Jarrod Berry is an exceptional 21-year-old on and off the field for the Brisbane Lions. On Saturday he will play his 50^th AFL game but what makes this milestone so special is sharing it with his best mate and brother.

It all started when Berry was drafted to the Club alongside Hugh McCluggage in late 2016. Both played for the North Ballarat Rebels together and were schoolmates at Clarendon College. McCluggage went with Pick No. 3, while Berry was selected with Pick No. 17.

They arrived in Brisbane and moved in together with Harris Andrews. The next year they both played their first game for the Lions in Round 3, 2017 and have never been dropped back to the NEAFL since.

In November 2018 Berry’s younger brother Thomas was drafted to the Club and now the trio share a house together. Berry remembers the moment he was drafted clearly.

“I just thought, ‘how good’s this’, I’ve got the opportunity to play with my brother. I’m living the dream. I was just overwhelmed with happiness.

“And knowing that Mum as well would look over and see potentially that the boys are playing together for the Brisbane Lions.

“It’s pretty cool, we used to talk about it as kids…For it to actually happen is another thing.”

In February this year he was elevated to the Lions leadership group and is the youngest of the eight men.

Berry recently returned from knee surgery on a Baker’s cyst, while McCluggage missed last week’s win over Port Adelaide due to hamstring tightness.

Berry said there was no chance McCluggage could miss his milestone.

“I missed his 50, so I’ve been into him to make sure he’s there for mine,” he said.