FRIDAY WAS a morning of significant milestones at Greater Western Sydney, with co-captain Callan Ward becoming the first player to be awarded life membership on the same day the club reached 25,000 members for the first time.
Ward was given a rousing reception after training in front of the playing group and the entire Giants staff, with his 150th game – and 210th overall after playing 60 with the Western Bulldogs – against St Kilda on Saturday seeing him join former coach Kevin Sheedy in an exclusive club of two as GWS life members.
The star midfielder, who kicked the Giants' first goal and won the 2012 best and fairest – now known as the Kevin Sheedy medal – in the club's inaugural season, was surprised by the announcement after GWS officials managed to confirm his eligibility this week.
Ward said the milestone was extremely humbling.
"It means a lot, I think it's my greatest achievement in life so far to be honest," he said.
"I remember seeing the guys who were inducted as life members at the Western Bulldogs, and the speeches they made, and thinking 'if that was me I would be so, so proud'.
"To now do it at a club I've been at since the very first day, and a club I love, it's something I'm very proud of.
"I know 'Sheeds' beat me to it, but to be the only two in that category is great."
Ward has missed just four games since he made the move north and has developed into one of the competition's most respected captains, thanks to his fearless attack on the footy and the opposition.
Initially hesitant to take on the leadership role alongside former Brisbane veteran Luke Power and ex-Adelaide defender Phil Davis for the Giants' first season, the now 28-year-old has thrived.
Ward paid tribute to the role Davis has played in his time at GWS, with the pair forming a strong bond in their almost seven years together.
"Phil has been huge in terms of my leadership," Ward said.
"He does a lot of stuff that I don't like doing, I do a lot of stuff that he doesn't like doing as well, but I think the bloke that he is away from football has helped me out a fair bit.
"He's a guy that the blokes just love, and love playing with on the field, and he's been enormous for my career."
Giants coach Leon Cameron was an assistant at the Dogs when Ward was drafted and did plenty of work with the gun youngster, who was still completing year 12 when he arrived at the club. He said Ward's impact on those around him is impossible to measure.
"He brings a smile to my face," he said.
"He cracks in and the first chance he gets he puts his head over the ball and sets the scene for his teammates.
"I think there's been some comments over the past few months that Ward is sitting in the bracket alongside (Joel) Selwood and (Luke) Hodge and those sorts of players.
"If he was in the spotlight a bit more maybe there'd be more headlines, but I don't think he wants it any other way.
"He's a great captain of our club alongside Davis and he's grown every year, and Kevin Sheedy made a fantastic choice putting those two boys in charge.
"His footy does the talking, he very rarely gets beaten, and we love having him in the team."
