Port Fairy recruit and ex-Warrnambool footballer Jason Rowan kicks 1000th Hampden league goal

The Port Fairy recruit - chasing Tony Russell's mark of 1020 - celebrated the remarkable feat against Hamilton Kangaroos at Melville Oval on Saturday.

Rowan dived and took a mark seven minutes into the second quarter.

He went back and slotted the goal, raising his arms in jubilation before being swamped by teammates and fans who recognised the enormity of his feat.

He entered the match needing one goal to reach the magical 1000-goal mark.

Rowan also kicked the sealer, in the goal square, to help Port Fairy end a losing streak dating back to 2021.

The Seagulls ran out 11.14 (80) to 10.10 (70) winners after being 13 points down at three-quarter-time.

Rowan told The Standard post game it was a special day, both personally and from a team perspective.

"It has been a big build up. Obviously it's an individual honour and it's something I will be very proud of when my football career is done and dusted," he said.

"We were so glad to get it out of the way and then just focus on getting that win.

"To be able to come off the ground and see the boys' faces after having a win after not having one in so long, that means more to me than nailing that goal but it will be something I will be very proud to look back on (when I retire)."

Rowan kicked the sealer late in the fourth term when he kicked the ball off the ground in the goal square.

He finished the match with two majors and now needs just 20 to break Russell's long-standing record.

"It was good to get that one through and give us that little buffer," Rowan said.

"It's such a young, committed group and they don't take a backwards step.

"They fight so hard for the whole four quarters and it's a credit to the pre-season the boys have put in and Dusty (McCorkell) and the coaching staff to get them so fit to run out games like that.

"If we can fine-tune our starts and get out of the blocks a bit better I think we'll definitely be there in many more games to come."

Rowan is in his first season at Port Fairy after crossing from Warrnambool where he kicked the bulk of his majors and played in multiple senior premierships.

The three-time Blues premiership player said he'd relished a change of scenery after a decorated career at Reid Oval.

"The move over here has been so good. I have enjoyed every minute of it," he said of Port Fairy.

"I keep thinking about it driving home from training - blokes like Radush (Mohan), Ollie Myers, Oscar Pollock and Jakey Bartlett, they're all so young.

"I can still remember doing forward set-ups and have Radush telling me where I should be leading or saying 'do a lead behind me or how about you go first Rowy'.

"It's just little things like 17-year-old kids being able to say that. I am not perfect and it really does make me feel good about myself to have such a young group feel comfortable to express what they want to do in the forward line as well.

"It is a really, really good mix down there and it's a great place to be."

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