By Jarrod Potter
TWO hundred games isn’t a mark usually attained until late in the career of a footballer, but Cockatoo’s Daniel Welsh has already ticked this – and he’s just 16 years old.
Welsh ran through the banner for his 200th game on Sunday, when his Gembrook-Cockatoo under-16s team faced off against Wandin.
Welsh played 32 matches for the Mitcham Hawks in Adelaide, before moving to Cockatoo in 2005 to play 168 matches for Gembrook-Cockatoo to round out his double century.
“I’ve been playing footy since I was three, doing Auskick,” Welsh said. “My dad and grandads were into footy, so I followed in their footsteps.”
Welsh started playing for differently aged junior teams – just so he was able to tackle in one. In the younger division, he wasn’t allowed to tackle.
“I got asked to play by the elder age groups; I wasn’t allowed to tackle in under-10s, so the under-11s coach at the time thought to get me up to an age group where I could tackle,” Welsh said.
“The under-10s wanted me to play there as well, so I’d have to go from one place to the other and play through both games.
“I usually play in the centre, at centre-half forward and at centre-half back; wherever the team needs me.
“I like being part of the play and being there to get the ball down for my team and get it out of defence if needed.”
Welsh has been a mainstay on Gembrook-Cockatoo’s best-and-fairest list, winning the award five years consecutively from under-11s to under-15s. He is also a six-time interleague representative with the Dandenong Ranges Junior Football League.
Welsh didn’t want his milestone to distract the team from their preparations for the match.
“It’s just another game of footy to play; just got to win it for the team,” Welsh said.
“The boys will probably squirt me with water like every other milestone.”
Welsh was able to celebrate the 200th in style, as Gembrook-Cockatoo ran out 11.13 (79) to 10.4 (64) winners.
