As Hawthorn celebrates 100 years in the VFL/AFL on Sunday afternoon, young gun Josh Weddle will celebrate bringing up 50 games of his own.
The 20-year-old will join a select group of Hawthorn players to have played 50 consecutive games from his first.
Weddle made his debut in Round 7, 2023 against Western Bulldogs at Docklands and has played every game since, kicking 17 goals.
Despite not tasting victory until his fourth game, he's since chalked up a strike rate of 26 wins and 23 losses.
The list which Weddle is set to join is headed by dual premiership defender, David O’Halloran, who played 74 consecutive games from his Round 1 1976 debut until he got injured in the 1978 second semi final, and was forced to miss the 1978 Grand Final.
Others on the list include Ivan McAlpine (67 consecutive games from debut), Harold Albiston (60), John Platten (59), John O’Mahony (56), Aaron Lord (53), Cam McPherson (52) and Stephen Gilham (50). McAlpine, Albiston, Lord and Gilham had all previously played for other VFL/ AFL clubs.
Speaking to Daniel Harford on RSN Breakfast, Weddle spoke about how his game is progressing ahead of his special milestone.
"I think I've found some good consistency over the last few weeks," Weddle said.
"Obviously I had a bit of struggles early with marking the footy, but I've found that I'm doing a little better with that, which I'm pretty happy about.
"I'm excited to play 50 games for the club and excited for all the other ones, hopefully."
Weddle's coach Sam Mitchell congratulated the young gun on his milestone.
“It is consecutive, that’s very impressive," Mitchell said.
"When Weds got to the club, you had this great feeling that once he worked out a few things, he was going to be an impressive player for us over the journey.
"His flexibility we’ve started to see and I think it’s going to continue to grow.
"There’s people who play their 50th such as a Finn Maginness a couple of weeks ago who you’re enormously proud of because of the ebs and flows of their career and when someone like Josh Weddle plays their 50th it’s a bit of a pat on the back, good job, get out there and do your thing mate because it has been reasonably smooth sailing for him so far.”
Be there as Josh Weddle runs out for his 50th game on Sunday! Get your Centenary Match tickets below.
