There has been the odd disruption along the way, but Werribee onballer/forward Ben Moloney will run out for his 100th Victorian Football League game against former club Collingwood on Sunday at Victoria Park.
Moloney’s willingness to embrace the struggle and learn from whatever challenges were thrown his way made him the respected footballer that he is today and added a sweetener to his 100-game achievement.
Injuries never seemed too far away for Moloney, nor a change of club, with his return to Werribee this season his third transfer since arriving at Watton Street as a teenager out of the Geelong Falcons.
Moloney never let injuries derail his career and was always willing to seek greener pastures before out-staying his welcome.
“I’d have liked it to have been a bit smoother with injury and that sort of thing,” he said of his career.
“Ideally I would’ve loved to have stayed at the one club, but in terms of opportunities, I ended up moving.”
Moloney’s initial first three years at Werribee were hard.
At the time, Werribee was aligned with North Melbourne, and senior opportunities were tough to come by for a youngster.
Moloney played 11 games across those three years before leaving for more opportunities.
While it was frustrating for Moloney in
the league, he considers that three-year period as an important time in his development.
“At the start, I probably didn’t get the opportunities that I thought I would’ve got, but when I look back on it, Werribee gave me the foundation to do the hard work and show what it does take to be a VFL senior player,” he said.
“It pushes you and gives that drive to want to get better and be better.”
Moloney’s stocks rose when he moved to Collingwood. He played 66 games with the Magpies, evolving into one of the most respected onballers in the VFL. In 2015, he was vice-captain, best-and-fairest and named in the VFL team of the year.
“It’s a club I’ve got a lot of love for,” Moloney said. “Four years at the one club is a significant time.
“I’d get there about 4pm and wouldn’t leave there until 9.30pm sometimes to get back to Geelong.
“I spent serious time there, made a lot of good friendships and met a lot of good people.
“To play my 100th against them is really nice.”
Last season, Moloney decided to move closer to home to play with the Geelong Cats, but a broken leg cost him momentum. He managed 12 senior games, but felt the opportunities going forward would be limited.
Now 26, Moloney has enjoyed a fresh start with Werribee, and even changed up his game. Usually a fierce inside midfielder, Moloney has also been used as a defensive forward, a role he has embraced, though he still loves the onball battle.
“I’m certainly not pulling up as sore as I had been playing through the midfield,” he said. “I do really enjoy that defensive forward role, where I can work up the ground and work back.”
“It doesn’t worry me where I’m playing.
“I’m just happy to be playing and doing my bit for the team.”
Moloney has been well supported by his parents and siblings over the years, but they will not be attending his 100th game.
Instead, his family will be soaking up the sun in Bali on a family holiday planned months ago. Moloney was supposed to play his milestone game last week, but a suspension disrupted those plans.
“I think they’ll be happy to be in 30 degrees, sitting by the pool” Moloney said with a laugh.
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