SINCLAIR REACHES 100 GAMES

Like many Perth fans, defender Michael Sinclair is beginning to be rewarded for his loyalty with some success.

And tomorrow the stalwart will put two torrid years of injury behind him when he plays his 100th game for the Demons when they tackle East Perth at Mineral Resources Park.

Sinclair claimed his second best and fairest at Perth in 2016, establishing himself as one of the premier running defenders in the WAFL.

But an Achilles injury kept the 25-year-old to 16 games in 2017, while a broken thumb meant he played just 13 last season.

“It has been a long road getting there (to 100 games) and obviously we haven’t had the success I would have liked in the 99 games so far, but we have started the year really well and we hope to improve from there,” Sinclair said.

“I have finally got my body basically back to 100 per cent.

“I am hoping to get a full season this year as the body is feeling pretty good at the moment.”

The Demons have not played finals since 1997, so Sinclair is hoping to finally break that 22-year streak and taste September action.

“All the boys we have at the moment are a tight-knit group and have come together really well,” he said.

“It (playing finals) would mean a lot as I put a lot of hard work and effort in behind the scenes to get up week in and week out.

“Especially when you are not winning it is pretty difficult, but it would mean a lot to me, the boys and all the fans who have supported us over the journey.

“We haven’t played finals for a long time, so hopefully we can get there.”

Perth coach Earl Spalding praised Sinclair for his durability and strength to not only come back from injury, but to play through it.

“He has played in some really unsuccessful sides, so I am pleased for a lot of reasons that we are starting to win, one of them being my sanity. But the other one is for guys like Singers who has hung in there,” Spalding said. “He could have gone elsewhere, but he has stuck with Perth and now gets to play his 100th game.”

Originally published by The West.