Mitch Duncan will run out to play his 200th game against North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium today.
Since being selected with pick 28 in the 2009 national draft, Duncan has evolved into one of the most respected leaders and players within the setup at Geelong.
His pinpoint disposal has seen him develop into one of Geelong’s most consistent players and an attacking weapon in a star-studded midfield.
“Mitch is the poster boy for ultra-consistency at our football club,’ teammate Tom Stewart said.
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"I don’t think he has put his foot wrong too many times and the respect he has of his teammates and the opposition goes to show that, he is a class act and we are lucky to have him at the Cats.”
Captain Joel Selwood has equally high praise for Duncan.
“He has got silk and he has got attributes with the football that other players don’t have,” Selwood said.
“He is a willing worker and he still is to today, and now he leads this club really well and I look forward to running out with him in game 200.”
When reflecting on what it means to reach 200 games, Duncan says that he ‘hasn’t given it much thought’.
“We are in a pretty important part of the year where we need to keep winning, so I will probably focus more on that and it will probably be something I reflect on after the game or after the year has finished,” Duncan said.
“I think there are about 45 from this footy club that have done it and I am not sure across the AFL, but to be able to live my dream for as long as I have so far has been awesome and I thank the footy club for giving me that opportunity and I hope I can repay them in some way.”
Born and raised in Western Australia, Duncan played his junior football at East Perth.
He has stayed loyal to the Cats and says the club’s ‘people first, talent second’ moto has helped build a strong culture and one he is proud to be a part of.
“The people are really important and drive the culture of the footy club.”
“All the way from when Frank Costa was here and I heard it last night at the Hall of Fame, people first and talent second and it is something that sticks with us along the way and we get good people in whether it’s staff, players, people upstairs, they are good people and they want to learn and continue to work hard.
“I think that is a key part and winning as well.”
Duncan was only 20-years-old when he helped Geelong win their third Premiership in three years in 2011.
It is something he admits he took for granted and hoping he gets to achieve again with the current playing group.
“Being able to be there on the day was obviously very special and probably something I take for granted a little bit, looking back on it being young and just wanting to play footy.”
“It drives me to get there again and for the likes of a Jordan Clark, Gryan Miers, Zach Tuohy, Patrick Dangerfield or even Tom Stewart – to get these guys to experience the whole week really."
“It goes so quick when you are that young, but now that I am older and know hard it is to get there, I would just cherish it and make sure that I would remind them to really take it in.”
Today’s match at GMHBA Stadium commences at 7.25pm. A VFL curtain raiser will take place from 3.45pm, plus there will be many fun activities and giveaways for Retro Round.
