It will be a day of milestones for Josh Hunt and Josh Kelly when the GIANTS take on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium this Saturday.
Number two draft pick Josh Kelly will make his AFL debut while dual Geelong premiership defender Josh Hunt will play his 200th game.
Hunt arrived at the GIANTS as a free agent after being delisted by the Cats after 198 games in 13 seasons at Geelong, including the 2007 and 2011 premierships.
After making his debut for the GIANTS and playing his 199th game in the club’s historic win against the Swans, Hunt will officially join the AFL 200 club.
"It's something I can look back on and say I've played 200 games," Hunt said before training today.
"But I'm just excited to get out there. It's a milestone for me, but we want to get up and get four points, which is more important at the moment.
"At the end of the game, hopefully after we have a good win, I can sit back with family and friends and maybe have a couple of quiet beers to celebrate.
"But at the moment, it's mind on the job, four-point stuff, and we'll worry about the rest later."
From Mildura in northwestern Victoria, Hunt was drafted by Geelong with Pick 44 in the 2000 NAB AFL Draft. He was recruited from the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup and made his debut in Round 8, 2001.
Injuries plagued his first few years until 2004 when he played 24 games, including finals, and became renowned for his booming left-foot kicks from kick-ins.
Hunt recently turned 32 and was recruited by the GIANTS to add experience to their young backline. But he said being the oldest player at the club was a tough task sometimes.
"It'd be nice to be able discipline them like a father does sometimes," Hunt said with a laugh. "They give me a good ribbing some times.
"But they're great young men, they're just willing to learn and work hard. Some people say they make you feel young, I'm not too sure about that, but I'm just really excited to be here and it's great to celebrate with Josh as well."
At the other end of the spectrum is 19-year-old Josh Kelly who will play his first-ever AFL game on Saturday.
Regularly named as one of the most impressive on the track during the pre-season, the 19-year-old midfielder has earned a call-up to the senior side after a strong performance for the UWS GIANTS last weekend.
"It's going to be unreal. I've waited a long time for this day," Kelly said after finding out he would make his senior debut in a team meeting this morning.
"But once we get out there, it's not about me or anything, we're going out there to win the four points against a good side.
Josh is the son of Phil Kelly, who played 61 games as a wingman for North Melbourne in the 1980s after crossing from Western Australia where he won two Sandover Medals for East Perth in the WAFL.
From East Brighton in Melbourne’s South East, Kelly was recruited from the Sandringham Dragons with the number 22 known for his elite endurance, composure and strong decision-making skills.
A North Melbourne fan, he idolised ‘Roo Brent Harvey as a kid and then later Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury and Fremantle’s Nate Fyfe, but models his game on Swans Co-Captain Jarrad McVeigh.
Kelly played two games in the NAB Challenge pre-season competition, collecting 23 touches against the Saints in Wagga Wagga and leading the disposals in his second game against Adelaide in Blacktown.
GIANTS TV caught up with Josh for a special Inside the GIANTS feature on the young midfielder before the end of pre-season, click here for more.
Stay tuned for a special feature on 200-gamer Josh Hunt later this week.
