WHEN FOOTY IS MOST BRUTAL 

His coordination on the dance floor is a long way from the poise he has on the footy field. Like all of the great players, the game seems to slow down around Dave. He sees things before they happen, he makes good decisions quickly, and he is always clean. That shone through from an early stage of his AFL career.

The other thing that makes him a great player is his ability to stand up and play well in the big games. As footballers, you pride yourself on that. When the moments are more important and the stakes are higher, you just want to be able to perform for your team.

Time and time again, Dave has been Fremantle’s big-game player. His big body and clear mind were made for finals footy and I can recall just being in awe of some of the things he was able to do in helping us win games in September. 

In 2010 he was incredible in the finals series and then in 2013, when we made the grand final, he was immense. I know that narrow loss to Hawthorn really burns for him, myself and all of the boys that played that day. It really hurt for a few reasons. 

I think because Fremantle hasn’t been able to put the silverware in the cupboard and we were so close to delivering that. We just weren’t quite able to get it done on the day. We did just about everything right, we were in the game late in the last quarter, we just couldn’t kick straight in front of goals. 

That opportunity to do something special for the Fremantle Football Club, the fans, everyone involved … it really hurt. 

Walking off the MCG that day you were a bit numb, then the reality hit that you’ve just missed the premiership, then you have to get back to work. You have to pick yourself and each other up and try to get back there.

I know it would have been tough for Dave and the guys in recent times who went through that and have had some lean years since. 

Being so close to achieving a premiership and then facing the prospect of trying to get back there for another shot at it and at times thinking they might not get back there, hasn’t been easy. 

There’s a sniff of finals again for this team and I would love to be able to watch Dave and the boys play in September again. He deserves another chance to show us how good he can be when the game is at its most brutal.

LIFE OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE

There’s a really tight group of us from the footy club that has come through together and, whenever we catch up, it’s just like old times. Dave is an important glue to that group and we’re all very proud of what he will achieve this weekend. To play 300 games for one club is a reflection of his loyalty, which his mates know well.

Over his time in WA, he’s had plenty of interest from Victorian clubs to head “home” and play his footy. I’ve often wondered if he did play for a Collingwood or Richmond, would the public and media recognition for his career have been greater? He won’t care one bit about that.

I never asked him why he didn’t take an offer to play in Victoria and stayed true to Fremantle. His wife, Sally is a WA girl and he’s a great husband and father who would want the best for his entire family. He’s the ultimate teammate at home, as well.

The idea of being a one-club player would also sit nicely with a bloke who appreciates the little things in footy.

And maybe the laidback style of Perth helped too. It is a great place to live, he’s built his home and his life over here, and maybe the full-time footy bubble with one of those big Victorian clubs might have been too furious for him.

While Perth has come on a lot in recent times, it’s still got that feel of being a big country town and that suits Dave just fine.

This weekend’s milestone speaks to his ability to achieve just about anything he puts his mind to. While some footballers try and work out what they want to do for a “real job” late in their careers, Dave found something he was passionate about and has performed just as impressively off the field as on it.

He took on a degree in marine science while playing fulltime footy because he wanted to be more rounded. He wasn’t very good at studying but enrolled in something he thought he would enjoy, and then worked his arse off because he loved it. He was that dedicated and talented that he won a Murdoch University academic performance award in 2017. On flights back to Perth, he would have his head in a textbook. 

So, apart from some shoddy dance moves back in his early 20s, does he have a weakness? 

Just one. Yabbying. His eldest son puts Dave in the shade when it comes to catching yabbies. At least he’s good company with a cold beer and a quiet afternoon by the dam.

Cheers to one of footy and Fremantle’s good guys.