Ames' passion drives him to 200, won't rule out 250Thursday, May 1, 2014 - 8:39 PM - by Chris Pike

IT IS hard to imagine that a more passionate man has ever represented the Swan Districts Football Club than Tallan Ames and as he prepares for his 200th game and something would have to change in the rest of 2014 for him to not set the goal of reaching 250.

Ames grew up supporting Swan Districts, played colts football with Swans, reserves football and then earned his league debut in 2002, cemented a spot in the team by 2004 and has now gone on to amass a tremendous 199-game career at the club that means the world to him.

The current captain is a premiership player from 2010, Swan Medal winner as the fairest and best from 2011 and has gone on to represent Western Australia on three occasions as he now becomes the 14th Swan Districts player and first since Joel Cornelius in 2005 to reach the 200-game mark.

At just 30 years of age, Ames is showing no signs of slowing down either continuing to be not only the best full-back in the competition but he now might also be the best captain in the league.

With his body in terrific shape and his team starting the season tremendously having now won four straight matches ahead of the top-of-the-table clash with the unbeaten Subiaco this Saturday at Medibank Stadium, Ames can't see the finishing line of his career yet.

And in fact if he does play on in 2015, he likely won't be able to resist the temptation to play on to 250 games – a mark he was there to see Travis Edmonds reach in 2005.

"At this point in time, I'm up and about for next year without a doubt. If the body changes in any way or if my form does, then I will make that decision at the end of the year. I would never pull out mid-year," Ames said.

"When I make a decision, I will make everyone fully aware of what that is. Right now, I will be kicking on but we still have five months of the season to get through still and anything can happen.

"It will be tough, though, because I know once I get past my 200th milestone I am a very big goal setter, and I most likely will have to set the goal to get to 250. If I play on next year, you might see me until I get to 250."

As a lifelong supporter and now having spent his entire career at the club, continuing to play has come naturally for Ames and while other players might have limped to the 200-game mark, he has cruised to the milestone.

"It has come really naturally and the transition for me from 100 to 200 games has been almost seamless," he said.

"That goes down to being managed correctly and to keep my passion there and to also play with a bunch of guys who are really up and about at Swans.

"We have been through some tough times at the ducks, but we've also been to the top as well and knowing over the last couple of years since the grand final that the potential is there again, that maintains the internal motivation to keep going because you never know when you might not have that chance again."

Managing his body and remaining injury-free since 2008 has also worked a treat for Ames and while working at the Australian Institute of Fitness has helped that, as has the management of him by the coaching staff and indeed the fact that he no longer gets cold sweats at the thought of having to play in the ruck anymore.

"My last major injury was that 2008 ankle when I blew it apart and previous to that it was only 2006, so touch wood things are going really well with my body," Ames said.

"I suppose being in the industry I'm in and educated in how your body should be able to get up and about for every week makes it a little bit easier as well.

"Then with the management of our coaching team at Swans as well, they understand what age you are at and it's great that Greg Harding has that experience of being an AFL player to know how players' bodies are reacting. He has been really accommodating for me which hopefully will continue."

Ames is the last player remaining at Swan Districts who he started his career with.

It still surprises him a little that at least premiership skipper Josh Roberts is not around the 200-game mark alongside him now as well, but it only highlights just how you can't take anything for granted in WAFL football.

"I've been speaking to some of the guys about holding on to what they've got in regards to their football career because it's quite unfortunate how you lose touch when you no longer play together," he said.

"Josh left the football club for work purposes and is going really well with that, but I've only seen him a handful of times in the two years since he retired and it's quite sad after spending so much time together at the football club.

"He was a Mazenod boy (Ames went to Trinity College) and was always in the Swans zone like I was but life just tends to take over for some point and for every footy player who has a career, you have to make the most of it while you can because it doesn’t last forever.

"Some of the best times and memories I have on and off the field are with your best mates from footy so hopefully with the way we are going at the moment it gives you that renewed passion to continue doing what you enjoy."

Ames knows that he has been somewhat blessed to be able to continue playing at Swan Districts while working a job that makes it a little easier than some to get to training, and also living close to Bassendean as he has his whole life.

However, the commitment he has given Swan Districts has been massive now for 13 years and the reward for that is that no matter what happens the rest of the career, as a captain, premiership player, fairest and best winner and now 200-plus game player, he'll always be a great of the club.

"The good thing about it is that I live right around the corner from the footy club so it's not a task to go to training or games," Ames said.

"There have been other players who have come from Fremantle or over the hill and still played for a long time at the footy club, and I actually hold them in high regard because they might have a family or work long hours, and then travel all the way here. I suppose it has been a bit of an easy ride for myself just working in town and living around the corner which has helped keep me at the club.

"That's the life of a WAFL footballer and you either accept it or you don’t. for those who accept it and do the hard work before or after hours in and around their full-time work, or have a job flexible like I do here at the Institute of Fitness, it makes it a bit easier.

"Some guys have to work nine to five and then come to training, but I have the chance to start and finish a bit earlier here. I've accepted that's what the life is like and for the majority of my career I have been here on campus which has been nice because they understand my football commitments. Playing gives me good credibility in the classroom as well.