Football
2 September, 2024
Edwards notches up 100 goal milestone
Birchip-Watchem's Full Forward Ben Edwards has achieved a magnificent feat, kicking 100 goals for the season, notching the milestone in the second quarter in their semi-final victory against Sea Lake Nandaly at Donald Recreation Reserve on Saturday in the North Central Football League.
Entering the game on 97 goals for the season and kicking with the wind in the first quarter, Edwards didn't hit the scoreboard, even though Birchip kicked three goals for the quarter.
Against the wind in the second quarter, Edwards kicked his first goal early and his second not long after to bring his tally to 99.
Ten minutes later, the milestone happened. Meyrick Buchanan kicked the ball into the forward fifty, where Edwards got some separation, but Edwards's opponent, Kane Donnan, got his hand in to spoil the ball.
Edwards recovered quicker to collect the ball, turned around, and ran into an open goal to bring up the milestone.
Edwards said it was a special moment.
"I tried to get it on as fast as I could, and when I kicked it, there was a lot of relief and excitement," Edwards said.
"The conditions were harsh too, as it was a shockingly windy day, so to kick it against the wind was a bit special.
"It's a hard thing to achieve as you only play 16 games, and therefore have to average six or seven goals to do it, and I just try to kick as many as I can for the team each game as it's my job as full forward."
"The conditions during the year have also been tough on some occasions, with a handful of wet and windy games."
"The defenders are excellent too. There are a lot of good players in this league, which makes it even tougher."
The 29-year-old had to wait three weeks to kick his 100th, as they had a bye in the final round and a bye in the first week of the finals.
In 2023, he kicked 87 goals, with a bag of 15 and two hauls of 11. This season, he has kicked more than five goals in 12 of 17 games, including four games of seven and four games of eight, bringing more consistency into his game.
"A big thing for me this season was consistency; I definitely did that better."
Edwards joined Birchip-Watchem at the start of the 2023 season.
Hailing from the Yorke Peninsula, where he played in a couple of a-grade premierships, he moved to Adelaide to play in the SANFL, where he played senior football for Glenelg and Port Adelaide.
In 2022, he played for South Australia against Western Australia, kicking five goals.
Edwards said that kicking 100 goals in the season was up there with those highlights.
"Saturday was an amazing day, and hopefully, we can win a grand final in two weeks' time."
Birchip-Watchem coach Trevor Ryan said it was a special moment.
"It's definitely very special, as I am not sure how long it has been since someone at our club reached this milestone, and he has been really good this season," Ryan said.
"To get it this year, and against the breeze, against a good team is just a great moment."
This is the second time this feat has been achieved in the Wimmera Mallee in 2024, following Paul Summers from the Swifts notching his 100th up against Edenhope Apsley on Saturday, August 10, in round 17 of the Horsham District Football Netball League.