WEST Coast’s Sharrod Wellingham plays his 100th game this weekend and it is significant that it will be against Geelong.
Although it will be just his eighth match in an Eagles jumper, some of the biggest days in Wellingham's career have come against the Cats while playing for Collingwood and the 25-year-old remains in awe of the 2011 premiers.
"I think they are an amazing team," Wellingham said.
"(They're) just killing it really and they are definitely up there as a benchmark side along with Hawthorn.
"They are a relentless side, they just don’t give up.
"I can only think of one time when they gave up prior to the last second of a game."
The occasion he is referring to was the 2010 preliminary final when Wellingham kicked two goals in a 41-point win that led to a Premiership two weeks later against St Kilda.
Wellingham also suffered plenty of pain at the hands of Geelong, with defeats in the 2009 preliminary final and the 2011 Grand Final.
"I just think they are a side that has a lot of pride," Wellingham said.
"They are always going to give everything and they are a very disciplined side and from the outside you always have a lot of admiration for that group."
Wellingham has had a difficult first year at his new club. He had to wait until round 21 to bring up game 100 due to two ankle injuries that have kept him out of 12 matches this season.
The first was self-inflicted during the pre-season when he fell awkwardly on a trampoline and suffered the ignominy of missing the first five rounds. The second occurred against North Melbourne in just his third game for the Eagles.
"This year has been a bit frustrating but I have been a bit lucky up until this year," Wellingham said.
"So I have to count my lucky stars on that one, I just have to approach it as another game really.
"I am glad I have reached it [the milestone] finally and hopefully we can get a big win."
Wellingham is happy to admit that his premiership with Collingwood is the highlight of his career so far.
But he is excited to be home in Perth playing for the Eagles and makes no secret his ambitions with his new club.
"Coming back and playing for West Coast has been has been a pretty big one for myself," he said.
"I think playing in flags with the two biggest clubs in Australia would be pretty awesome."
