Robbie Tarrant will enjoy an AFL milestone a decade in the making when he runs out for game 100 on Saturday.
The luckless North Melbourne defender will finally reach a century of AFL matches, a number few would have predicted early in his career.
Taken by the Kangaroos as a first-round pick in 2007, Tarrant was more often in rehabilitation than at training in his first few seasons.
Two shoulder reconstructions on each shoulder, as well as hip and leg problems, delayed his introduction to senior football until late in 2010 and prevented Tarrant from stringing together matches during his formative years.
Leg injuries that followed kept Tarrant to just 14 matches in 2013 and 2014.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
By the end of 2014 after seven seasons with the club, Tarrant had managed just 39 games from a possible 160.
Since then, Tarrant has been ever-present, featuring in every match since the 2015 semi-final win over Sydney.
That run? Also 39 matches.
North Melbourne coaching director Darren Crocker said the 28-year-old enhanced his reputation at the club with his resilience.
"We could see the talent and knew what he could become but more important was the character of the guy," Crocker told the AFL Players Association website.
"He was probably at the crossroads ... just because they're a good bloke you can't keep them around if they're not getting on the park.
"Had he been a rat or a skunky sort of bloke who didn't fit into the culture of the footy club, we wouldn't have persevered.
"Off field, he's grown into a leader and teammates want to follow him.
"The injuries have enabled him to build a resilience.
"He's so important to our footy club and the direction."
Tarrant will notch game 100 on Saturday with an away match against Port Adelaide.
