THERE are few players in the Bathurst Panthers line-up who boast the experience of five-eighth Claude Gordon, but for all the seasons of football he has played, he has never won a senior premiership.
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Aside from an under 18s crown when he played in Group 11 with Dubbo Macquarie, Gordon has not lifted a premiership trophy.
This year he is a chance of changing that as Bathurst Panthers has lost just one of its Group 10 premier league games.
Still, Gordon is not thinking about a possible grand final success just yet.
“We are going alright, but we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s only early in the second round, so at the moment we are just taking it week by week and seeing how it is,” he said.
“It’s good having Toddy [Barrow] and Jezza [Jeremy Gordon] in the side, they’re the sort of blokes who pull you back down to earth if you get to far ahead of yourself.”
The only loss Panthers has suffered this season was against Orange CYMS, the team the men in black will host at Carrington Park this Sunday.
Gordon is also quick to point out CYMS beat his Panthers in last season’s finals series.
“Last year that semi-final, it made the boys a bit more hungry this year, that’s for sure. It was a heartbreaking loss,” Gordon said.
“That has given them a bit more drive to get out and compete this year.
“Obviously CYMS are still leading the comp and they haven’t done it for the last five years for nothing.
“But if you don’t get up for these top of the table games, well you aren’t going to get up for anything are you. I think it’s going to be a good game this weekend, the boys are up for it.”
Gordon has certainly contested his share of top of the table games during his playing career.
His resume includes a stint with the Wests Tigers National Youth Competition squad, plus time with Dubbo CYMS, Macquarie and Narromine in Group 11.
Before joining Panthers in 2016, Gordon had Group 10 experience with Orange CYMS and Oberon.
“It’s [Group 10] a lot different to over there in Group 11 where I’m from, it’s more of a completion game over here which is good, it teaches you to stay in your structures,” Gordon said.
“You know not to go away from your game plan, I don’t mind playing off the cuff footy, but it’s more about sticking to a plan.”
Gordon has also enjoyed the chance to play alongside Doug Hewitt in the halves this season, Panthers’ number seven boasting an impressive league resume himself.
While a shoulder injury means Hewitt is not likely to line up against CYMS, Gordon is more than ready to step up in his absence.
“Dougie is good for me, he compliments my game a lot as it takes a lot of pressure off me. I just let Dougie do his thing and I do what I need to,” Gordon said.
“I suppose when he’s not there a bit more of the responsibility rolls onto myself and Jeremy, but it’s no different to last season when we didn’t have Dougie.
“There’s probably going to be a bit coming my way on the weekend, but yeah, I’m used to it.”
Sunday’s match at Carrington Park is set to kick off at 2.15pm.
