Andy Otten takes the long and winding road to becoming the slowest Crow to 100 games
AFTER 11 years on the list, Andy Otten will break a longstanding Adelaide record when he finally plays his 100th game against Gold Coast.
Andrew Capel
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ANDY Otten is the great survivor.
The Crows’ Mr Fixit has endured two knee reconstructions, had a staggering 960-day wait between his 79th and 80th AFL games and in six of his 11 seasons has played six or fewer matches.
But he has persisted.
And on Saturday against Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval the 28-year-old will etch his name in the history books when he plays his 100th AFL game.
No Crow has ever taken so long following their debut to play 100 matches.
Otten’s 100th will arrive nine years and 317 days after he debuted against Hawthorn in round 12, 2008.
This breaks the longstanding club record of former key forward Ian Perrie, who took eight years and 74 days to go from game one to game 100 from 1998 to 2006.
The longest time in VFL-AFL history since World War II to reach the 100-game milestone after debuting is Essendon’s Dean Wallis.
He took 12 years and 49 days to achieve the feat from 1987 to 1999.
“For Andy to go through what he has and get to 100 is unbelievable,’’ said Adelaide teammate Paul Seedsman.
“He’s had a fair few challenges throughout his career, so for him to be able to stick with it and stay positive and focused on what he wants has been incredible.’’
Otten — drafted at pick 27 at the 2007 national draft from Victorian TAC Cup side Oakleigh Chargers — had his left knee surgically rebuilt in 2010 and his right knee reconstructed in 2014.
He did not play an AFL match between rounds 20, 2014, and round one, 2017, and since the end of the 2013 season has managed just 30 games.
This included 19 last year when he played in the Crows’ grand final loss to Richmond.
Recruited as a tall midfielder, Otten made his mark at Adelaide as a key defender, finishing runner-up behind Brisbane’s Daniel Rich for the 2009 AFL Rising Star award.
But his first knee injury — suffered at pre-season training in December, 2009 — cost him the 2010 season.
He returned to play 15 games in 2011 but didn’t fully establish himself in the side again until 2013 when he played all 22 matches under Brenton Sanderson.
A second serious knee injury sustained against Brisbane at the Gabba in round 20, 2014 — and his long road back through the SANFL — saw him fail to play an AFL match in 2015 and 2016.
He returned to AFL action against GWS in round one last year — 960 days after his previous top-level appearance.
A modern-day “swingman’’ who has made excellent contributions as a defender, marking forward and pinch-hitting ruckman, Otten has bagged 38 goals in his career, with a best return of four against Fremantle in round 10 last year.
Crows coach Don Pyke praised Otten for riding the emotional rollercoaster and beating the odds to reach the 100-game milestone.
“It’s a credit to his persistence and perseverance,’’ Pyke said.
“It’s been a long journey for Andy and I’m sure there were times throughout the trip where he would have wondered where it was going.
“Two knee reconstructions and a lot of missed games and time spent in rehab. It just goes to show that perseverance does really tell in the end.
“It’s great for Andy and a great reward for the effort he’s put in over a fair period of time at the footy club.’’
Pyke said Otten’s value to Adelaide has gone well beyond his pure football ability.
“He’s really well respected by the team and has a good feel for the game,'’ said Pyke, who handed Otten his first game of the season in the Crows’ upset win against Sydney at the SCG last week.
“He is a guy who can communicate really strongly on the ground because he understands the game and the flow of the game.
“Even on the weekend (against the Swans) he comes in and is able to just add a little bit in the back half in terms of our organisation and structural things.
“To play his 100th game, it will be a good night for Andy.’’
andrew.capel@news.com.au
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