Football
2 May, 2024
Cheney set to celebrate 300 game milestone
On Saturday, when the Warrack Eagles run out to play the Horsham Saints at Coughlin Park, it will be a special day for one club stalwart as Jacob Cheney will be playing his 300th game.
The 38-year-old started playing senior football when he was 17, and over 21 years, he has only played one season in reserves, back in 2012 when the Eagles won the premiership.
The ever-reliable defender is a quiet humble man, and when he walks out on Saturday, he said it will be business as usual.
"It's going to be no different. It's great to get to 300 and it will be a good day, but I don't like the limelight that much, so I just want to win," Cheney said.
The highlight of Cheney's career was in 2012 when the Warrack Eagles defeated Horsham by 23 points in the Grand Final.
"The 2012 premiership was a special moment," Cheney said.
"I have also played in some senior grand finals where we lost, but it was the preliminary wins to get to those grand finals that felt good."
To play 300 games, your body needs to stand the test of time, and Cheney has been lucky not to get many injuries over the years. When asked what the secret is, he said it was simply to look after yourself.
"It's all about looking after your body," Cheney said.
"When I was younger I loved to drink a lot of beer after games but then when you rock up to training on a Tuesday, you sometimes don't feel that good.
"So even though I still have fun and drink, I have looked after myself a bit better in that regard."
Cheney has no plans to stop unless his body forces him to noting he has had some soft tissue injuries over the last five years.
"The last five years I started to get some soft tissue injuries, but got over them quick, but if that happens more frequently, I may have to give it away, but so far so good," Cheney said.
It hasn't been an easy last few years for the Warrack Eagles, and when asked what advice he can offer the younger players, he said to hang in there.
"I have been in good and bad sides and it comes and goes and it can go pretty quick," Cheney said.
"You can be part of a side where you are winning a lot, and a side where you are barely winning, but it will change quickly.
"I hate to see young blokes leave because you are down. Just stick together and fight it out because it will turn around."
2024 hasn't been an easy start for the Eagles after playing the Southern Mallee Thunder and last year's premiers Ararat, but Cheney is confident things will pick up.
"There's a lot of buzz around with a new coach and Matt is doing a good job," Cheney said.
"We would liked to have had a softer draw to get a bit of confidence up, but coming into this week, we will be confident as the Saints haven't won a game yet either.
"I just hope we win."