BROWNLOW medallist Matt Priddis is a great role model for any young footballer to follow, according to Fremantle coach Ross Lyon.
The Dockers mentor praised the West Coast midfielder this week ahead of his 200th game in Saturday night's Western Derby.
Priddis, 31, did not make his AFL debut until after his 21st birthday after being rookie drafted by the Eagles back in 2006, but he has gone on to carve out an extraordinary career.
He is one of just two players in the history of Australian Rules football to have won both a Sandover medal and Brownlow medal. The other is Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Haydn Bunton.
Bring back the Derby biff
Lyon said Priddis' career is a testament to his attitude and application.
"For anyone to play 200 games, that puts them in rare air really," Lyon said on Wednesday.
"What we admire about Australian Rules and what he's done, to come off a rookie list, as Denis Pagan (said), (the game) doesn't build character, it eliminates the weak.
"So he's clearly a strong character, very determined. He just reflects possibility mindset, that anything is possible if you apply yourself.
"That's what I would take out of his story. I don't know him personally, but he'll be a fierce rival on the weekend.
"If you take a neutral (perspective), what a great story and role model for young people in the country."
Lyon said he was excited for the prospect of Priddis and Fremantle's reigning Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe going head-to-head on Saturday.
"What's unique about this game is you're going to have back-to-back Brownlow medallists running around in the midfield," Lyon said.
"You're going to have Priddis and Fyfe, who are probably going to be playing on each other. So that's a real feature."
Priddis is coming off his lowest possession game since round 10, 2013. He gathered just 19 possessions against Hawthorn last week, breaking a streak of 58 consecutive games in which he gathered 20 disposals or more.
But his coach Adam Simpson said there was no question he would bounce back against the Dockers.
You'll always find Matt Priddis in the thick of the action. Picture: AFL Media
"He's a warrior for the club," Simpson said.
"He's so consistent and reliable. He was a bit disappointing on the weekend and he wasn't alone.
"But for 200 games, where he's come from and what he's achieved, he's a great role model for the club and for the AFL and any young kids coming through.
"I'm sure every club has their warriors, but he's ours."
Priddis has won just one best and fairest with West Coast, in 2013. But he has finished second four times and has finished in the top-eight in nine of the 10 seasons he has played at AFL level.
The only season he didn't was 2006, when he played just two AFL games but won the Sandover medal and a premiership for Subiaco in the WAFL.
He also earned All Australian honours for the first time in 2015.
