Breakers gun first player to reach 100 AFL North Coast Women’s matches

WHEN Danielle Watson runs out for the Coffs Harbour Breakers in this Saturday’s Women’s Grand Final she will be creating AFL North Coast history.

Watson will be the first player to reach the 100-game milestone in the AFL North Coast Women’s competition.

A member of the Breakers since the club’s first women’s match in 2018, Watson said reaching the 100-game mark is something that she’ll more than likely appreciate at a later date.

“To me in a way it’s just a number. To be the first is cool and I think 100 games is a nice reflection on the commitment over the years,” Watson said.

“It’s just something that I love doing, it’s not something I’ve got to do.

“It’s more like a privilege to have played nearly every week for this long because I get to do what I enjoy.”

Not wanting to be the centre of attention on any day let alone Grand Final Day, the club celebrated Watson’s milestone in the last Home & Away round.

“I think I’m the only player to get chaired off for playing 99 games,” she joked.

Now about to finish her eighth season of footy, the 28 year-old said coming back each year is an easy decision to make.

“There is nothing better than being at the club, the experience of being at the Breakers is the best,” Watson explained.

“Half my family is there and I’ve made so many friends at the club.

“Three times a week I get to go and see all my family and friends.”

A measure of how much Watson has been in the team week-in and week-out during her eight years of footy is the fact that she’s played enough matches to be more than a season’s worth of games ahead of the chasing pack.

She’s currently 18 games ahead of Ashleigh Miller from Northern Beaches who is next on the list ahead of Maggie O’Dwyer from Sawtell/Toormina and another Blues player in Britt Hargreaves.

“I think I’ve only missed four games for the Breakers, so I’m not necessarily surprised that I’ve got to 100 games but I know there has been a core group of about 20 girls across the region that have been around since the start,” she said.

“They have been committed to footy in the AFL North Coast and been great to play both with and against each year.”

Another Breakers player will also be celebrating a milestone this Saturday.

Tarryn Arnold will be playing her 50th match at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium.