St Mary’s NTFL record breaker Iggy Vallejo will always remember milestone game

NTFL games record-holder Iggy Vallejo knows the end is near, even if his body shows all the outward signs of a warrior emerging unscathed from battle

St Mary's veteran Iggy Vallejo played a league record 329th game against Waratah at the weekend. PICTURE: Justin Kennedy

NTFL games record-holder Iggy Vallejo knows the end is near, even if his body shows all the outward signs of a warrior emerging unscathed from battle.

Vallejo played his 329th Premier League game on Saturday night in the manner he played every game before that – with the poise and skill of a champion.

St.Mary's milestone man Iggy Vallejo walks off the ground after fulltime.

And this time his Saints teammates delivered, scrambling to a 10-goal lead at three-quarter time before a nine-goal-to-one last term stretched the margin to more than 100 points at the final siren.

As popular Saints skipper Peter MacFarlane said in the changerooms after the game: “Finally we’ve done the right thing by Iggy.’’ He was referring to losses in Vallejo’s record-breaking club game at St Mary’s and the week his dad Dominic passed away.

Vallejo grinned when reminded again of the significance of the occasion, 329 games in the heat and humidity that is Darwin football.

“It was an awesome day; the league put on a really good show and I’d like to thank them for that,’’ he said.

“But look, just to get the win was fantastic on a night when the conditions out there were pretty tough and it was very slippery and boggy underfoot from the rain we got earlier in the day.

“Ricky (coach Rick Nolan) gave us a pretty basic game plan before the match and we stuck by it, which paid pretty good dividends.’’ Previous record-holder Michael Athanasiou was not in the stands after a busy month of travel from his Perth home that was highlighted by his selection in the AFLNT Team of the Century.

But Athanasiou made sure his former teammate was not forgotten, sending his regards pre-game and calling Vallejo at post-match celebrations.

“I spent a bit of time with Mick on the phone after the game and it was good to hear from him,’’ Vallejo said.

“They threw me up in the forward line in the end to get a kick, I suppose, and to get that goal to cap off the week was really good – the end of a great week.’’

Vallejo again confirmed the 2016-17 season would be his last, saying it was time to look at other things in life and “even dabble more seriously’’ into his joint under-16 coaching duties with teammate Henry Labastida.

“I guess I’m a bit tired,’’ he said with a laugh. “But really, it’s been a great journey and I thank St Mary’s for all they’ve given me.’’