Tara Murray
Wyndhamvale’s Jayden Wood may have played 399 heading into the weekend, but it didn’t stop a few nerves ahead of game 400.
Wood, a two-time premiership player at the Falcons, a life member and senior captain, became the first player to play 400 games for the club in the Falcons reserves match against Sunshine on Saturday.
Speaking before the match, the man known as ‘Ducky’ said he was proud to have reached the milestone.
“I’m pretty nervous, it’s a weird feeling having played nearly 400 games,” he said.
“I didn’t think I would still be having a kick at 37. When you look at the number put on people it’s a long time.
“It’s a great feeling and I’m proud to be the first to play 400 at Wyndhamvale. It’s exciting.”
Wood has played his whole career at the Falcons having started with juniors. With his dad heavily invested in the club, it’s no surprise he was out on the field.
“My old man got me into under-9s when I was seven or eight, so it was a earlish start.
“My dad was a past president and he helped on the committee for a long time. He didn’t play a lot of footy, but did a lot off field.”
Wood said the 2015 senior premiership and then a reserves premiership last year were the two biggest highlights in his career.
He said the reserves flag last season was so unexpected, with him not thinking he would get another chance to win one.
“It was a really enjoyable year,” he said. “After so much time off with COVID, it was nice to play footy.
“I then thought I would keep going.”
While the premierships were special, the friendships is the biggest thing he will take away from his playing career.
“They are a big part of why I have kept playing at the club,” he said.
“There’s guys I played with for 10 years who are still some of my best mates. I might not see them as much, but you still cherish it and I still consider them my best mates.”
Wood said the biggest change he had seen since he started was the younger players coming through the ranks.
He said he felt like a kid when he first started playing seniors, but many coming out of 18s these days weren’t.
“The younger guys have come through bigger and fitter,” he said. “I don’t feel like I was that when I first started.
“Maybe I’m just getting older.”
Wood wasn’t sure what the club had planned for the day, but said he was expecting a presentation and a number of friends and family in attendance.
The Falcons reserves were able to come away with the win in a low scoring game. Wood was named in the best.
The milestone could be one of the last for Wood in Falcons colours, with him saying that this will be it.
“This year will be my last year, I live an hour away from the club,” he said.
“The travel with a young family, so I’ll finish up this year and look to get a kick in the supers with the old fellows and keep my body moving and a bit of fitness.”
