Maybe – just maybe – the sporting journey of Easton Wood could have been significantly different.

Pursuing a cricketing career was an option as a multi-talented junior sportsman, before stress fractures in his back impeded that path at the back of his school years.

It’s probably worked out okay.

The red, white and blue faithful certainly have no complaints.

Wood will celebrate his 150th AFL match this week, a career which has required its fair share of resilience and ultimately reached the highest of highs.

From a ‘project player’, to running around with Williamstown’s seconds in the VFL, to being a tagger.

Earning an AFL debut in the midfield, before overcoming significant injury hurdles to become one of the game’s most courageous players, and best intercept defenders.

An All Australian. A Bulldogs’ best and fairest winner. A premiership captain.

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The 29-year-old from Camperdown in country Victoria has achieved plenty.

“It’s been quite a journey,” Wood told Triple M this week.

“When I got drafted I was definitely told I was very much a project player.

“When I got to the football club I realised how far off playing an AFL game I was.

“I started playing in the Williamstown VFL twos… I slugged away in the twos… and didn’t get a chance to have a taste of AFL footy until late in my second year, round 19.

“Even then, I still felt like I had a long way to go.”

Wood has certainly come a long way since then.

WATCH | EASTON WOOD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

His Mum, Fiona, excelled as a middle distance runner and Dad, Phil, was a Commonwealth Games triple-jumper.

His older brother McLeod is a major in the Australian Army.

So the athletic and leadership qualities Wood brings to the table are part of his blood.

His leadership is something that has developed – firstly leading by action, and then stepping up to the captaincy in the now-famous 2016 season after Bob Murphy went down with a knee injury.

The image of Wood, Murphy and coach Luke Beveridge on the dais after the 2016 grand final will live with Bulldogs people forever.

“I think all the best leaders lead through actions and words,” Beveridge said, when asked about Wood’s milestone.

“Over time, Easton’s probably led extremely well through actions and the voice aspect as far as instructional, supportive and educational is something he’s now really evolving with.

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“He obviously led the club through Bob’s absence years ago and established enormous credibility through those times and self belief.”

Wood still hasn’t watched the grand final in its entirety – it’s something he’s saving for when he calls time on his career.

Which hopefully won’t be for a while yet.

But that career could have been different – particularly given he bypassed the TAC Cup, and was drafted out of school footy from Geelong Grammar.

“Cricket was a massive part of my life growing up,” Wood told SEN1116.

“As I was maturing, particularly in Year 11 and 12, I kind of just started to like cricket a bit more than footy.

“I was a bit of a sensitive soul back then, I probably still am… but when footy got a bit more serious there was a lot more yelling involved from coaches, which turned me off a little bit in my junior days.

“I felt much more comfortable on the cricket field where it was just talking about technique, and it was a lot more social and ‘free and easy’ to enjoy.

“I just tried to bowl heat, every ball.”

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There’s traits there which Wood has carried over into his footy career.

The combination of his caring character and full-throttle approach, in the eyes of his teammates, help make him the player and leader that he is.

Lachie Hunter speaks of his intensity, and Jason Johannisen of his drive to be at 100 per cent.

For Tom Liberatore, it’s the fact Wood has his teammates best interests at heart, and cares for them individually. It’s his courage that inspires Mitch Wallis to follow him into battle.

Young players like Aaron Naughton find comfort in playing alongside him.

But Dale Morris – the only player remaining on the Bulldogs’ list from when Wood first arrived at the club – probably sums it up best.

“With Woody, it’s been great to see his development over the years.

“He’s really matured and really grown into the player we see today. Early days, he was finding his feet and working out who he was as a person and a footballer.

WHAT EASTON MEANS TO THE BOYS

“But now you can see he’s comfortable in his own skin.

“The captaincy suits him to a tee. He’s leading the way that he wants to lead, not how others think he should lead.”

He’s a Lego enthusiast. A die-hard Star Wars fan. Outspoken about the danger of the normalisation of betting in the AFL industry.

There are many layers to Easton Wood, and a few chapters to come in his journey just yet.

But there’s pride at Whitten Oval in what he achieved over the past decade, over his first 150 AFL games, and the person and player he has become.

“He’s obviously a great role model on a lot of fronts,” Luke Beveridge says.

“He’s a professional and he’s such a stand-up figure in our game.

“It’s a great milestone, to chalk up the 150.

“He’s achieved a lot. I think down the track once his career’s over he’ll be remembered in the right fashion.” 

MATCH INFO | ROUND 14 – DOGS v PIES