By JARROD POTTER
RESERVED for only the elite endurers within the junior football ranks, a 150th match is a milestone well worth savouring.
Tooradin-Dalmore Youth Girls footballer Cassie Rowe notched the magical achievement on Sunday morning, with the added bonus of running out through the crepe paper banner at her home ground at Tooradin.
The fleet-footed midfielder – proudly donning number 16 – and her Tooradin-Dalmore team-mates had to battle a surging Lyndhurst Youth Girls side in the South East Juniors home-and-away season finale.
The Seagulls were unable to stick with the Lightning as the visitors claimed a 76-point win to rain over the celebrations.
While the South East Juniors inter-league captain ran through the banner and etched her name into the rarefied class of 150-gamers, Rowe was more interested in highlighting her team-mates’ and coaches’ contributions to than her own.
“Looking back on the year it wasn’t what everyone would really be hoping for, we only won two games, but honestly the season wasn’t as bad as everyone would think,” Rowe said.
“Reaching 150 games is an amazing effort and it’s awesome that I can add that to my accolades, but it really isn’t just about me – it’s about playing as a team, as my coach always says.
“The team really did improve from the start of the year to the end, and it was just fantastic to play in teams with such amazing individuals and such skilled players.”
As with any milestone, there’s always a longing to look towards the horizon and spot the next one, as Rowe hopefully can reel in the next 50 games necessary to join an even rarer club – 200 games.
Whether or not she reaches that mark, she’s thrilled to have played them with the Seagulls and loves everything about donning the red and green week-in, week-out, despite the result.
“Although I’ve played 150 games so far I really learn something every training and every game and can’t wait to try and get 50 more before I finish,” Rowe said.
“Tooradin-Dalmore is such a supportive club and it was an honour to run out and represent the red and green.”
Rowe’s Seagulls finished the South East Juniors Youth Girls season in eighth place with a two-win, 11-loss record.
