It’s been a long journey for Louis Sharrad but the Adelaide SANFL midfielder is set to notch his 100th match this weekend against South Adelaide.
The 28-year-old signed with Adelaide’s SANFL side this season but before pulling on a Crows guernsey, he lined up with Port Adelaide and then Woodville-West Torrens.
Speaking to AFC Media, Sharrad said he had not spent too much time thinking about the milestone but it would be something he would reflect on when he hangs up the boots.
“It will be nice to tick it off,” Sharrad said.
“It’s (playing 100 games) not something that I was setting out to achieve, I just wanted to play SANFL footy.
“It’s taken a bit of time and a few Clubs but it’s nice for it to happen.
“It’s something that I’ll be proud of looking back after footy is all done and dusted.”
Sharrad’s SANFL career began when he was 18 years old, playing League games for Port Adelaide in 2012.
He then moved to the Eagles for the 2019 SANFL Season, before signing with Port District to play in the Adelaide Footy League’s Division One last year.
Sharrad said a strong bond with former Eagles mentor and current Crows SANFL Senior Coach, Mick Godden, helped him return to the SANFL.
“I went back and played some footy with all my mates and I really enjoyed it,” Sharrad said.
“But since playing there I found that drive to start playing SANFL footy again and the opportunity came through Goddsy (Michael Godden), so I gave it a crack.
“I respected Goddsy from the outside before playing under him at the Eagles and he’s just a really good coach, a really good people person, so it’s been really good to be playing back under him.
“Everyone has been awesome, really welcoming, and obviously being in a professional environment has been great, too.
“I’m a Crows supporter myself as well, so it’s pretty cool to be around the place.”
The Crows sit third with a 7-3 win/loss record and Sharrad said the culture and the hunger to keep winning was what he was enjoying most about playing for Adelaide this season.
“Winning footy is always good,” Sharrad said.
“Everyone who’s come in and played for the Crows SANFL side has been there for the right reasons and we have a big emphasis on that team-first aspect.
“Everyone has bought into that and understands that, so it’s been really good.”
Adelaide takes on South Adelaide at Noarlunga on Saturday at 1.10pm.
