Jayden Vandermeer finally notches his 150-match milestone with Chiltern

The loyal Swan finished 2019 on 142 matches.

Fast forward to the last round and Vandermeer finally got to celebrate the milestone.

"I only need eight matches at the end of 2019 and obviously COVID hit," Vandermeer said.

"Then I played seven matches this year and COVID hit again.

"But fortunately it was only for three weeks and I finally got to 150 last week.

"It was a good feeling, especially with the family ties to the club.

"Dad played more than 300 matches and is a life member and all the uncles were long serving players at Chiltern as well."

ALSO IN SPORT

Jayden said his father, David, was quick to remind him that he has a long way to go if wants to emulate the old man.

"Dad told me I have got a long way to go if I want to catch him," he said.

"Hopefully my body can hold up and I can at least get close to him."

Coach Luke Brookes who also notched his 300 match milestone in 2014 played alongside both David and Jayden before retiring several years ago.

Vandermeer jokingly said Brookes was a much better coach than he was a player.

"I was only a shy kid when I was running around alongside 'Brooksie'," he said.

"But I find him to be a great coach and obviously he has got us in a strong position.

"He is a bit old fashioned in his methods in that he can deliver a spray if needed."

Brookes has shown a lot of faith in Vandermeer and made him co-captain this season alongside Ben Mason.

The Swans coach has also switched Vandermeer from attack to defence with Brookes rating his co-captain as one of the elite kicks in the competition.

Vandermeer said he had relished the change of roles.

"I pretty much played most of my career as a forward," he said.

"I was struggling for form a bit and 'Brooksie' moved me down back and I've been there since.

"I've enjoyed the switch and I can't see 'Brooksie' moving me any time soon."

Chiltern travel to Yackandandah on the weekend in a top-of-the-table clash with both sides having only lost one match so far this season.

Vandermeer said it was good for the competition to have some different clubs challenge for the flag besides the usual league heavyweights in Thurgoona and Kiewa-Sandy Creek.

"It's good to see somebody different on top of the ladder," he said.

"Kiewa is obviously still a genuine flag contender.

"But I've had some lean times at Chiltern so you have to enjoy it when you get on a bit of a roll."

Vandermeer felt the Swans' unpredictability this season made them a superior side to 2019 when they were bundled out of finals in straight sets.

"We have got a different game style now don't rely heavily on big slick Rick Whitehead to kick a winning score," he said.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: