Daniel Pratt joins elite company at Panton Hill with major milestone
Panton Hill stalwart Daniel Pratt brings up a rare milestone in Redbacks history on Saturday, putting him in elite company.
Northern
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Panton Hill stalwart Daniel Pratt reaches a special milestone on Saturday.
The evergreen big man will play his 300th game for the Redbacks against Epping at Cracknell Reserve – just the third man to reach the mark at the club.
Pratt “came up the Hill” in 2002 after playing juniors at Montmorency and has been a loyal servant ever since.
A NFL Division 3 Team of the Year ruckman in 2009, Pratt was a dominant force in his prime but is content now to run around in the reserves.
He’s played 115 senior games, the last in 2017, and at age 42 still loves running out every Saturday in the red and black.
“I hadn’t really thought about it and then next thing you know I’ve played 300 club games,” he said.
“It’s a great club to be at, it’s like a second home.
“I love it, it keeps me fit.
“I’m a landscaper, so that’s probably prolonged my career a bit, but I’m not Brent Harvey, running around like that.”
Only current NFNL chairman Scott Walker and Allan Flanagan have brought up a triple ton at Panton Hill.
COVID almost cost Pratt the magical milestone and he’s weighing up playing on in 2023 with 400 career games within reach.
He rated the 2013 reserve grade grand final as his career highlight despite the Redbacks going down to Watsonia on the day.
However, the seniors did taste premiership success, turning the tables on the Saints by a single point, sparking major celebrations.
“Playing in the 2013 grand final, it was my first grand final,” Pratt said.
“Unfortunately we lost but it’s a big milestone for me, I’ve never won one, so just playing was a big achievement.
“The seniors won the flag that year, the club’s first in 52 years, so the disappointment of our loss was softened at the celebrations.”
Pratt’s time at Panton Hill has delivered many special moments and life-long friends.
And with his wife’s blessing, he doesn’t plan on hanging up the boots any time soon.
“She’s good, she tells me to go,” Pratt said.
“She’s been great, very supportive, it keeps me happy so why not.
“My body’s been pretty good, I just keep ticking along.
“I don’t know what it is, I haven’t had too many injuries over the years, just a couple of hammys when I was younger.
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“I’ve got plenty of lifetime friends up here.
“I’m actually working with Ben Strongman – give Strong-Scapes a bit of a plug – who I started playing footy with years ago, and we’ve been working together for the last six or seven years now.”
Panton Hill take on Epping on Saturday, looking to make it two wins in a row after breaking a 1043-day drought against St Mary’s.
The win was the club’s first at Cracknell Reserve since 2019 and Pratt hopes both seniors and reserves can celebrate again with a club function to follow, which will make for a special night.
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