Three captains in three weeks, all of them leading out the team on their 100-game milestone. That’s a bit weird, innit?
Aside from a future award-winning trivia question, it’s also an invaluable experience for our three stand-in skippers - Jason Johannisen, Lachlan Hunter and Marcus Bontempelli.
It’s quite extraordinary also, when you consider that Easton Wood is the official captain.
The long tradition at the Bulldogs (and many other football clubs I suspect) is that once a player reaches the 100-game milestone, they get their name on the door of their locker.
Footballers, generally speaking, are sentimental and the 100-game milestone remains an important touchstone in someone’s career.
Unofficially, to play 100 games means that you could play. The unwritten code amongst footballers was that natural ability could get a player to 50 games, but to reach the ton, you needed to work for it. You had to endure.
Our three ‘skippers’ already have their name on their lockers out at the kennel. All three of them were integral parts of that history-making 22 that played in the 2016 premiership.
Premiership players have their names immediately inscribed on the locker. In gold.
All three boys have had fascinating careers at the Bulldogs and it looks to be just the start of some long, glittering careers at the Club.
JJ, the shy extrovert dasher from half back joined the Club as a painfully quiet rookie some years ago. His early steps at the club were tentative, but there were moments, even in the early days, where you couldn’t help but think to yourself ‘he could be something special’.
There’s nothing quite like time out in the middle to build confidence. Week by week, JJ found his rhythm and before long he was taking off on those searching runs down the wing, leaving the stragglers in his wake.
The shy boy from Johannesburg now has a bleached blonde hair do, a Norm Smith medal and a wardrobe that is louder than yours.
Lachie Hunter isn’t tall, but he jumps high. He’s not that quick, but his mind is always one step ahead. As a footballer, Lachie has got a fair bit of tip under the iceberg.
Tactically astute, Lachie is blessed with rat cunning on a football field, he’s able to see things that most players can’t.
What a thrill it must be for his family, especially his Dad (former gun player Mark), watch him each week terrorise opposition teams with his creative link up.
Every now and then a player comes along, a once in a generation player. That’s how good Marcus Bontempelli is.
The ‘Bont’ had only been at the Club for a week or so when senior players started whispering conversations to each other about how special this kid was. Not only is he tough, creative and graceful, but he seems to have taken the torch of what the spirit of this club is. That’s a precious thing.
Well done to all of the skippers, and here’s to watching you for another 100 at least.
