Locky celebrates rare 300 AFL club games milestone at the Saints

AS if an important local derby wasn’t reason enough to head down to Richardson Park to watch some AFL North Coast action this Saturday, there is also the opportunity to celebrate a magnificent milestone by a Sawtell Toormina veteran.

Locky Draper-Bell will be playing his 300th club game for the Saints this weekend when his club faces the Coffs Harbour Breakers.

For Draper-Bell, Richardson Park has been like a second home and the Saints his surrogate family.

“I’m pretty much part of the furniture there these days,” he said.

“My name is on one of the bricks on the change rooms and I’ve been there for 20 years.”

Often playing both reserves and seniors on the same day, Draper-Bell’s commitment to the club is unquestioned but he says the reason he keeps lacing up the boots for the Saints each year is pretty simple.

“There’s so many good young players coming through at the club. Imagine being able to play with a super star, someone like Angus Anderson, and be able to say you helped them in some small way,” he said.

I think it’s important for the experienced people to still be a presence at the club and giving back to one of those boys is reward enough.”

There will be some merchandise for sale at the ground this weekend to celebrate the massive achievement. But it won’t be the only big milestone being celebrated tomorrow.

Coincidentally, one of his best friends from when he played juniors will be playing his 250th game on Saturday but for the other side.

“Luke Valdes and I started playing together when we were 14 years old and we’ve both got a big milestone together on the same day,” Locky explained.

“This time last year we both kicked our 200th career goal at the same time and now we’re playing these games on the same day.”

There will be four matches played at Sawtell on Saturday starting with the Under 18s which begins at 10am.