Double Blues defender James McLeay celebrates 150 milestone — with some advice from his grandmother
STURT veteran James McLeay, who plays his 150th match on Sunday, has been told by his grandmother that he overdoes handball and should kick more.
STURT veteran James McLeay has been told he overdoes the handball.
The defender must kick more and kick longer.
Well, that is the advice from his grandmother, Mary Bartlett, who has been watching the Double Blues for 65 years and is the wife of late Sturt player Don Bartlett.
Don made 104 league appearances for the Double Blues and is a life member of the club.
“Grandma says I handball too much,’’ McLeay said.
“But my team-mates want me to handball to them.’’
Mary has been watching McLeay in the Double Blues jumper since he joined the club as a 12-year old and she will be in the grandstand at Unley tomorrow for the clash against Norwood when he plays his 150th league game.
The achievement has been a long time coming and even McLeay seriously doubted he would reach the milestone in 2013 when he battled Osteitis Pubis in the reserves before having his season ended by an ankle injury.
It was not until round seven this season when he was finally promoted to the league line-up and he has kept his spot since.
“I’m definitely excited,’’ McLeay said.
“I’m not one for worrying too much about milestones but it is hard not to be proud of playing 150 games for such a great club.
“I’ve been at the club since the under 12s and this club means a lot to me. I definitely had doubts I would get back to playing at this level but I’ve had a lot of support from the coaches, medical staff and the playing group.
“I had a lot of time out of the game and was not going to be just handed a game,’’ said McLeay, who used an exercise he calls the “worm’’ to help overcome his groin injury.
“We had three tall defenders playing well and we were winning. I just had to bide my time.’’
Stability has been a key to the Double Blues’ impressive season and they made just one change to face the Redlegs - swapping Tom Hurley with Dylan Matsen.
Port Adelaide will be aiming to grab another significant scalp when it hosts Woodville-West Torrens at Alberton Oval on Sunday.
Eagles coach Michael Godden called a 6am training session last Sunday following the shoddy performance against Adelaide the previous day.
West Adelaide needs a win over North Adelaide at Prospect to stay in contact with the top five on the ladder and Glenelg takes on South Adelaide at the Bay.
SUNDAY
Glenelg v South Adelaide
Glenelg Oval, 2.10pm
TV: 7mate
Port Adelaide v Eagles
Alberton Oval, 2.10pm
Radio: 5RPH
North Adelaide v West Adelaide
Prospect Oval, 2.10pm
Radio: Life FM
Sturt v Norwood
Unley Oval, 2.10pm