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It has been almost 100 years since a VFL/AFL player has waited as long as GWS veteran Sam Reid to celebrate his 100th game.
GWS veteran Sam Reid's unique path to his 100-game milestone is best contextualised by the fact that no VFL/AFL player has waited longer since Bill Cubbins in 1928.
Reid will tackle North Melbourne on Sunday, almost 13 years after setting out on a stop-start career in which he has been drafted four times.
Reid's hurdles have not been as momentous as those of Cubbins, who missed three seasons because of military service.
But the 31-year-old's capacity to repeatedly prove people wrong, including Giants coach Leon Cameron, and eke out contracts is remarkable in an era when second chances are hard to come by.
The journeyman was drafted by the Western Bulldogs in 2007, entering the system alongside 271-gamer Patrick Dangerfield and three-time premiership captain Trent Cotchin.
Reid was part of GWS's maiden campaign in 2012, retired after the following season then refreshed his body and mind during a two-year stint on the club's coaching staff.
The persistent Queenslander then convinced Cameron to take a punt, acting as his own manager while brokering one-year playing deals for 2016 and 2017.
"The first message I got about it was from Callan Ward's old man," Reid said of his milestone, having overcome a stack of injuries and played with Type 1 diabetes.
"He had some really kind words. He's obviously been there from when I got drafted with Cal at the Bulldogs.
"The words he said really made me think what my journey has been like, the resilience and everything.
"I get satisfaction out of proving people wrong. Leon wouldn't mind me saying I really wanted to prove him wrong ... six years later, I'm still going around."
The utility feels contract uncertainty has got the best out of him.
"Every year I'm playing for another contract ... every game I have to treat like my last," Reid said.
"Last year was definitely the most nervous. Coming off the year I had, only playing the last three games.
"When you get the last contract on the list, it's a bit of a kick in the arse."
Reid enjoyed his best season in 2019 then a calf injury ruined 2020; it could have been the end of a rebooted career if GWS's other contract dominoes didn't fall his way.
"If I ever thought I'd lose the passion to play or compete then I'd definitely hang them up," he said.
"I did think about that last year.
"But I thought I had a fair bit to give ... I can't see why I won't keep playing for another year or two."
LONGEST WAIT TO RAISE THE BAT IN VFL/AFL
* Jim Jackson - 16 years, 36 days (1925)
* Dave McNamara - 15 years, 282 days (1921)
* Charlie Ricketts - 15 years, 9 days (1921)
* Chris Kiernan - 14 years, 53 days (1911)
* Harry Brereton - 13 years, 122 days (1922)
* Bill Cubbins - 12 years, 314 days (1928)
* Sam Reid - 12 years, nine months (2021)
