Rugged Gembrook backman Steve Pantorno will reach a wonderful milestone on 4 May when he lines up for his 400th senior game. ‘Pants’ becomes only the second Gembrook player to reach the mark after Len Ure, who played 416 matches from the 1940s to 1978.
Pantorno, 39, has been playing football since he was a nine year old in 1982. His junior years were highlighted by two flags in the under 15s and two club under 18 best and fairest awards in 1989 and 1990. ‘Pants’ got his first taste of senior football in 1991, but still played enough under 18s games that year to finish runner up for the YVMDFL best and fairest award.
Gembrook’s on-field performances faded in the ‘90s, and Steve had to deal with relegation to Second Division and a couple of disappointing grand final losses before the 2000 senior premiership win gave him his favourite footballing memory.
Steve Pantorno was appointed captain of the Gembrook side on its promotion back to First Division in 2001. The same year he was runner up in the senior best and fairest count before winning the most determined player award the following year. ‘Pants’ played in a second senior premiership in 2004. In recent seasons he has dropped back to play in Gembrook’s reserves side and helped it into the First Division finals last season. Pantorno’s role in this side has been to act as the ‘General’ in defence - using his experience to organise and encourage his teammates; his voice can be heard from any point on the ground!
Steve is a strong mark and was a good shot for goal in earlier times, but he has spent most of his career on the last line of defence. Opposition players know when they’ve been spoiled by Steve Pantorno, and they know when they’ve been bumped by Steve Pantorno, but he has always played the game scrupulously fairly and will not stand for any underhanded tactics. ‘Pants’ runs straight at the ball and, when he gets the ball, keeps on running until he launches it well out of the danger zone. What supporters most appreciate is that Steve has always given his best and that he always appears as disappointed as anyone when Gembrook loses.
Steve Pantorno’s 400th match will be played at Gembrook against old rivals Emerald on 4 May.