It’s well publicised that Michael Walters is someone who would do anything for his family.

On the eve of his milestone 100th game, the Walters family has returned the love to the man everyone affectionately calls “Sonny”.

A father to Laila and Addison, husband to Marnie and son of Martha and Mick – Michael has used his love for his family as a motivator to improve both on and off the field.

Perhaps the biggest moment of Michael's life came on a night out with teammate Stephen Hill, where he met his future wife.

“We just got chatting and we exchanged numbers,” Marnie said.

“We met at Kings Park for a little date that he took me on. We ended up getting married there last year.

“To him, family comes first before anything else. Everything he does, he does for us and the girls.

“We’re really lucky to have him.”

Michael's progression to 100 games has also been well storied - sent back to Swan Districts in 2012 to work on his fitness and returning to Freo as a new man.

With a child on the way, the demotion was a wake-up call for Michael both on and off the field.

“He worked on his fitness definitely, but it was also just himself as a person,” Marnie said.

“We both matured, and he spent a lot more time at home instead of going out. We did family things.

“It’s amazing to see where he is at now. Playing his 100th game this weekend and to be in the leadership group is amazing, I’m so proud.” 

As a young leader in the Fremantle side, Marnie sees Michael continuing to be a positive influence on his children and family, as well those in the wider community.

“He’s always got time for his family and his cousins,” Marnie said.

“His culture comes first and I like how he talks to the girls about it. He brings them up knowing about their culture and their nanna (Martha) and pop (Mick) help this too.

“He’s done mentoring and youth work at TAFE and he always likes to help the younger Aboriginal kids, as well as non-Aboriginal kids.

“He just mentors and helps them be the best they can be.”

Parents Martha and Mick beamed when talking about their boy growing up on Bushby Street in Midvale.

There, Michael played street footy with neighbourhood kids Nic Naitanui and former Carlton player Chris Yarran.

“It was all about football,” Martha said.

“Everything he did, he did with a football in his hand. He grew up watching his dad play football.

“Two doors down was Nic Naitanui’s mother and next door to them was Chris Yarran’s grandparents.

“So the boys, they all went to school together and spent a lot of the time out on the street.

“They’d pull the bins from out of the gardens and that was their target kicking the football.

“Sometimes the brothers and all the other boys on the street would all be out there. 'Sonny' of course was the smallest and the youngest but he was right up there with them!”

Martha said she will always remember what she was doing when Michael was drafted in 2008.

“We were coming through the tunnel heading home and all of a sudden he just shouted,” Martha said.

“He frightened me because I was driving! And he said ‘Mum I just got drafted!’ and he just couldn’t believe it.

“My dad was still alive then and ‘Sonny' spent a lot of time with him, and dad was just ecstatic. He could not believe it, he was so overjoyed. It brought tears to my dad’s eyes.”

According to his dad Mick, Michael always had his family at the forefront of his mind – even when he was running out to make his debut against Port Adelaide in 2009.

“My mum’s since passed on, and I’m not sure how she got out of hospital to watch the game with us,” Mick said.

“Before the game 'Sonny' said, ‘nan I’ll do a little shuffle for you’ and then nan got up and did the shuffle too as he walked out, and tears rolled down her eyes.”

“She sat me down at half-time, but she pulled me over and said ‘I’m happy now, I’ve seen my grandson’s first league game.’”

Both proud parents are looking forward to seeing Michael's 100th, with Mick delighted to see his son share the milestone with another legend of the club.

“I just want to wish him all the best,” Mick said.

“I hope he enjoys the night with Aaron in his 250th and, hopefully, comes off with a good win.”