ST ARNAUD big-man Daniel Needs will reach a milestone very few can claim they have matched.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Needs will play his 300th senior game for the Saints on Saturday in their crucial North Central Football League clash against Donald.
In a feat many wish they could mirror, Needs has played every single one of those games with St Arnaud.
It has been quite a journey to reach the triple-century milestone, especially in 2015, with injury preventing Needs from reaching it sooner.
Needs’ friends and family share their good luck messages (post continues under video)
“I played the first four games of the season and then broke my wrist and spent six or seven weeks out before coming back,” he said.
“I had a bit of a lean spell but the last couple of weeks have been a bit better.”
The 36-year-old admits he feels old compared with some of the youngsters at the club, but believes there are ways to deal with the restrictions of an older body.
“Earlier on I played ruck and changed into the forward line and then spent most of my career at centre half-forward,” he said.
“But now I’m just plonked down in the forward line.”
The classic big-man in the goal-square plucking marks and snagging goals is a role Needs is happy to accept.
“That’s all the coach wants me to do,” he said.
Needs said he never thought about the milestone previously but admits he is proud to have notched his games at the one club.
“I’m definitely proud and it’s good to get them at the one club,” he said.
“I never actually thought about it much. I broke the senior games record a couple of years ago but I never thought I’d get to 300.
“I thought I’d be back in the ressies by now.”
With the Saints sitting atop the table in the North Central league and with a legitimate chance of clinching a premiership, Needs said the club is an exciting place to be right now.
He is certainly used to being around the club.
“I’ve been around here since I was younger because of my parents,” he said.
“The mood is good with all the teams going well.”
With the competition being so tight, Needs believes the race for the flag is wide open.
“From last weekend, first place through to fifth place could have won it,” he said.
“You can’t slacken off against anyone.”
Needs said football is all he has known, so there is no chance he will be a Saturday slacker.
