History-making Hancock reaches 150 for PeelFriday, August 25, 2023 - 12:05 PM - by Chris Pike

BEN Hancock has been there for all of Peel Thunder's most historic moments and now he could very well sit comfortably as the club's greatest ever player as he becomes the first representative to reach 150 games for the Mandurah-based outfit.

When Hancock was starting his career at Peel firstly through the development squads and then colts before making his league debut in 2014, he looked up to the likes of former club stalwarts Brandon Hill, Daniel Haines and Grant Welsh.

He then even got to play with the likes of Rory O'Brien, Matthew Brown and Brendon Jones in the back end of their careers, but he comfortably sits alongside anyone you want to throw up as the greatest players that Peel has produced since entering the WAFL in 1997.

Hancock was there for Peel's first ever final back in 2015 against West Perth, and while he missed the 2016 premiership, he was instrumental in the Thunder getting there and then he played in 2017 triumph.

He has continued to go from strength to strength ever since, and could very well lay claim to being the most versatile player in the competition having started his career as a defender and having played every role down back that there is.

He's also had some stints forward where he's proven himself a handy goalkicker while he has played as a tall wingman, a pinch-hit ruckman and the longer his career has gone, the more time he has spent as an on-baller.

Whatever the role, he's been outstanding for the Thunder and now he will make history this Saturday against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval by becoming Peel's first ever player to reach 150 games as part of a career that's already included him being captain, playing State football, winning a fairest and best award and playing in a premiership.

First player to reach 150 games with Peel

Given Hancock has spent his footballing life in Mandurah and at Peel, he understands what it means to create history at the club that is now 26 years into its life in the WAFL.

As a result, Hancock has a good understanding of what it means to be creating history this Saturday by becoming the first Peel player to reach 150 games and it's something he's tremendously proud of.

"I can appreciate what it means. Obviously it's something I'm pretty proud of and it's pretty humbling to be the first one to achieve that for the club," Hancock told 91.3 SportFM. 

"Playing 150 WAFL games is no easy feat for any player so I'm just proud of the journey that I've been on and hopefully it can continue for a little while longer."

When you factor in the amount of kilometres Hancock has racked up over 149 games by playing for Peel and living in Mandurah combined with working full-time, being married and having the commitments with family and away from the football field, it's a remarkable achievement.

The challenges to continue to devote enough time that's required to play at the standard in the WAFL that Hancock has been able to do is nothing to be sneezed at, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

"Obviously it's completely different to being a full-time footy player and we're basically part-time with family commitments, job commitments with full-time work and some blokes are studying as well," he said. 

"It's always a challenge with training sessions always at night and sometimes I don't get home until eight or nine o'clock, and it might be even later for some blokes living up Perth way. There's a lot of challenge that comes with it, but that's all part of the fun in the end."

Sticking through tough times at Peel

After making his debut in the Peel league team as a colts eligible player back in 2014, by 2016 he had become a regular in the side but with the bevy of Fremantle-listed AFL players back for the finals run and ultimately the first ever premiership, Hancock was forced out.

That didn’t sit well with him at the time and at the end of that season he did consider not only walking away from Peel, but playing WAFL altogether and that would have been a great shame if he did.

In the end he stayed and 12 months later was a key player in the Thunder's premiership of 2017 and has gone on to create history by becoming the first Peel player to reach 150 games and he could very well be the club's greatest ever player by deciding to stick around.

"I was pretty much a regular part of the league side throughout the season but then missed that 2016 finals series and that really hurt to miss that premiership," Hancock said.

"I was pretty disappointed in that but I had a few conversations with some of the board members at Peel and Bob Ryan the president and they were able to get me over the line to stick it out. I'm so glad that I did because I was able to play every game the next year and play in that premiership. 

"I sort of see myself as a bit of a role model by being able to persist with the challenges that you can face as a young player coming through the ranks and trying to make a name for yourself in the league team. Now I try to get the young blokes to have someone to look up to in that sense."

Two coaches over 150 games

Hancock has only had two senior coaches in his 149-game WAFL career and while it was Cam Shepherd who was in charge when he had that disappointment of missing the 2016 finals series and premiership, he never held it against the coach.

In the end, he thrived under the coaching of Shepherd and the pair developed a terrific bond which continued earlier this season when Shepherd coached the WAFL State Team with Hancock making his debut in the black-and-gold jumper.

Hancock has now also enjoyed playing under the fresh voice of Geoff Valentine the past two years and can't ask for more from the two coaches he's had.

"Cam was massive for me. He obviously gave me my first opportunity and instilled a lot of belief in me to play me early on," Hancock said. 

"I was still the back end age of the colts then so to get that opportunity so early on and for Cam to have that belief in me, and continue to play me in the team was obviously massive for my development and really helped me to get to where I am today. 

"Then Geoff has come in the last couple of years and been a bit of a refreshments after Cam was there for a long time. He's really big on relationships so to get along with him so well and the other new coaches we've had, and turnover with Peel and Fremantle players we've had has been great."

Reward of being a leader

Hancock has enjoyed the chance to be captain of Peel now both to lead the team on the field but to also set the example that he learned from his early leaders for the young players coming through, and alongside his fellow veterans in the Thunder team.

"It can be challenging at times being a captain especially in a WAFL sense with life going on outside of footy so at times it can be pretty tough to lead a group, but it has great rewards too," he said.

"You see your leadership blossom onto the younger blokes coming through where you can help their development to turn into the players of the future or that they are today. That side of it is really rewarding. 

"I've also had a lot of help around me and I've had great mentors throughout my younger days in Brendon Jones, Ben Howlett, Rory O'Brien and blokes like that. 

"Then around me today I've got Brady Grey, Traye Bennell and Blair Bell who I've played a lot of footy with. It's a very rewarding aspect and something I'm very proud to say I've captained the club the last couple of years, and hopefully I can for a couple more."

Crucial game to lock up finals spot

Not only is Saturday's game against Swan Districts a history making one for Hancock as he becomes the first Peel player to reach 150 games, it's an important way to finish the season for the Thunder as well.

They need to win firstly to guarantee a finals position with a big defeat at the hands of Swans even possible to deny them a chance to play finals altogether should both Claremont and West Perth also win their games.

However, Peel could still sneak up to third position with a big enough win and if West Perth also beats East Perth, but as a minimum Hancock is hoping for a victory to guarantee fourth position and to allow the Thunder to host an elimination final next week.

"We've got to come with a full focus this weekend to No. 1 lock up that final series and then No. 2 try to get that home final or maybe even potentially if results go our way sneak back into the top three," Hancock said. 

"There's big results up for grabs this weekend. It's been a close competition the whole year and the whole top five has chopped and changed pretty much every week. We sat first, we sat second and we sat fifth and third or fourth along the way. The finishing spots are up for grabs this weekend again and it's good to see."