By Alex Karavas
Loyal players are hard to find in football clubs in today’s game.
With the lure of money, or the opportunity to play in a premiership seen as incentives to leave a club, it is players such as this, who are a diamond in the rough, and form the backbone to what clubs can be built on.
Any milestone is a good one. It’s one to be celebrated, whether it be 50, 100, 150, or 200 games, it’s a reflection of the journey a player has been on.
For Albanvale’s John Sirianni, reaching a milestone like this is not unheard of, having already chalked them up during his illustrious career. However this weekend will be one to savour, as Sirianni will run out for his 400th game of football for the blue and white.
First pulling on the boots with Albanvale at the age of seven, Sirianni has risen through the ranks, having played alongside some great players.
Over the journey, Sirianni has accumulated a host of football accolades, with a Club Best & Fairest both at junior and senior levels, goal kicking awards, been in the WRFL Team of the Year on numerous occasions, and the greatest accolade of all to date, being named as a member in the Cobra’s 35th anniversary team.
Though despite all of his individual awards, the quest for a premiership still burns inside his soul.
Every pre-season, that’s all he thinks about, and who would blame him.
We all play footy for the ultimate prize and to be crowned champions of the competition alongside your peers. Having just fallen short of that glory last year in their 2-point loss to Braybrook in the Division Three Grand Final, its added motivation for Sirianni and the rest of his teammates to make amends in 2015.
And its seems the Cobras have stuck true to their word, sitting first on the ladder, with a stunning 10 wins and all seeming well, look to clinch the club’s first ever senior premiership.
The journey that the 29-year-old has been on should be commended, and I’m sure many around the league, either who have played against him, or just watched from over the fence would say no less either. You don’t reach this type of milestone unless you love the game, and your football club, something that Albanvale Club Administrator Adam Borg reiterated.
Having played alongside him for a number of years, Borg said that the way Sirianni was playing, he was “not yet” ready to hang up the boots.
John, from everyone at the WRFL we would like to congratulate you on this amazing milestone, and wish you all the best going forward for not just this year, but until you decide to hang the boots up.
Follow me on Twitter @Alex_Karra
Last Modified on 09/07/2015 14:19