For any young budding full-forward strapping on the boots each week and throwing up a piece of grass to check the wind conditions, the aim of kicking 100 goals in one season is something only dreams are made of.
While the feat hasn’t been achieved at the elite level since Lance Franklin booted 100 goals in the 2008 season, three spearheads are leading the charge in the WRFL, all set to reach their ton this weekend.
Damien Yze (West Footscray), Paul O’Shea (Wyndhamvale) and Shaun Buttergeig-Clarke (Caroline Springs) are the men I speak of who are fast becoming cult heroes at their respective clubs for their dominance in the forward-fifty.
Combining for a stunning 285 goals so far this season and sitting 40 goals ahead of the rest of the competition, the trio has the ability to reach the ton with just two games of the home and away season remaining.
A feat last achieved in the WRFL by James Condos in 2011, it seemed the centurion goal kicker was a thing of the past until Yze reached his 100th goal milestone last season with the Glen Orden Football Club.
Currently sitting on top of the competition leading goal kicking tally with 96 majors next to his name is 24-year-old Shaun Buttergeig-Clarke
Booting eight goals last Saturday afternoon against Glen Orden, Buttegieg-Clarke is in prime position to reach his 100th goal for the first time in his career.
Having played over 200 career games and kicking over 500 goals with West Footscray, Spotswood and Deer Park, Buttegieg-Clarke has settled into his new role at Caroline Springs this season with ease.
Kicking an average of six goals a game this year, Buttergeig-Clarke’s largest haul came in round five with a stunning 17 goals against North Sunshine.
Hot on his golden heels sitting just one kick behind him on 95 goals, is Falcon star Paul O’Shea.
Playing football across the country with Redland (Queensland), the Tiwi Bombers (Northern Territory), North Launceston (Tasmania) as well as in the VFL for Williamstown, O’Shea is no stranger when it comes to kicking goals, booting a season high of 14 against Braybrook in round 12.
Trailing close behind the young spearheads is 39-year-old Damien Yze.
Donning his new red and white strip this season, Yze has been instrumental in the Roosters’ quest for premiership glory, slotting a season high 13 goals in round 11 against league newcomers, Tarneit.
Having celebrated 972 goals throughout his career, Yze is on track to reach his 1000th career goal if all goes to plan for the Roosters during the finals series.
Today, the trio will need to give their boots some extra polish in Round 17 when they all travel away from home this weekend.
Buttergeig-Clarke will look to bag his 100th goal against North Footscray, while O’Shea will have his work cut for him when he heads to Howqua Reserve to take on the in-form Manor Lakes.
And in a twist of fate, Yze will look to snag six goals against his old side Glen Orden at Heathdale Oval, the club whom he achieved the same feat with a mere 12 months ago.
Regardless of who chalks up their ton first, the achievement itself is something to savor as the race to see who will take home the Division Two Leading Goal Kicking Award draws closer.
Last Modified on 08/08/2014 13:28