AFL Central West: John Ellis enjoys a special 350th celebration with his Bathurst Bushrangers club-mates

It's why he has notched up 350 senior games of AFL Central West football.

Ellis celebrated the milestone last Saturday as he and his fellow Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws took on club-mates the Bushrangers Rebels in the AFLCW men's tier two competition.

Though he was unable to mark the occasion with a win - the Rebels won by 27 - it was undoubtedly still a special day for Ellis.

"When they clapped me on I didn't expect that, they didn't need to do that ... low key is good," the humble but hard-working rover said.

"G [Steve Grundy] he carried me off and for G to carry me off, I was pretty chuffed about that because me and G have linked up over the years thousands of times and fed off each others' footy so much.

"Although I'm not playing with him now and I was watching all these kids kick him the ball and these brilliant leads and thinking 'That used to be me' it was still brilliant to be carried off by him even though I was playing against him. That was pretty cool."

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Ellis' journey to the milestone began when he was a teenager. It came before the formation of the Bushrangers when both the Bathurst Eagles and CSU Bulldogs competed in the AFLCW.

It was the the blue and yellow of the Eagles which Ellis wore.

"There was no juniors or under 17s when I first started, so my first game was in first grade for the Eagles. My brother and Tim Letcher dragged me up for some training. That was cool," he recalled.

"Then they convinced me to go and do a goal [umpire] to help them out and I did that and then they threw some boots on me and said 'Get out there and have a run.'

"I've had a lot of fun and have some amazing memories, it's been really good.

"I've won a few premierships yeah. I won one in first grade and I'd reckon there'd be three or four at least in ressies, after Mad Monday you tend to forget. That first grade one was only a couple of years ago [2017] against Orange in Orange."

That grand final win over the Tigers, a game the Bushrangers won 3-11-89 to 7-9-51, ranks as one of Ellis' career highlights.

But what he treasures more than grand final medals is the memories that come from playing alongside mates who share his passion for the sport. It's that camaraderie which has lured him back season after season.

"I love it to be honest, I love getting out there and kicking the ball around and playing with your mates and the memories you collect along the way," he said.

"A few years ago I was going to hang up the boots, I came fairly close to it, and I thought to myself that I was okay to do that because I had that many memories.

"But then I went back and played and it was like 'What was I thinking? There are still a massive amount of memories to get'. It's just about having some fun, that's what it is.

"The club itself, I couldn't have got there without the club. The last few years they've put in a team to suit people like me, so I wouldn't have had a chance if it wasn't for the people behind the scenes at the Bushrangers.

"You can't praise them enough for the things they've done over the years. To look at where the club is now, a massive amount of praise for those club."

While's played plenty of his senior footy in the top grade, Ellis is thankful that Bushrangers pushed for a men's second tier competition as he'd "rather have a kick and giggle at this age".

However, still cheers on the men's tier one outfit and has spent countless hours sitting on the hill at George Park watching them in action.

This Saturday the top side will face the Dubbo Demons in Dubbo and look to retain top spot on the ladder after moving there last weekend with a win against the Bathurst Giants.

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