Pembroke Old Scholars forward Alex Forster kicks 100 goals in Adelaide Footy League

An ex-AFL forward has become the first SA player to kick 100 goals in 2021 sparking big celebrations – but his quest for the ton nearly ended in quarantine.

Pembroke Old Scholars star Alex Forster has become the first play in South Australia to boot 100 goals in a senior competition for the 2021 season.

After a week where he almost did not take to the field due to a lockdown, the ex-Fremantle forward did not take long to turn his season total of 99 into 100 with a goal six minutes into the first quarter.

Kings supporters stormed the field in celebration after it sailed through the posts at Haslam Oval.

While Pembroke suffered a 12.8 (80) to 8.11 (59) defeat to SMOSH West Lakes, Forster described the feeling of reaching the ton as unbelievable.

Pembroke Old Scholars forward Alex Forster became the first player in SA to kick 100 goals this season. Picture: Tom Huntley

“To kick a 100 goals at home and to do it with such a special group of boys in front of my fiends and family is something I will cherish forever,” Forster said.

“After a disappointing result yesterday I’m glad it’s happened and we can now focus on a massive month for the football club.”

Forster ended the day with four goals to take his season total to 103.

Later in the day, Imperial spearhead Johnny Boras became the second player in SA to reach a century of goals this season with a massive performance in the River Murray Football League.

Boras was on 91 goals coming into the Blues’ final minor round match but booted 13 majors to reach the ton and then some as his side smashed Mypologa by 94 points.

HOW LOCKDOWN ALMOST PREVENTED TON

Alex Forster led the Adelaide Footy League – and the state – for goals with a remarkable 99 majors coming into Saturday’s match.

But the former Docker at one point thought his chance to kick that crucial last major was in jeopardy.

Following the Kings’ previous match a fortnight ago – where he came in on 93 goals and booted six – Forster joined a few mates and left last Sunday for a quick holiday trip to the Top End.

But things took a turn when Darwin was plunged into a three-day lockdown from Tuesday after a positive Covid case was recorded.

Forster’s almost missed Saturday’s match due to quarantine rules after returning from the NT. Picture: Tom Huntley

Facing two weeks of quarantine on return due to SA border rules, Forster was as risk of missing ladder-leading Pembroke’s last two minor round matches and would have been touch and go to play the first final.

Thankfully, restrictions lifted on Friday which will allow him to take to Haslam Oval face SMOSH West Lakes on Saturday for a chance to kick that one more goal.

“A good result in the end but a long week … I was extremely stressed for a bit there,” Forster told The Messenger before the SMOSH game.

“We had 24 hours of non-lockdown, which was great, then it changed a fair bit unfortunately.

“To miss the next two weeks wouldn’t have been ideal but I’m really relieved now.”

Forster in action for the Redlegs in 2016. Picture: Stephen Laffer

Forster, who played one AFL game for Fremantle and was a member of Norwood’s 2014 SANFL premiership side, has been in outstanding form this season for the division four’s top side.

He has kicked 103 goals from 17 matches – an average of more than six per game.

It is the first time Forster has reached the ton in a season before.

He booted 77 for Payneham Norwood Union in the Falcons’ 2019 division one flag campaign and then crossed to the Kings the following year.

And while it’s an achievement he looked forward to hopefully achieving, the 28-year-old said there was a bigger goal in his sights.

Alex Forster celebrates a goal for the Falcons in 2019. Picture: AAP/Mark Brake

“I’ve never kicked a ton in a season before so it’s an exciting thought, I’ll be able to look back in a few years time when I finish up and be proud of it,” he said.

“Getting a ton would obviously be nice personally but hopefully we can move on quickly and focus on what we’re all after.”

Pembroke is one win clear on top of the ladder with one round to play.

The Kings are desperate to atone for last season, where they when undefeated in the minor rounds only to crash out of the finals in straight sets.