100 Up For Wolfenden

There is plenty to play for this weekend when Perth takes on East Perth at Lathlain Park.  Not only will the Demons be looking to address some poor performances over the last fortnight with a solid showing against the Royals but this match will also see Brett Wolfenden play his 100^th WAFL league game.

Wolfy as he is affectionately known around the club made his league debut for his first WAFL Club, Swan Districts back in round five, 2008.  Swans were able to hold off a fast finishing West Perth team that day to record a five-point win with Wolfenden collecting 21 possessions and kicking two goals.

Wolfenden would go on to play 76 games over the next four seasons, including the 2010 premiership.  At the end of the 2011 season he decided to go back and play amateurs, firstly for High Wycombe and then Swan Athletic.  However a desire to return to a higher level of football saw him return to the WAFL in 2015 with Perth.

“I was fairly young still when I left Swans and you kind of wonder what am I doing playing this sort of level of football when I know that I have proved that I can play at WAFL level.”

“Rather than return to Swans I wanted a fresh challenge and I managed to get a hold of Tyson Beattie who had just started his role as football manager and I just came down to training and the rest is history.”

Wolfenden managed to play every game for the Demons last year, averaging 19.1 disposals and 4.2 marks a game while also kicking 10 goals.  He finished the year by winning the Redlegs 1% Award.
 

This season though has seen Wolfy hampered by a back injury throughout preseason.  This meant that he was not able to take the field for the first game of the season against the Falcons back in round two.

“I had a degenerated L4 and L5 in the lower part of my back and it was highly painful.”

“I had to do a lot of work to improve my core strength and to build it back up so that I wasn’t in constant pain.”

“Thankfully I’ve gotten rid of that now and I am fit and healthy.”

He returned in round three against Claremont and his two last quarter goals proved vital as Perth hung on for their first victory of the year.

“Against Claremont it probably wasn’t one of my better days but it was good to kick a couple of late goals which got us back in front and find a little bit of form in the last quarter.”

After inaccuracy cost them the previous week against Subiaco, the Demons were lacklustre against South Fremantle last Saturday.  The team though have had a positive week on the track and are looking to turn things around starting with East Perth this weekend.

“After last week’s loss we thought we didn’t turn up so to speak and we were pretty disappointed with our efforts.”

“This week has been really upbeat and the boys have been getting around each other and with this weekend commemorating ANZAC Day it is obviously a big occasion and hopefully the boys turn up and play for each other.”

Like many players when they reach a milestone there are the people that they wish to thank and Wolfy has a few he’d like to acknowledge.

“When we were younger we didn’t have licensees so the old girl gets a mention.”

“At Swans Brian Dawson was a big influence on my career early and helped me get my start and get a few games under my belt.”

“And last but not least Earl Spalding who I think is an exceptional coach and I’d like to thank him for giving me an opportunity to play at WAFL level again.”

Everyone at the Perth Football Club would like to wish Wolfy all the best for his milestone game this weekend.