Tough Tiger reaches 150-game mark

By his own admission, reaching the milestone has not been an easy task, but Railways utility Scott Powell will feel a sense of relief on Saturday when he runs out to play his 150th league game for his beloved Tigers.

After tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in 2010 and sitting the full 2011 Great Southern Football League season on the sidelines, Powell thought reaching the individual milestone was never going to happen.

However, a few years down the track and after plenty of hard work, Powell will become the first Tigers player since 2010 to reach the 150-game mark.

Powell’s journey has contained plenty of highs and lows after making his debut as a teenager in 2005 when he was almost knocked out by a current teammate.

“Some games have been all right and some not so good,” he said.

“I debuted in 2005, when I was a colt still, that was a long time ago, but Head (Nic Cramer) nearly knocked me out playing for Kojonup — he just ran through me.

“Playing on blokes like Kayne Hamilton and Kris Ericson wasn’t a lot of fun — they were always taller than me.”

The Tigers broke a long premiership drought in 2012, but Powell was overlooked for selection that day, further driving his hunger for a flag.

In 2013, he responded in the best possible fashion, playing all 15 regular games and all three finals for the Tigers, where he was named in the best players in their preliminary final win and then led the ruck in their grand final triumph against North Albany.

One of Powell’s darkest days came in 2006 as teenager.

He had the job of tagging Kangas star Brad Bootsma, who was fresh out of the WAFL and went on to win the Alan Barnett Medal.

“That wasn’t a good day, he touched me up,” Powell said.

“I had to play out of position a bit up on the wing that day and he was just back from the WAFL.”

The 27-year-old said current Tigers coach Wayne Stubber and former coach Kim Mayfield both had a big influence on his football.

“Chub (Mayfield), early on, gave me a chance to play league when I wasn’t the best player,” he said.

“In the last few years, Stubs has given me the chance to play all over the ground.

“To get there (to 150 games) will be a relief and a real good moment to get up on that board at the footy club.”

Having started in defence and also spending time in the ruck and up forward, Powell will again play an important role in Saturday’s fixture as his side look to upset the Kangas.