Michael Dodson and Shane McCallum could have hung up the boots a decade ago and nobody would have batted an eyelid.
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The Goulburn Bulldogs veterans were newly-crowned premiership winners and in their early thirties. Most blokes at that stage are happy to walk away.
Fast forward 10 years and most blokes their age - now 44 and 41 respectively - are happy to play masters football.
But these two are hunting for another Canberra Raiders Cup triumph for their beloved Bulldogs before they hang up the boots - something Dodson has already done four times.
A semi-final win in their hometown has kept the dream alive for Dodson and McCallum, and coach Adam Kyle can think of few better ways to sign off at home.
The Bulldogs will play for a spot in the grand final following a 42-12 thrashing that shattered the Queanbeyan Kangaroos' premiership ambition at Goulburn Arena on Saturday.
Queanbeyan played with 12 men for 68 minutes after Josh Ayers was given his marching orders for punching and the Kangaroos failed to recover.
MORE RUGBY LEAGUE
"It is pretty special. They're both really passionate about the Bulldogs and I'm really proud for them to get a win in our last home game," Kyle said of Dodson and McCallum.
"It's been 10 years since our last grand final and both of those two players played in it.
"To still be playing first grade at 40, they're unbelievable football players. The big thing for me is they're even better people.
"We would love to win a premiership for them to see their careers out. They're massive, and they have been all year for us.
"Michael Dodson is nearly 45 and he has been one of our best players all season. It's just his knowledge and his experience, and all of the other boys really thrive off he and Shane's energy.
"At their age, to be playing first grade, I think a lot of the boys look at it and think 'if they can do it, why can't we do it?'
"They're valuable for us, and they're two guys I rely on heavily to help me push the boys around and lift the spirits."
Goulburn shot out of the blocks and scored in the opening three minutes via the "outstanding" Mitchell Cornish and a brain explosion soon reduced the visitors to 12.
Kangaroos prop Ayers was sent off for punching James Aubusson after a late shot and Goulburn rubbed salt into the wound as they ran in 32 points to close out the half.
Queanbeyan managed to salvage some pride in the second stanza to bury any outlandish hopes about Goulburn going close to replicating their 80-point effort from a week prior.
"We've been building to this for a long time. We've known we were going to be locked in somewhere in the semis for about a month now," Kyle said.
"A lot of training and a lot of our game play ahs been preparing for today. I was so proud the boys delivered our game plan and our structure in that first half. The score showed that.
"We took our foot off the pedal a little bit in the second half but we really set that game up in the first 10 or 15 minutes."
Goulburn will meet the loser of the Queanbeyan Blues' major semi-final clash with the Tuggeranong Bushrangers for a spot in the decider next week.
Terry Campese's Blues will hunt for back-to-back wins over the Bushrangers when the sides collide at Seiffert Oval on Sunday.
AT A GLANCE
Canberra Raiders Cup minor semi-final: GOULBURN BULLDOGS 42 (S Cummins 2, C Hart, M Cornish, T Greenwood, D Rota, R Fonoti, I Tittor tries; C Hart 5 goals) bt QUEANBEYAN KANGAROOS 12 (K Pagura, N Ngere tries; T Whiley 2 goals) at Goulburn Arena.
Sunday: Major semi-final - Queanbeyan Blues v Tuggeranong Bushrangers at Seiffert Oval, 1.50pm.