ALREADY boasting arguably the best resume of any Tasmanian-based
footballer, Ben Atkin is about to add a major milestone to his considerable
list of achievements.
When the Devils take on their nemesis, Werribee, in Melbourne on
Sunday, Atkin, 30, will play his 100th VFL match for the side.
He will become only the third player to do so, joining Ian Callinan
and Brett Geappen in the 100 club.
Atkin, who works for the Glenorchy City Council, thought little
about bringing up his century.
A foundation member of the Devils from 2001, he just loves playing
for Tassie.
``It's bloody great,'' Atkin said yesterday. ``We've got a great
bunch of blokes, it's very competitive to get a spot and there's a lot of
good young blokes coming through.''
Best of all, he likes the us-against-them nature of the job.
``It's the Tassie boys against the Victorians,'' Atkin said.
``Even though we're now aligned with a Victorian club, we've still
got the attitude that we want to go out there every week and beat the
Victorians.''
Atkin gave two thumbs up to the Devils' alignment with the
Kangaroos, which started this year and will be reviewed at the end of the
season.
``The Tassie boys get along well the with the North Melbourne
players. They're a good bunch of blokes,'' he said.
Atkin played 152 games for Glenorchy, won three club
best-and-fairests and a premiership, and is a life member of the Magpies. He
was drafted by the Kangaroos in 1995 but stayed in Melbourne only a few
months.
Atkin won the William Leitch Medal in 1999 and represented Tasmania
against Western Australia in the same season. In 2000 he won the Weller
Arnold Medal as best afield in a North-South intrastate clash.
He joined the Devils in 2001, and won the Alastair Lynch Medal as
Devils club champion in 2003, represented the VFL in 2002, 2004 and 2005,
winning the Frank Johnston Medal for best afield against the SANFL in 2005.
By: JAMES BRESNEHAN
Last Modified on 11/08/2006 08:56