HE'S A self-confessed footy nut these days, so nobody appreciates a juicy bit of trivia more than Greater Western Sydney defender Sam Reid.
Especially when it revolves around the Giant himself.
Friday night's clash between GWS and Geelong will be Reid's 50th senior appearance, a long-awaited milestone almost 10 years in the making.
When Reid runs onto GMHBA Stadium to take on the Cats, it will be nine years and 247 days since he debuted for the Western Bulldogs against Adelaide way back in round 22, 2008.
It's the third-longest journey to the half-century in the game's history - behind Syd Barker snr (Richmond/Essendon - 15 years, 353 days) and George McLeod (St Kilda/Essendon – 14 years, 82 days) – and is the longest in the draft era.
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"I saw that stat and I've been claiming it to the boys," Reid said with a laugh this week.
"When you start out you want to get yourself in the record books or make yourself a trivia question and I think I've nailed that one."
Reid played just 10 games in four seasons with the Bulldogs before being lured to the Giants when they joined the competition, but after 14 games in the first two seasons at his new club, he was axed again.
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A two-year stint playing NEAFL and helping the Giants in a development role followed and, free of the constant shoulder injuries that plagued him previously and the pressures of playing in the AFL, Reid started to attract the interest of senior coach Leon Cameron.
He's been on the rookie list ever since and in the past two seasons has become an important member of Cameron's side.
"What would you call it, probably a rollercoaster," he said.
"There's been some ups and downs, a couple of sackings and it's been a long ride.
"But the body feels amazing and I'm back playing in a top-four team, which sounds kind of ridiculous from where I was five years ago.
"Not many people get an opportunity and I've been drafted and re-drafted three times, so I'm just grateful to be honest."
Reid was the Dogs' third choice at the 2007 NAB AFL draft behind Jarrad Grant (pick five) and the Giants’ current co-captain Callan Ward (19), with the 28-year-old taken with the 34th selection overall, one behind GWS teammate Dawson Simpson, who was drafted by Geelong.
Cameron was an assistant coach at the Bulldogs when Reid arrived at the club and was Kevin Sheedy's right-hand man when he was de-listed from the Giants, so he's seen more than one stint of Reid’s remarkable footy journey up close.
"It feels like a major milestone for 'Reidy', 50 games seems more like it's 150," he said.
"He's a popular person around our footy club and has a number of great traits.
"When he plays he gives it everything he's got.
"The flexibility he provides whether it's half-back, onball, wing or half-forward, it doesn't matter, wherever he lines up he gets the job done for our team."
