The script writers couldn’t have done it better if they tried!

Chris Tarrant is to play his 200th AFL game on Sunday, in Melbourne, with best mate Dean Solomon in the team. It’s quite a story how two close friends fulfil a childhood dream to play AFL football together and end up sharing Chris’ milestone this weekend.

They have been friends for 17 years.

Tarrant grew up in Numurkah before the family moved to Mildura. Solomon was born and raised in Broken Hill. Both grew up supporting Geelong.

So how did they meet?

They were 11-years old and both had played representative football, Tarrant for Sunraysia (Mildura) and Solomon for Broken Hill. After a carnival in Broken Hill they sat opposite each other at a pie night and they remained friends from that day on.

Football has continued to be the constant in their friendship.

Both were awarded scholarships to the Bendigo Pioneers in the Victorian Under 18s competition and both had dreams to play AFL football. At that stage however, they knew that there was little chance that they would ever play at the same AFL club.

But as fate would have it, 17 years on, Chris will run out for the Fremantle Football Club in his 200th game on Sunday with his best mate by his side.

And who better to put Chris under the spotlight in the lead up to his milestone match than Dean Solomon.

CLICK HERE to catch this exclusive interview on FTV.