Loyalty, dedication rewarded as Sinclair reaches 150Thursday, May 11, 2023 - 4:59 PM - by Chris Pike

THERE is no greater signal of the professionalism, dedication and love of, and passion for, the Perth Football Club that Michael Sinclair has that he will become the first player to debut this century to become a life member of the Demons.

It's a remarkable thing that while a club like West Perth who Perth will host at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday when Sinclair celebrates his 150th game has two current players with over 200 games in their midst, and another one game short of his own 150-game milestone.

West Perth has had 13 players debut this century and play more than the 150 games to earn life membership, but the going has been a lot tougher at Perth and Sinclair will become the first Demons player since Willie Dick in 2000 to reach the mark at the club.

Since Sinclair made his debut with Perth in 2013, the going has been tough and there's no hiding from that. Of his 149 games so far, only 46 of them have been victories including just five in his last 27 matches.

However, over the past decade Sinclair deserves to be considered right up there as the competition's most professional, consistent and dedicated performer who has never once waivered in his commitment to the Perth Football Club.

While no other player has stuck with the Demons long enough to reach 150 games this century, Sinclair has overcome injuries, stuck firm despite the wins not coming and a whole host of changes around him, and deserves to be universally respected.

He has been outstanding as a defender for the Demons with his overhead intercept marking a feature as is his ability to set up play out of the back-line for his team.

Along the way, Sinclair has become captain, a fairest and best winner, state representative and made the WAFL Team of the Year. 

His reward is to reach the 150-game mark this Saturday at Lathlain with Perth hosting West Perth, and he rightfully is proud to reach the mark and to earn life membership.

"The clubs obviously got a really strong and long history filled with plenty of great players and great servants of the club as life members and I guess becoming one is a massive honour," Sinclair said. 

"It hasn’t quite sunk in yet but when I will look back on it I can be pretty proud of my time here and loyalty to stick around. 

"Yeh it’s been a long time between drinks for the club and I guess that’s a bit of a reflection on how the club has fared over the past few decades along with the commitment and time required to play WAFL level football along with work and life. 

"I guess for me it hasn’t stood out as an achievement as such but speaking to numerous past players and Perth supporters I think it's added a little bit more of a significance given the time frame in between a player to reach 150."

It's perhaps fitting that Sinclair's milestone comes up against West Perth. Not only have the Falcons managed to produce the 13 150-game players already this century, but Sinclair has never played in a win against them.

He desperately hopes he ends that 0-16 record in his career on Saturday.

"It would be nice, obviously West Perth are a great team, they have really solid players across the board," he said. 

"They are playing some really good football to date, so it's going to be a big challenge and one I know the team is looking forward to. hopefully I can finally get that monkey off the back and with Matty Taylor playing his 100th it adds that little bit more motivation as well."

Beyond that though, Sinclair is just glad that the fixturing means that he gets to celebrate his milestone at home and that he also gets to share it with good mate, and fellow defender Matthew Taylor who will be playing his 100th match.

"It has worked out well that it happens to be a home game, but I'm looking forward to a few beers with a few old teammates, close mates, my current teammates, supporters and of course my family and partner Annie who have obviously supported me along the way," Sinclair said.

"Yeh footy is funny sometimes, I’m not big on individual accolades or it being all about me so I’m happy I get to play my 150th alongside Tayls' 100th. 

"We have been through a lot together down back over the years but I think he’s missing me now I've gone up forward for patches this season but it's great for him and his family to see him get to 100 WAFL games."

It's the beginning of a new era again at Perth in 2023 with the arrival of new coach Peter German. 

While the wins haven’t come yet this season aside from last Saturday's 97-point hammering of the West Coast Eagles, you can clearly see both in terms of off-field and then a game style on the field what German is trying to build with the Demons. 

Sinclair is enjoying being part of that and hopes to stick around long enough for some success to eventuate from it.

"Germo has been great and I've really enjoyed working and learning under him. He is constantly pushing us to be better and more consistent with the way we go about it on and off the field," Sinclair said.

"He's got the right balance of being really demanding/commanding the respect of the playing group with really caring for the players. All of the players quickly jumped on board with what he wants us to do and are right behind him. He's been a great addition to the club along with all the other coaches he’s brough along with him.

"It's an exciting brand of footy, and we are quite a young group and getting games and experience into players now is going to hold us in good stead going forward. We have had a solid past few weeks and are building to play a much more consistent brand of footy over the four quarters.

"The group's still young and learning the game style and what it takes to play WAFL level football, but the boys are really committed to the cause and working hard to get the best out of themselves and each other and becoming a good team."

Getting to a milestone like 150 games gives Sinclair the chance to reflect on the ride over the past decade to get the mark this Saturday and to earn life membership with the Demons.

"Yeh it's been a long journey that’s for sure, filled with plenty of good times, plenty of downs and low points, a lot of hard work, time and commitment but I am glad it's been at the Perth footy club," Sinclair said. 

"I guess once I look back I’ll be pretty proud of my time here."