Describing his career as a "rollercoaster", Launceston's Jake Smith will join the club's greats as a life member by reaching 150 games on Saturday.
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Recruited to the Blues from the Prospect Sharks by Scott Stephens as a 15-year-old in 2011, Smith joined in their last premiership season before their 2020 clean sweep.
Throughout those years, the 26-year-old has played "every role you can on a football field", been in the leadership group and is now a player that the club's youth look up to.
"I've been a part of some teams with some great players, blokes that have been at the football club for years and it's good that the club has stuck with me through that period," he said.
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"It's my home away from home and you make a lot of friends and blokes I call 'my brother' down here and to be able to play 150 games and play with some all-time Launceston greats has been an awesome journey and it's been a big part of my life."
The former St Patrick's College student identified Stephens, Sonny Whiting, Beau Green, Gene and Brennan Savage, current coach Mitch Thorp and Jay Blackberry as some of the greats he's played alongside.
So it's fitting that Smith shares his milestone day with Blackberry, who becomes the State League games record-holder in his 213th appearance as the Blues face Glenorchy at KGV.
"It's fortunate to fall on the same day and it's good that I've got the opportunity to play with blokes like Jay, who is one of the hardest-working blokes," Smith said.
"He goes about it quietly, he is a very funny man, he's been good with me as well - he keeps me level-headed and stuff like that.
"He's one of the most talented blokes, but also one of the hardest working and it's great that I get to share the day with him."
Looking back on his career so far, Smith noted his senior debut against North Launceston in 2012 as well as his first final against Burnie the following year as major highlights alongside last year's premiership win and his 100th game.
Thanking Smith for his dedication to the Blues in a social media post, Thorp described his star's story as one of "persistence, personal growth and extreme talent".
"Like everyone in football there have been highs and lows, from heavy losses in the early days to sessions he left early wearing his heart on his sleeve, a best and fairest at 19, representing Tasmania and a state premiership last season," Thorp said.
"To reach 150 senior LFC games at the age of 26 speaks volumes of his commitment to the competition and club - he now becomes a life member.
"When I first took over, Jake was central to our resurgence, asked to play full-back on the opposition's best each week, he did so without hesitation and was duly named in the team of the year.
"Fast forward to 2021, [and he's] a key member of our premiership team as a wingman, such is his versatility and clarity of the game."