When Luke McPharlin was asked what milestone meant more to him, his 200th AFL game or his 200th Fremantle game, his answer was emphatic.

“Fremantle,” he said without any pause for thought.

The champion defender lines up for club game 200 this Friday night against Essendon, the same club he played his 200th AFL game against in round 13 last year.

Many people forget that McPharlin was drafted by Hawthorn in 1999 and went on to play 12 games for the Hawks in his first two seasons.

But the 2012 All Australian said his career wouldn’t be defined by his short tenure in the East.

“I like the fact that I’ve effectively become a one-club player,” he said.

“I like the fact that I’ve managed to play 200 games for this club.

“It puts me in a fairly elite bracket with Paul Hasleby, Shaun McManus, Shane Parker, Antoni Grover and Matthew Pavlich.

“I’m very happy and honoured to be among that company.”

Fremantle didn’t do McPharlin’s career justice in last year’s milestone game, going down to the Bombers by 24 points under lights at Patersons Stadium.

Essendon young gun Michael Hurley got away from the Freo defence to kick six goals on one of the few occasions a tall forward had the better of Freo's miserly defence in 2012.

While McPharlin started the game on Hurley, he didn’t play on him for the entire match, moving onto Stewart Crameri later.

But regardless of who played on who, McPharlin said the entire Freo defence’s pride was dented.

“Between Crameri, Hurley and their resting ruckmen, their forwards did some damage,” he said.

Hurley has been the Essendon midfield’s favourite target in 2013.

He’s been kicked to inside 50 on 23 occasions in two games – the second most behind only Collingwood’s Travis Cloke on 29.

McPharlin said the young Bomber was a very talented forward and that a team approach would be needed to contain him and the other Essendon attackers.

‘Whoever gets the job on him, whether it’s myself or Zac Dawson, we’re certainly going to need some support around him,” he said.

McPharlin expected to line up on either Hurley or Crameri again on Friday night and he is very keen to atone for what happened last time.

“I’m certainly looking to get on top of their forwards,” he said.

“We allowed them to get away from us last time, so we’ll make it right this time.”

‘Woosh’, as he is affectionately known to his teammates, said it was nice to be able to play his 200th Freo game under the Friday night football spotlight and in the club’s annual Starlight Purple Haze Game.

“We don’t get too many opportunities to play on Friday nights,” McPharlin said.

“And it’s also the Starlight Purple Haze Game, so we’ll be looking to raise as much money as we can on the night for a great cause.

“There should be a lot of purple there on the night.”

McPharlin ran out with his family in the round 13 milestone game last year.

They won’t be on the ground this time, however.

“My youngest Bronte was screaming her block off when we went through the banner, so I won’t put her through that again,” he said.

There’s a sense of déjà vu ahead of Friday’s game considering it’s a 200th milestone, against Essendon, under lights at Patersons Stadium.

The one thing McPharlin hopes won’t be the same is the result.

“We get another opportunity against the same team and, hopefully, we do it right this time.”


2013 STARLIGHT PURPLE HAZE GAME: Friday 12 April v Essendon at Patersons Stadium, 6.40pm bounce down. Dress in purple to WIN! Proudly supported by Fremantle Ports. Find out how you can help Starlight here.

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