Kynan so we'll see what happens there," he said.
"As far as the games tally, I don’t look to that as a motivator; it just happens.
"Time will tell."
When the time does come for him to give up the sport, Jono will still have plenty to do as he runs his own business, Jonasson’s Kitchen Solutions, for which he employs five workers.
After 21 years in business, Jono and his team carry out work across the Mallee and Wimmera and have employed many local footballers over the years as well as financially supported the Eagles.
He also still plays local basketball and is the current men's senior co-ordinator for the league.
But that's not all: he volunteers for Warracknabeal Fire Brigade, is a member of the senior men's competition running team and coaches the under 14s and under 17s junior competition running teams.
In his spare time, over the years Jono's hobbies have included being a greyhound owner, breeder and trainer, and he also enjoys catching the odd yabby or two.
Jono's milestone game on Saturday will be celebrated by many family and friends, including his wife Tennille and children Kynan, Milly and Zander.
It's apparent that they hold the club close to their hearts as well.
"My family is all involved in one way or another," Jono said proudly.
"Tennille has helped out with bar duties and volunteering where needed and is a great supporter.
"Kynan plays in the reserves, Zander in the under 17s and Milly, she's a good supporter too."