Glenelg captain Chris Curran finally reaches 100-game milestone in clash against Port Adelaide

Glenelg skipper Chris Curran’s decision to persevere with his career is paying huge dividends and on Sunday he will finally reach a special milestone. See the teams for the split round game.

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Glenelg captain Chris Curran seriously considered pulling the pin on his career three years back.

Struck down by a hamstring injury, following a frustrating ankle problem, Curran admits he was ready to take his life in a different direction after being restricted to 15 league games in three years.

The defender was in the process of applying for medical school in Geelong when he met with then Tigers coach Matthew Lokan and football manager Paul Sandercock.

It was a chat with impacted heavily on his future.

“They supported me and said they’d love to have me back, ” Curran said. “I’d been thinking it would be better for me to pull the pin, mentally and physically.

“I look back on it now and I’m glad I pushed through.”

Those injuries and his decision to persevere is what makes his 100th league appearance against Port Adelaide at Glenelg Oval on Sunday extra special.

“I feel younger because of those couple of years missed,” said Curran, a qualified physio now studying medicine. “It is good to finally get there.

“I’ve never been blessed with super talent. I just put in more hours and extra sessions and rely on fitness and an ability to read the play.”

Glenelg captain Chris Curran finally plays his 100th game in the clash against Port Adelaide at Glenelg Oval on Sunday. Picture: Tom Huntley

The Tigers have made an impressive start to the season to be on top of the ladder and Curran has led from the front with ultra consistent form down back.

He has embraced the sole captaincy role this year, although initially he found it tough.

“I thought I would have to become Luke Hodge in two weeks, but it does not work like that,” he said. “On Fox Footy one night they were talking about Shannon Hurn at the start of last year.

“The Eagles were flying and Shannon Hurn was flying and they said you are only going as well as your captain. So that is something I think about week to week.”

As for the growing expectation at the Bay, Curran said the club needed to embrace it.

The Tigers have named a 25-man squad and included the 21 who impressed with their drought-breaking win over Central District at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.

Tim Sumner is a chance to play his first league game since April 14, 2017, after being among the four players added to the squad.

The talented forward played with Woodville South last season after 10 games with that club the previous year. But now based in Adelaide with his employment, Sumner approached the club in December and resumed training in mid February.

After appearing in a couple of pre-season trials, he was given time to regain fitness before resuming his career with the Tigers in the reserves in round two. Sumner has not missed a training session and has been doing extra work in a bid to gain a spot in the league side.

Hamish Hartlett, troubled by hamstring issues since returning from a knee reconstruction, returns to action for Port, while Aidyn Johnson and former Tigers ruckman Ben Edwards have been named in a 20-man squad.

Hamish Hartlett with Robbie Gray at Alberton this week. Hartlett will play at Glenelg on Sunday. Picture Sarah Reed

Glenelg v Port Adelaide

ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg, Sunday, 1:10pm

Glenelg

F: Agnew, McBean, Gregson

HF: Close, Hosie, McCarthy

C: Reynolds, Snook, Scharenberg

HB: Motlop, Curran, Gould

B: Joseph, Proud, Chalmers

R: White, Bradley, Partington

INT: Betterman, Schott, Bailey, Sumner, Virgin, Carmody, Kerrish

IN: Virgin, Carmody, Sumner, Kerrish

Port

F: Cox, Marshall, Hill

HF: Davidson, Woodcock, Johnson

C: Mead, Sutcliffe, Pudney

HB: Elsworthy, Bonner, Frederick

B: Grundy, Corcoran, Hartlett

R: Edwards, Trengove, Hewett

INT: Strange, Wong

IN: Johnson, Hartlett, Edwards

OUT: Ladhams (AFL), Drew (AFL), McKenzie (hamstring), Appleton (corked shin)