Matt’s making his way to 150

By ZAC MILBANK

Sturt’s Matt Crocker has been one of the unsung heroes of Sturt’s back-to-back premierships but the spotlight will be on firmly fixed on him for his 150th Statewide Super League game on Sunday.

The Double Blues’ no-frills wingman goes about his business each week, socks down, playing his role for the betterment of his team.

But the 29-year-old is attracting the attention of his teammates on Twitter this week, with Sturt forward Mark Evans doing his best to get the hashtag #dad150 trending.

A wise head around the Double Blues’ young playing group, Crocker is more than happy to take on a fatherly, mentoring role as he calls upon his wealth of experience since making his League debut in Round 14, 2011.

First arriving at Unley in Sturt’s Under-18 side of 2010, Crocker has developed an enormous love for the one major constant in his life.

The physiotherapist-turned-health economist relished playing in the club’s 2016 and 2017 League premierships, nominating the latter as his favourite given how close the contest was against arch-rival Port Adelaide.

Crocker played a huge role in ensuring Sturt would reach the title-decider against the Magpies, producing a career-best performance in the Preliminary Final win against Woodville-West Torrens.

And it included a stunning checkside goal kicked near the boundary in the final quarter, featured at the 5-minute mark of the clip below.