335 reasons to celebrate

AFTER two decades of blood, sweat and tears, Claremont defender Craig Bennett will break the club games record against Lindisfarne today.

He started as a 16-year-old with a crop of hair that gained him his nickname as a kid — “Moppa” — and is still going strong when most have hung up the Pumas.

Now, 20 years later, the 36year-old will break Richard Blackwell’s club games record when the Claremont stalwart lines up in the twos today, for the 335th time in black and white, against the Two Blues at Anzac Park.

“Moppa” has played 187 senior games, 105 reserves and 42 junior games for Claremont, including a senior grand final, as well as two reserves premierships.

Even though he has played with so many teammates, Bennett cannot single out his favourite.

“It’s hard to say because there’s been so many of them — I’ve played with so many it’s hard to pick anyone out,” he said.

He named Todd Lewis as his hardest coach and Kim Excell as the most professional.

Bennett, who has had an injury-free career, will take the record to new heights if he decides to play on again next year, which is a distinct possibility.

“It’s year by year now so I’ll see how I feel at the end of this season.

“It could be this year, or maybe one more, it depends on how I feel.”

In other games, Sorell is at home to New Norfolk, Huonville plays Cygnet at Huonville and Hobart hosts Brighton at the TCA.