IT IS only fitting that Trent Cohalan will share his milestone appearance for Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes with Tom Keogh on Saturday.
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Cohalan will play his 200th game for the Goannas when they travel to take on Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong.
It will be also be Keogh’s 100th game for MCUE.
The Goannas use a buddy system between senior players and Eastlakes-MCU under 15s and it was Cohalan that Keogh was partnered with seven years ago.
“It’s interesting that we’re playing it on the same weekend, a couple of milestones together,” Cohalan said.
“The buddy system is so good for our club. I think six of our first graders were my buddies as they came through so it’s just a testament to how many juniors we manage to hold onto, and a great achievement by Tommy to get to 100 games at such a young age.”
Cohalan, 29, and Keogh, 22, have become integral parts of the MCUE team.
Cohalan, the Goannas’ captain, is proud of hitting 200 games for the club.
“It feels like it’s come around pretty quick,” he said.
“When you set out playing with one club and you stick fat with them, it’s pretty exciting to be a one-club player. Obviously there is lures to go elsewhere at certain times but to play 200 for one club is pretty rare these days, it wasn’t something I set out to do but something that I’m proud of.”
Keogh said Cohalan has been a great mentor.
“He’s been a buddy for everyone for a long time. He’s been a leader of the club for a long time and there’s no one more at the club to look up to than Trent,” Keogh said.
Cohalan rates the Goannas’ minor premiership in 2015 as his career highlight.
He named Narrandera premiership coach Jim Rice as his toughest opponent, and former MCUE coach Rod Simms as the best player he’s played with.
Keogh, like Cohalan, debuted as a 16-year-old and cannot believe he has hit 100 games already.
“It doesn’t feel like I’ve played 100 games, really, it’s come pretty quick,” he said.