Carlton star Sam Docherty has said the struggles he’s endured en route to his 150th AFL game have made him stronger and more appreciative of the game.
Docherty will play his 150th match on Friday against the Brisbane Lions – the club he played 13 games for after being taken with pick No.12 in the 2011 draft before being traded to Carlton at the end of 2013.
Ironically, Docherty will play his 150th match under the same coach he played his first for, with ex-Lions coach Michael Voss now leading the Blues.
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As well as rupturing his ACL twice during his time at the Blues, Docherty also underwent two rounds of chemotherapy across both 2020 and 2021 to treat testicular cancer.
Reflecting on his incredible path to his upcoming milestone, Docherty said he was not the only one who had to suffer through dark times.
“I think the journey itself has been so up and down and so many hard things to go through from a personal point of view, but my family rides that wave as much as I do,” he told AFL 360.
“My wife Natalie, my mum, my brother, all my family members more broadly and the footy club have ridden that journey with me as well.
“I’m a bit older now as well, but you start to cherish these moments a little bit more. This week’s definitely been probably a week of just thinking about the whole journey and how hard it’s been at times.
“I’m definitely very grateful to be able to run out there and my daughter Ruby, I get to run out there with my daughter in my arms. I’m pretty excited for the whole day and hopefully the boys can get up and get a good win.”
Adding to Docherty’s intention to soak up the moment is his age, with the 2016 best and fairest winner to turn 30 in October.
“I think when you‘re younger, you sort of feel like you’re a bit invincible, especially when you’re playing good footy and you think that it’s just gonna keep rolling on,” he said.
“That obviously didn’t happen for me, but I’m a big believer that everything does happen for a reason.
“I feel like I’ve grown as a person and as an individual so much more from going through what I have. It just makes these things at the back end very special to you and very special to the people around you, which we’re all pretty excited for Friday night.”
