AFL 2020: After two knee reconstructions Carlton co-captain gets his milestone

After back-to-back knee reconstructions All-Australian defender Sam Docherty plays his 100th game for Carlton in a Blues team embracing the hype.

Sam Docherty had circled Round 8 on his fixture in 2018 to play his 100th game, before his first knee reconstruction ruled that out.

He circled the same game last year, but missed the whole season with a second knee reconstruction.

The Carlton co-captain will finally hit three figures against North Melbourne on Saturday, two years later but mentally stronger, a better teammate and leader, better for everything he went through.

“It’s taken a fair bit longer than I thought it would,” Docherty said on Tuesday.

“There’s an added significance definitely because of the time I spent away from the game. I’d be lying if I didn’t say there were times during that two years off that I didn’t think I would get here.

“It’s one thing I’d done, I’d picked where round eight had been for the last two years, unfortunately it didn’t happen. I’m just excited to be back playing footy.

“Getting to the three figures is a significant milestone for myself but also for my wife at home, she has been through a fair bit of this with me. I’m wrapt to run out there.”

Sidelined for two full seasons, Docherty became part of the coaching team, and said learning how to better help others was a key part of his journey back to playing.

“I learned a lot more about my mental health and my teammates,” he said.

“And being able to come back as a leader of the club and read the group and help the group as much as I can has been the biggest thing I have learned.”

Docherty has rejoined a rising Carlton team, on the verge of the eight, undone last week by a “very special player and a pretty amazing kick” when Port star Robbie Gray kicked an after-the-siren, match-winning goal.

Sam Docherty this year. Pic: Michael Klein

The Blues have a three wins and four losses this season, but four of their games have been decided by three points or less.

There’s excitement around them, so much so Carlton will start favourite against the Kangaroos for the first time since 2012.

The skipper sets his sights on a century.

It's been a long time coming: this is what Sam Docherty said to media ahead of his 100th AFL game this weekend.#OwnTheFuture

— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) July 21, 2020

Docherty said it was important to “embrace” the expectation and the narrow loss to Port was less of s hit to their confidence, but more affirmation they are close to where he and his teammates believe they should be.

“I think tit probably cements what we were already thinking with where our group is at. We are a group wanting to perform at a high level week in, week out and we believe we have the capabilities to do that,” he said.

“I don’t think last weekend changed either of those things

“We got beaten by a gun player kicking an amazing goal from the boundary. We’ve played in close games, come away with a couple, and lost a couple this year.

“But in terms of the group’s confidence, it showed us exactly what we need to do to be a good footy side.”