Britten is in his first season as Swifts coach after a long career which has included the 1993 and 1994 premierships at Quantong, before it became Noradjuha-Quantong, and a premiership with Swifts in 2003.

He said the milestone had caught him by surprise.

"I am a bit embarrassed about it actually," Britten said. "It was announced to the club on Saturday night and it caught me a bit by surprise.

"I am grateful to celebrate the milestone but football has never been a game for individual honours. It is a team game."

Britten said he did not want any special celebrations for the milestone.

"I don't want any guard of honour or anything," he said. "I just want to run out with my team-mates and play the game."

Britten said he believed he had been close to the milestone.

"Earlier in the season I asked our chairman, Brian Barber, to see how many games I had played," Britten said. "He came back to me and said it would be this match.

"It was not something I had set out to achieve but I am grateful to play it."

Britten played 119 games for Quantong, three seasons in the Ararat and District league and the rest of his matches for Swifts.

Aside from his premierships, Britten said his other highlight would be this season.

"It has been great to coach a young team like we have this season," he said. "We have not had a good win- loss record. But we have probably surpassed our own expectations. If the club can keep this group and our good under 17 players together then we won't be a bottom side for long."

Wimmera Football general manager Stephen McQueen said Britten had not yet qualified for Horsham District league life membership because he had played some of his games in the Ararat and District league.