With a fair bit of negative press surrounding our game at the moment, it’s always nice to have a good news story to focus on – and Brent Staker is definitely one of those.

I reckon I’ve mentioned Stakes in just about every one of my Den Diaries this year, so I apologies in advance if I’m starting to sound like a broken record.

He just seems to be a popular subject whenever it’s my turn to write one of these columns.

But on the eve of his 150^th AFL match, it’s hard to ignore the enormity of Staker’s achievement.

There were probably times over the past couple of years when he might have doubted whether he’d ever get there, but the past 10 weeks have shown just how valuable he is for our Club.

He’s averaged one goal a match since that terrific comeback game in Round 8 against Essendon, and has booted eight goals in the past four weeks. 

The same can be said for Matt Maguire, who notched up his 150^th last Sunday against Port Adelaide.

Many thought Goose’s career might have been over when he suffered that badly broken leg at St Kilda, but he’s since proven any doubters wrong.

He obviously missed a few months earlier this year, but has been so good in defence that Vossy now has the luxury of playing Daniel Merrett up forward.

There are actually plenty of similarities between Goose and Stakes – aside from the fact they have both overcome serious injuries.

Both are country lads, were born seven days apart (Stakes is older), and arrived at the Club from other clubs at the same time.

That particular trade period in 2009 is often remembered for all the wrong reasons, but Staker and Maguire – and Andrew Raines for that matter – have all been valuable pick-ups from that year.