3 minute read

St Kilda tall Sam Rowe is thrilled at the prospect of playing his 100th AFL game when the Saints take on Sydney at he SCG.

Sam Rowe will make his first and last appearance for St Kilda to reach 100 AFL games when they face Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.

Oh, and Rowey, would you mind playing on a fired-up Lance Franklin in his 300-game milestone?

The almost-unthinkable scenario looks set to play out after Rowe, stuck on 99 games when he was delisted by Carlton last year, was handed his club debut by former Blues mentor, now St Kilda caretaker coach Brett Ratten.

"I'm sure I'll come across Buddy's path at some stage," Rowe said.

"I've played on him a few times in my career, so it's not something that is new to me.

"But if I get that challenge then that's something I'll relish.

"I've always loved playing on the best forwards and he's certainly one of them.

"If I get that chance, I'll love it."

The versatile tall was set to play local footy this year after being cut by the Blues when the Saints threw him a lifeline via the pre-season supplemental signing period.

It was another twist in Rowe's AFL story that began when he was picked in the second round of the 2011 draft then sat out the 2012 season after his shock cancer diagnosis.

He beat testicular cancer to make his AFL debut as a 25-year-old against Collingwood in round two of the 2013 season.

Rowe thought his chances of playing 100 games were over when he was a casualty of Brendon Bolton's laborious rebuild and is delighted to finally be handed the opportunity.

"It will be 100 and out for me," he said.

"I'm happily finishing up from AFL after this but I'm glad that I'll be able to finish my career in the AFL.

"It's been an amazing experience to play for such a long time and be involved in a few different clubs.

"I've had an interesting career but when I finish and look back on it it will be something that I'll be proud of."