Dapto Canaries captain Troy Pieper brings up century of first grade games in Illawarra Cup

Epitomising everything the Dapto Canaries are about is their captain Troy Pieper who celebrated his 100th first grade game for the club over the weekend. Hear from the milestone man.

Troy Pieper of the Dapto Canaries. Picture: Denis Ivaneza

Dapto Canaries captain Troy Pieper took to the field for a century of first grade appearances for the club over the weekend in the Illawarra Cup.

The Canaries’ captain was clapped through a guard of honour as he took to the field for the 100th time holding his young son in what he described as “a special and memorable moment”.

“Mum made up a little Dapto jersey for my boy,” Pieper said about the special moment he shared with his first born.

“All my family was there which made it that little bit more special.”

Pieper’s Canaries came up short against a tough De La Salle opposition, unable to continue their run of four straight wins as they went down 34-10.

100 up for Troy Pieper of the Dapto Canaries. Picture: Denis Ivaneza

Despite the loss, Pieper was able to cap off his landmark day with a late try for himself on the back of some wonderful solo work from interchange hooker Luke Penny.

“Obviously not the result we were after, but that’s footy, you don’t always get the glory on the big occasions,” Pieper said.

The centurion fullback was joined by friends and family at Dapto Leagues Club that evening where he was presented with a framed Dapto jersey.

“It was a bit emotional actually,” Pieper said.

“One of my best mates is our coach Blake Wallace who made a really heartwarming speech.

“It was a special moment.”

Wallace is a former teammate turned coach of Pieper and the Canaries, saying the decision to have Pieper as the captain of their side picks itself.

“He’s the skipper for a reason,” Wallace said.

“He’s very selfless, a real team and club first mentality.

“He’s a great runner of the footy and always really vocal from the back.

“He’ll do what needs to be done on and off the park and sets a great example for the young fellas around him.”

Pieper is born and bred in Dapto, playing junior at the club from U6s through to U16s.

After briefly moving to Western Suburbs for U18s when Dapto didn’t have a side, he returned in 2014 to play seniors, before taking the captain’s armband from 2018 onwards.

When asked what his fondest memory has been in the gold and blue of Dapto, he identified the 2016 reserve and first grade double grand final triumph.

“It’s funny actually, I was playing first grade until old mate Blake Wallace, who was with the Illawarra Cutters at the time, came back into the side and took my spot,” Pieper joked.

“That’s footy though, I was still proud to captain the reserve grade side to that win and be ready on the sideline if the first grade side needed me.

Troy Pieper of the Dapto Canaries. Picture: Denis Ivaneza

“It was a big achievement for a me and a massive day for the club.”

The Dapto Canaries sit in fifth on the Illawarra Cup ladder and are right in the thick of finals contention with two rounds remaining in the regular season.

When he’s not taking kick returns from deep in the first grade side, Pieper is giving back to his club by coaching the U10s side, where maybe somewhere down the line he’ll be coaching the next generation of the Pieper clan.

“It’s a very community and family oriented club,” Pieper said.

“Growing up through the system and meeting people I have has taught me so many life lessons.

“I just want to give back to the club that has given me so much, I’m super proud to be a part it.”