Leading goal kicker for the Golden Rivers Football League's reserve competition wth 105 majors, he is still a well-respected local figure in the sport. Gillingham is also the Bomber reserves' coach, and has enjoyed guiding the younger generation of footballers at the club, secretary Brett Condely said during the week.

"His leadership skills are second-to-none," Condely added.

Gillingham is also a senior selector and assistant to league coach Will Callow on game days. His return after a 10-year break from the sport was for a veriety of reasons, said Condely.

"One was to live the dream of most parents, to have the opportunity to play alongside his sons, twins Bevan and Kurt, but the main reason was he felt he still had something to give back to the game that had been so good to him for a number of years."

Gillingham oversaw the Wandella reserves' journey to second place last season, but there's unfinished business in that competition.

"Winning the goal kicking is a personal thrill but football is all about the team," Condely said.

"After kicking a lazy 10 goals on Saturday in Wandella’s first semi-final win against Ultima he said to his players that [it's] the first step in a hard journey."

That road will only end in the best fashion with grand final-winning medals around the necks of the Bombers' seconds, of course.

Even aside from those notable recent feats alone, Gillingham's 20-year career in district footy has been littered with milestones. He came back from a back injury and subsequent operation in 1990 to again provide leadership at the top level in country sides.

RUSSELL GILLINGHAM TIMELINE

1982 - runner-up in the junior player of the year count at Appin (age 16)

1982 - selected in the Geelong Scholarship squad, played for Northern District under 18s

1983 - member of the Geelong Scholarship squad, premiership with Kerang