A ROLLER-COASTER ride is one way to describe Leigh Colbert's journey to reach the 200-game milestone in the AFL.
On Sunday, Colbert will lead the Kangaroos into battle against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.
It will be "little Bendigo" somewhere at Subiaco because a group of more than 15, which includes Colbert's parents, Bernie and Lyn, younger siblings Shelley and Ryan, and close friends such as Darren Walsh and Adam Shanahan, will be there to cheer him on.
The 200th is a long way from when he first started playing Aussie Rules for Golden Square Junior Football Club's under-12s.
He played in a hat-trick of premierships with the Square, which his dad, Bernie, coached for most of the time.
Since making the big league when drafted by Geelong from South Bendigo in 1992, Colbert has endured many highs, and some lows.
The highs include 14 finals matches, including the `94 and '95 grand finals when at Geelong, and playing alongside some of the game's greatest such as Gary Ablett, Wayne Carey, Glenn Archer and Garry Hocking.
"To be in the same team as superstars such as Ablett and Carey was fantastic," Colbert said yesterday when reflecting on the journey to game 200.
"Any injury is a career lowlight," he said.
There have been a few along the journey.
Colbert has had nine operations on his left knee.
The greatest blow was a knee injury in a pre-season match in '99 shortly after Geelong had been appointed Colbert captain.
He did not play that season and after 105 games for the Cats wanted to be traded to the Kangaroos.
Colbert reached the 100-game mark by 22, but the next 100 would take much longer.
Colbert's football career may have kicked off at Golden Square, but it was at South Bendigo where he caught the attention of AFL recruiting scouts.
In '92, the then young Blood was a nominee for the BFL's rookie of the year award.
His move across to South Bendigo had been through the influence of the Evans brothers, who he played basketball with, and their dad, George, then coach at South Bendigo juniors.
Although it's been hundreds of training sessions since he first played, Colbert said the enjoyment is still there.
"The money and the stakes are much higher, but it's the enjoyment from playing and the mateship that's most important.
"I started playing football because I loved it, and I still do. It's the same for every player, isn't it?"
Colbert and many of his Kangaroos' team-mates have not been part of finals action since 2001.
The Dean Laidley-coached Kangaroos face a huge challenge in Colbert's 200th against the Dockers in the west.
"If we can leave Freo with an 8-5 record then we are well placed," Colbert said.
"The games where we were beaten we played one poor quarter. At this level you cannot afford to do that."
The Kangaroos also had a tough run of playing in Adelaide in consecutive weeks, tackling the Lions in a great victory at the Gabba, and also heading to Manuka in Canberra.
Now playing off a half-back flank or back pocket in most matches, Colbert said his role had changed a lot from his early years in the AFL.
"When I first went to Geelong I played up forward or on a wing, then Gary (Ayres) switched me to more of an on-ball role.
"At North Melbourne (Kangaroos) I started up forward, then went to be a key backman.
"Now we have Shannon Watt and Leigh Brown playing at full-back and centre half-back, so I'm lining up against the third tall forward in most matches."
Off the football field, Colbert is a stockbroker at Goldman Sachs JBWere.
A certified pilot, with more than 300 flying hours to his credit, Colbert spent this week studying and completing more exams.
But by Sunday the focus is back on helping the Roos win another contest.
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