Seven years ago, Callum Ah Chee was a talented indigenous teenager dreaming of one day playing AFL like many of his childhood heroes
Fast forward to Saturday night and the Western Australian, recruited from South Fremantle with pick 8 in the 2015 National Draft, will take the field for his 100th AFL match.
Ah Chee brings up the milestone as a Brisbane Lion in the QClash at The Gabba against the Gold Coast SUNS – the very team that gave him his start in the AFL.
The 24-year-old doesn’t seek the limelight, though this week he hopes to use his achievement to thank his family and inspire the next generation of indigenous talent.
“I am playing my 100th and get to do it against the old side too, which is fitting. So, looking forward to hopefully getting the win,” Ah Chee said.
“To put on the Lions guernsey and be playing 100 AFL games, I am sure it makes them (family) proud, but it just gives me a sense of pride to be going out playing for my family and my community back home as well.
“Hopefully it shows that young indigenous kids have a chance and can make it to the top level as well.”
One of those potential future AFL players could be his son, Iver, who will watching on with Ah Chee’s fiancé Laura, alongside his parents, Valeria and Brendon, who are flying into Brisbane for their son’s special match.
It is an impressive achievement in itself with Ah Chee forcing his way back into Chris Fagan’s best 22, a side looking to lock in a top four finish.
“I had a couple of inconsistent games there, probably a little patch for about two or three weeks but went away and worked in the twos and played some consistent football there and feel like I am back playing consistently and playing my role,” Ah Chee said.
“I am just happy to go play my role out there, if I need to go play back, I am confident to do that and also confident to go forward or play on the wing.
“That’s what I will go out and do this weekend and hopefully contribute to the team getting a good win.”
Ah Chee and his Brisbane Lions teammates know exactly how important a win is and how they need to play to get the four points.
Though as Ah Chee told media on Thursday, he isn’t expecting any special treatment from his former side in his milestone match.
“They can definitely match us, so we are not taking them lightly,” he said.
“They are going to come out strong because they are playing for finals, so it is important that we start on the front foot as well.
“They have some quality players and a potent forward line as well, so we are looking forward to the battle
“The recipe we how we played on the weekend, we had real good connections through the four quarters and that’s what we have got to bring this weekend to come away with a win.”
