TOPIC:

Thought it was appropriate to acknowledge one of Subi's favorite sons major milestone in achieving 200 AFL games this weekend in the Derby.

I think only 1 of a very few players to have won both the Sandover and Brownlow medals, the only other I can think of is also a Subi player the freakish Hayden Bunton Snr who won 3 of each.

Matt made his league debut in 2003 going on to play 63 games for Subi and 2 state games, one in which he won the Simpson medal. Mat was offered a big contract to go to the SANFL at the end of 2004, but rejected it while being overlooked in 3 consecutive drafts. He was finally picked up as a West Coast rookie with pick 30 odd.

Mat played in 2 Subi premierships 2004 & 2006, he won his Sandover in 2006 with a record 58 votes later equaled by Kane Mitchell in 2012. After that he became a regular WCE player establishing himself as an elite in and under mid-fielder with wonderful handball skills and a temprement that made him one of the most consistent performers in the AFL, leading to him finally being noticed by the AFL media and umpires by winning the Brownlow in 2014.

A quiet unassuming bloke off the field he would be a coaches dream and epitimises the ideal of hard work and application as the way to success. The only thing missing from his CV is an AFL premiership Medal to go with his two WAFL premiership medals.

I wish him well on Saturday and for the rest of his stellar career.

Senior Seagull wrote: Thought it was appropriate to acknowledge one of Subi's favorite sons major milestone in achieving 200 AFL games this weekend in the Derby.

I think only 1 of a very few players to have won both the Sandover and Brownlow medals, the only other I can think of is also a Subi player the freakish Hayden Bunton Snr who won 3 of each.

Matt made his league debut in 2003 going on to play 63 games for Subi and 2 state games, one in which he won the Simpson medal. Mat was offered a big contract to go to the SANFL at the end of 2004, but rejected it while being overlooked in 3 consecutive drafts. He was finally picked up as a West Coast rookie with pick 30 odd.

Mat played in 2 Subi premierships 2004 & 2006, he won his Sandover in 2006 with a record 58 votes later equaled by Kane Mitchell in 2012. After that he became a regular WCE player establishing himself as an elite in and under mid-fielder with wonderful handball skills and a temprement that made him one of the most consistent performers in the AFL, leading to him finally being noticed by the AFL media and umpires by winning the Brownlow in 2014.

A quiet unassuming bloke off the field he would be a coaches dream and epitimises the ideal of hard work and application as the way to success. The only thing missing from his CV is an AFL premiership Medal to go with his two WAFL premiership medals.

I wish him well on Saturday and for the rest of his stellar career.

SS,

You will not get another OF member make any disparaging remarks about this bloke, he all that you explained and more, true to the word "champion" (Im a Kangaroos supporter).

He is a class act and seems to keep improving his skill level every year too, a great example for all mature age WAFL players that still harbour AFL desires

Swandog wrote: He is a class act and seems to keep improving his skill level every year too, a great example for all mature age WAFL players that still harbour AFL desires

Spot on SD, it took the AFL too long to realise that there are a heap of ready made mature body players running around in second tier comps, they finally seem to have widened their focus away from just 17/18yo kids. Davis from your mob is a classic example.

yep..agree to everything that has been said and I'm a dockers man. Pridda reminds me a bit of Greg Williams in terms of speed of hand and speed of mind. Not overly skillfull as say the great Maurice Rioli but very effective nonetheless. Well done on 200 games.

Senior Seagull wrote:

Swandog wrote: He is a class act and seems to keep improving his skill level every year too, a great example for all mature age WAFL players that still harbour AFL desires

Spot on SD, it took the AFL too long to realise that there are a heap of ready made mature body players running around in second tier comps, they finally seem to have widened their focus away from just 17/18yo kids. Davis from your mob is a classic example.

Yeh I reckon the draft age needs to be increased too, its never made sense to me that players are considered washed up and past it when they are only 22/23, its a joke really. So many players get drafted at 17-18 then get chopped a year or two later, some never to be seen again

Great footballer. 200 AFL games says it all. He also gives me the impression through media interviews etc that he is a real down to earth bloke, completely unaffected by his celebrity status and no ego. A real legend of WA footy as far as I am concerned because he has shown you don't have to be drafted at 18 to be a success in the AFL.