THEY’RE the players who reached significant milestones in 2020, from Riley Bonner, who played his 50^th AFL game to 250-gamer Brad Ebert.

Then there are those who were recognised during the season with AFL Life Membership for 300 recognised games.

With their feats celebrated at the 2020 Best and Fairest event and John Cahill Medal presentation, portadelaidefc.com.au thought it would be worth taking a look at how each player fared in their milestone game.

Spoiler alert… we won all of the milestone games.

50 games

Riley Bonner (Round 17 v Essendon)

In a game that Port took hold of in the second quarter and never looked like losing, Bonner acquitted himself pretty well off half back. He had 19 disposals, six marks and two tackles on a milestone occasion he shared with Charlie Dixon.

100 games

Darcy Byrne-Jones (Round 14 v Sydney)

Port looked comfortable for the most part in overrunning Sydney at Adelaide Oval and Byrne-Jones enjoyed another solid game off half back. He had 17 disposals and three rebound 50s to go with an incredible passage of play where he put in repeated efforts to stamp out a Swans attack, including a desperate smother in the middle of the ground.

Scott Lycett (Round 11 v Richmond)

The Power won another milestone game in Round 11, this time against the reigning premiers Richmond. Lycett was strong in the ruck as Port won comfortably to stay on top of the ladder. He had 16 hit-outs to go with nine disposals and two tackles. It was a joint milestone game Lycett shared with captain Tom Jonas and vice-captain Ollie Wines.

150 games

Charlie Dixon (Round 17 v Essendon)

In the same game as Bonner’s 50^th milestone, the big forward was his usual imposing self. He started the game with an incredible one-handed mark in the slippery conditions that earned him a mark of the year nomination and finished with ten disposals, six marks and two goals

Tom Jonas (Round 11 v Richmond)

Sharing his 150^th milestone with his good mate and vice-captain Ollie Wines and in ruckman Scott Lycett’s 100^th game, Jonas led his side to what was probably its best win of the season. He was resolute down back, finishing with a game-high five one-percenters to go with eight disposals five marks.

Ollie Wines (Round 11 v Richmond)

Like Jonas, his leadership and hard work were vital to overcoming the reigning premiers. Wines showed midfield grunt, laying a game-high eleven tackles (his most for the season) and having a game-high ten clearances (also a season-high) to go with 28 disposals and a goal. Chuck in the three Brownlow votes and the four points for the team and it was a good night out for the vice-captain.

200 games

Tom Rockliff (Round 13 v Hawthorn)

Port Adelaide hosting the Sir Doug Nicholls Round for the first time at Adelaide Oval provided the setting for Rockliff’s milestone game. A special Indigenous guernsey and a late goal from the combination of Scott Lycett tap down to Zak Butters to seal victory added to the occasion. For his part, Rockliff was pretty useful with 28 disposals, six tackles and three clearances.

250 games

Brad Ebert (Round 4 v West Coast)

The script was almost perfect for Ebert’s milestone 250^th game. Against the side where he made his AFL debut, playing for the club he grew up supporting and where his family has left an enviable legacy, the only thing that could have made it better was if the game was played in Adelaide instead of during hub life on the Gold Coast. Among the best in yet another milestone win, Ebert finished with 16 touches, two goals and five tackles.

AFL Life Membership*

Justin Westhoff (Round 9 v Melbourne)

Off a four-day break and in greasy conditions in Brisbane, Port Adelaide did justice to one of the greatest players of its AFL journey. Westhoff had ten touches, two goals and three tackles as Port got back on the winner’s list after its second loss of the season days earlier and the 2018 club champion earned AFL life membership for his 300^th career game.

Travis Boak (Round 13 v Hawthorn)

While much of the limelight was on Tom Rockliff for his 200^th game in the AFL’s Indigenous Round, Boak quietly went about his business as he earned life membership in his 300^th career game. And by quietly it means Boak had a season-high 34 disposals to go with six tackles and nine clearances. Port won, which was also good.

Ken Hinkley (Round 6 v GWS)

It is not often a coach finds himself in the centre of the team song getting drenched in sports drink, but then it is not often a coach earns life membership. Hinkley definitely enjoyed his side’s winning performance against last year’s Grand Finalist, GWS, a week after the club’s first loss of the season, even if he didn’t enjoy washing powerade out of his hair post-match.

*denotes 300 AFL games played or coached, including pre-season and representative games