Few Australians have played more rugby league seasons than Top End grandfather Dennis Bree. In Darwin's smothering humidity, he's just marked a significant personal milestone - playing alongside his 17-year-old grandson. The local club the relatives share has also been a space to help young men ‘find their way’, providing a strong sense of community for the players
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00:00For 73-year-old Dennis Bree, age is just a number.
00:09My mind is still in my 20s, that's the trouble.
00:12And so I don't think about it until something stops.
00:16With nearly 50 rugby seasons under his belt, Dennis has just reached another milestone,
00:22playing in the same team as his 17-year-old grandson Hamish.
00:27I love him so dearly, it's fantastic to be able to play with him, he's such a fine young
00:32man.
00:33It's pretty inspiring how long he's played for and the level he's playing at as well.
00:39Despite a 56-year age gap between the grandpa and grandson duo, Dennis says he doesn't hold
00:46back.
00:47The game itself just gets me, I like the physicality of it, I'm not very skilful but they put up
00:55with me and I'm allowed to run at people, and they're allowed to run at me and I love
00:59it.
01:00I don't know how he does it, if I'm half the man he is at his age I'd be more than happy.
01:05On and off the rugby field, the Palmerston Crocs Rugby Club has fostered a strong sense
01:10of community, especially for young men finding their way.
01:15Not everybody at that age, their teenage years and early 20s are fully grounded, I wasn't.
01:22And a club like this helps them through those years in a really big way.
01:26I've grown up here and people around me have just looked out for me the whole time, so
01:30I really appreciate this club and all they've done for me.
01:33To those wondering how to continue playing sport while getting older, Dennis' advice
01:38is simple.
01:39It's don't stop, there's no reason.
01:44A message to keep going from a man showing no signs of slowing down.
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