Congratulations mate on reaching 300 AFL games. You’ve always held the torch and shone light on the path ahead for so many of your teammates.

You’ve had an amazing influence on my career. You embraced me the first day I walked through the doors of the GFC and today 13 years on, you still light the path forward for me on this journey.

I have loved our pre-match kick-ups, our pre or post yoga catchups, but nothing more so than putting on the Geelong jumper knowing number 14 is going to be there leading the charge into battle. You have been a constant in my career, a constant that I have come to cherish so very much.

You are the most determined and competitive player that I have ever played with, but also the most considerate. People outside of the club acknowledge your courage and grit, but they don’t often recognise your selflessness and willingness to help our entire football club to the level that they should.

You are a special leader because of the content of your character and the calibre of your competence. You give everything to the purpose and show respect for the game and your teammates through the way you approach each day. We all strive to enact this in our lives, however few are able to accomplish these actions to the level that you do. 

I think you have had one of the biggest influences of any of the 1,088 to have put on the Geelong hoops and I will re-tell many fond memories and stories about the times I played alongside one of Geelong’s greatest ever players.

Congratulations mate and good luck.