As Essendon's Dustin Fletcher prepares to play football on the wrong side of 40, we take a look back at the old boy of the Port Adelaide Football Club, Shine Hosking...
WHILE men like Fos Williams and John Cahill are often praised for the legacy they built as Port Adelaide premiership coaches, often overlooked is one of the club's early stalwarts, Shine Hosking.
Few know Hosking's playing career extended right up until the age of 48!
First playing for Port Adelaide in 1907, Hosking wore the black-and-white 'wharf pylons' continuously until 1921, but played League football in 1927 and 1936 as well.
His prowess as a player was undeniable.
One only a handful of men to win multiple Magarey Medals as the state's best and fairest player (in 1910 and 1915), he was also a member of the club's premiership and national championship winning teams in 1910, 1913 and 1914.
A member of eight premiership sides as either a player or coach, he played two games in 1927 and then was an emergency 19th man as coach in 1936.
Hosking's reputation for excellence would extend beyond the playing field though.
He coached Port Adelaide for 12 seasons - masterminding the flags of 1921, 1928, 1936, 1937 - before joining West Torrens in 1940.
He eventually rejoined the Magpies as the principal of the combined Port-Torrens side in World War Two - winning the 1942 premiership.
Samson 'Shine' Hosking record
Played 1907-1921, 1927, 1936
State games: 9, state goals: 7
Premierships: 1910,1913,1914,1921,1928,1936,1937
Best and fairest: 1910
Magarey Medal: 1910,1915
Coach: 1921,1927-1931,1936-1938,1942-1944
Port Adelaide Hall of Fame member
Port Adelaide Life member
SA Football Hall of Fame member
