Geelong defender Zach Guthrie will be feeling pretty good about himself right about now.
Fresh off signing a four-year extension at the club that keeps Guthrie in the hoops until the end of 2028, his coach, Chris Scott, was in awe of his "transformation", detailing how far his come in his weekly press conference.
Guthrie's career took a while to get going after being taken with Pick 33 in the 2017 Rookie Draft, featuring in 20 games in the first four years at Geelong.
However, Scott noted that through grit, determination and the willingness to learn, the 26-year-old was able to force his way into the senior side in the back half of 2021 and has not looked back since.
"I think he's worthy of extra recognition," Scott said.
"He was really raw, young and looked like a boy, and the transformation in him and his game has been really significant.
"I don't mind saying publicly, and I've been involved in footy for a while, but I can't remember a player who's worked as hard on his game and has been able to transform who he was as a player in 100 games as well as Zach.
"It feels like the early stages of his career, and it should be (100th AFL game) something that he should be proud of.
"Because there was a time, not that long ago, that reaching the level that he's reached seemed like a long way off.
"And it's a real credit to him."
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Guthrie has quickly become a significant cog in the defensive line-up for Scott, who is usually tasked with quelling some of the game's best small forwards.
The Calder Cannons product was influential in the club's premiership victory in 2022 and is in line to feature in the All-Australian squad.
Guthrie's 100th game will be played at GMHBA Stadium, the ancestral home of Geelong, against a West Coast outfit that will be wishing for a fresh campaign.
The Cats are well in the hunt for second spot but will need results to go their way.
Guthrie's milestone won't be the only celebration down at Kardinia Park on Saturday, with the club and its supporters given the opportunity to celebrate two of its greats.
Both Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy have announced their retirements in recent weeks and will be lauded in front of the home crowd.
