HE was one of the first to sign with the club; he was the first to 50 games; and now Kris Lea will become the first Strathfieldsaye player to notch 100 games for the Storm.
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Lea will play his 100th senior game for the Storm against Kangaroo Flat at Flight Centre Park on Saturday.
The 29-year-old centre half-forward has missed just one game in the Storm's six-year BFL history - last year's round 11 clash against Golden Square when he was sidelined with a hyper-extended knee.
"It's obviously an honour being the first to get to 100 games for the club," Lea said.
"After I got to 50 games without missing one, being the first to get to 100 games was something I strived towards and it's fantastic to get there this weekend."
Having been with the Storm since day one, Lea has watched the club grow from BFL newcomers to now boasting one of the league's most formidable playing lists.
The Storm - which last week played its 100th game as a club, of which it has won 51 - has improved every season since joining in 2009.
That constant improvement propelled Strathfieldsaye into last year's grand final, where it was beaten by powerhouse Golden Square by 21 points.
"From such a young team at the start when we copped a few hidings off those quality sides like South Bendigo and Golden Square to now be a competitive side six years on has been fantastic," Lea said.
Lea - who has kicked 163 career goals for the Storm - is a member of a star-studded Strathfieldsaye forward line that has this year been further boosted by the inclusion of the BFL's most talked about recruit, Stephen Milne.
"Playing alongside Milney in the forward line has been super," Lea said.
"To see the way he plays the game, uses his body and turns players inside out is great to watch."
Lea has proven a remarkably durable footballer. Before joining the Storm, he barely missed a game in his four-and-a-half years playing for Maldon.
Meanwhile, the Storm are beginning to play the brand of footy that had them the popular pre-season premiership tip.
Strathfieldsaye dismantled Kyneton by 125 points last week in its third win in a row - all by at least 78 points - despite still being far from full strength.
Kangaroo Flat, which has Corey Greer and Dylan Clohesy both out injured, is coming off a 44-point win over South Bendigo.
