HE'S THE now not-so-little rookie who could.

A three-time All Australian and a former club captain, Western Bulldog Matthew Boyd added another chapter to his gritty career with last year's premiership triumph.

And if all goes to plan, Boyd will break former West Coast big man Dean Cox's record for the most games played by a rookie draftee on Sunday afternoon against Melbourne. 

The 34-year-old has amassed 290 games across his 15 seasons of AFL since being signed as a rookie from Frankston in the VFL back in 2002. 

Having made his name as a hard-nosed midfielder and clearance king, Boyd proved you can teach an old Dog new tricks, reinventing himself in 2015 at the age of 32 as a half-back.

He has proven to be a formidable defender and an excellent intercept mark, and an integral part of the Dogs' premiership-winning back six.

Why the mini milestone matters 

Only eight rookie draftees have managed to make it to the 250-game mark, never mind 290.

Rookies generally have to do it the hard way. Passed over in the NAB AFL Draft, they fight to even get promoted to the senior list, let alone earn an AFL game. 

Consequently, some of the names on the list are well-loved club figures, popular with their own supporters for their intensity and fighting spirit. 

Matthew Boyd helped the Bulldogs end their premiership drought in 2016. Picture: AFL Photos

Who's next best?

Next in the line of present-day rookie success stories is a literal giant of the game, Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands (253 games).

Teammate Danyle Pearce has also played 253 games, while Boyd's Bulldog backline buddy Dale Morris (233) rounds out the top three. 

Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis (230) and premiership Hawk Josh Gibson (224) are other rookie stars.

*Still playing

Fast fact: Boyd was selection No.23 in the 2002 NAB AFL Rookie Draft. Sandilands was taken 10 picks later, at No.33.

The Chaser: Can another draftee rookie set a different benchmark?

Football can be a brutal sport, and most AFL players can expect to finish their career having missed some matches to injury and loss of form. 

Which makes Sam Gibson's football journey all the more remarkable.

The durable midfielder is set to break North Melbourne's consecutive games record against St Kilda on Friday night. 

Gibson, also a former rookie, has played 119 consecutive games dating from his debut back in round 12, 2012, sharing a Kangaroo record with Keith Greig set in 1972-77.

Quite simply, once Gibson came into the senior team for his first game, he never left.

He still has some way to go to catch Melbourne legend Jim Stynes, who holds the all-time record for consecutive games with 244.

Text: Sarah Black | Designs: Kahla Emonson | Stats: Cameron Sinclair

Want more?

• The Chase: more mini milestones

• Round 12's Team of the Week: Did we get it right?