Scott Berry has been there from the start.
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From even before the Hunter Hurricanes came to existence in 2005-06, as a child growing up around water polo parents at Lambton Pool, and then playing through some very lean seasons in the national ranks.
Three hundred-plus games later and approaching a third finals series, Berry will call it a day after this weekend's play-offs in Sydney.
The Hurricanes' maiden Australian Water Polo League (AWPL) title is top of his farewell agenda.
"That would be a great way to finish," Berry told the Newcastle Herald.
The 33-year-old, who teaches at Kurri Kurri High School, has recently seen his family grow to four with six-month-old Will joining five-year-old Ben and wife Samantha at East Maitland.
It was this change in circumstances that confirmed Berry's decision to retire.
"This is it," Berry said.
"We've just had our second boy so life is pretty busy at the moment.
"Just all the time for training and road trips, we can be away for four days sometimes.
"And I don't want to keep playing if I can't do it properly."
Berry's parents, including late father Brian, helped establish the Hurricanes having played in local competitions.
"Mum and dad both played so I was always with them around the pool," he said.
"I was the kid floating up and down on top of the balls."
Berry, Hunter teammates Mitch Baird and Dan Lawrence as well as coach Dan Robinson have been "friends since we were kids".
A younger brigade, including Hurricanes captain and 2018 AWPL All Stars player Gordon Marshall, are now established in the water alongside them.
"They were just kids hanging around the pool 10 years ago and now we're playing with them," Berry said.
He has also been pleased with the emergence of up and coming players such as Mitch Robinson and Keenan Marsden.
This blending of talent has seen the Hurricanes qualify for back-to-back finals following a breakthrough bronze-medal showing in 2015.
"We've come a long way," Berry said.
"After starting from scratch we had some pretty tough years and only had two teams - mens and womens.
"Now there's juniors in every age group ... and we [seniors] are not just making up the numbers, we've got to a point where we've made three out of five finals."
Hunter meet defending champions Sydney University Lions in a fourth-versus-fifth elimination semi at Homebush on Friday (8pm).
The winner progresses to Saturday's top-four encounter and a chance to reach Sunday's decider while the loser will play off for fifth.
The Hurricanes' 23-man squad will be cut down to 13 players on game day.
"Not many people get to do that," Berry, who played a sprinkling of matches of Wests before the Hurricanes were formed, said.
"I have been lucky with injuries and that my wife has let me play for this long.
"It was really good to get there and something I'm proud of."
HURRICANES: Chris Whitelegge, Keenan Marsden, Mitchell Marsden, Joshua Hayes, Scott Berry, Jake Robinson, Lucas Mackaway, Mitch Robinson, Gordon Marshall, Farrel South, Travis McFadyen, Daniel Lawrence, Mitch Baird, Matthew Humby, Luke Dunford, Andrew Dunford, Nathan Royle, Taylor Miller, Jacob Pizzingrilli, Jacob Findlay, Brady Holmes, John Crameri, Lochy McLeod.
