Football
25 June, 2025
Simon Mentz plays 400th game for Natimuk
Simon Mentz has been hailed as a great representative of the Natimuk United Football Netball Club, as he played his milestone 400th game for the club on Saturday.
Mentz achieved the feat in front of a home crowd, suiting up as a ruckman for the Rams’ reserves football side against Harrow Balmoral.
Mentz ran out to a guard of honour and a banner to commemorate the achievement.
Originally coming to Natimuk as a climber to take on Mt Arapiles, Mentz first played for the Rams more than 25 years ago and has had a profound impact on the club ever since.
Shane Glascott, president of Natimuk Football Netball Club, praised Mentz for his selflessness in helping out the club.
“He’s one of those guys that loves putting his hand up for anything,” Glascott said.
“He’ll play a game of reserves, and it’s hard to get umpires, but Mentzy just puts his hands up to do it, and you don’t even have to say anything to him, he’ll just go and umpire.
“His football ability is not too great but he does give 110 per cent, and as a club member he is great to have around.”
Mentz’s contributions go beyond the field, playing a significant part in helping upgrade Natimuk’s facilities.
Back in 2003 Mentz produced a short film, ‘Rams to the Slaughter’, primarily focused on the football club’s struggles in the early 2000s.
Mentz went on to send the film to The Footy Show, where the club received $20,000 to help redevelop some of the club’s facilities.
While the milestone is no easy feat, Glascott highlights how it is all the more impressive considering he started playing for the club when he was 30.
“He didn’t start playing football until he was 30,” Glascott said.
“It’s not a bad record considering he started that late, and he’s played a lot of games in both seniors and reserves throughout.”