Swans legend reflects on career and clubTHE high regard that Michael O'Loughlin is held in at Sydney was plain to see this week as the veteran's 300th AFL match approached. And his team-mates ensured his rare milestone was one to remember when they humbled Richmond by 55 points at the MCG today.
O'Loughlin (pictured) has today become the Sydney/South Melbourne football club's first 300-gamer and only the third Indigenous footballer to reach the increasingly rare milestone; joining Andrew McLeod (Adelaide) and Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon, Port Adelaide) in the '300 club'.
O'Loughlin's first of two goals during his team's third-quarter barrage today raised a huge cheer from the Swans contingent in the crowd and prompted team-mates to swamp him. After the match he paid tribute to the club that nurtured him as a shy teenager in 1995 who had wanted to go home shortly after landing in Australia's biggest city.
"I'm still pinching myself because this club means a lot to me; I've been around for a long time," he said.
Amazingly, after a round of upsets, the 10th-placed Swans remain an outside chance to reach the finals.
"We wanted to play like we did last week with our pressure and that's what kept us in the game and it was a good effort in the end," O'Loughlin said. "Probably, with the finals, we have to rely on other results but this club never lies down and we'll just keep on having a crack."
The 32-year-old, who will retire at season's end, reflected on the turnaround in fortunes at the club since his arrival; from the league's easybeats in the early 1990s to grand finalists in 1996, 2005 and 2006.
"That's what our club is about," O'Loughlin said. "That's why we won the (2005) grand final because we had so much respect and pride in each other and I'm just exhausted now and humbled and thank God I came to this club.
"This is not just about me, this 300 is about all the players that have come to this club and worn the red and white, more about those guys who came to Sydney and that struggle that we had. We were almost gone, then we came out the other end, we've had a bit of success now and those guys sort of paved the way. It's just an amazing journey."
Swans coach Paul Roos acknowledged how significant O'Loughlin's milestone was and how the impressive showing against the Tigers was reflective of that.
"I think it was a symbolic day for the club," Roos said. "We wanted to put on a very, very good show for our fans and obviously a show for Mick but also for the past players and everyone that's come before us."
Perhaps Sydney co-captain Craig Bolton best summed up the regard in which O'Loughlin is held in at the Swans.
"He is one of the greatest legends this club has ever produced," Bolton said.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Last Modified on 09/08/2009 21:46