David Mundy said he didn’t want to spend his birthday anywhere else after waking up early on a rainy morning to train with his teammates ahead of his 350-game milestone against Sydney on Sunday.
The newly turned 36-year-old still dreams of playing in a Premiership team with Fremantle and has the personal goals to play for as long as possible.
“It’s why I come and rock up on a rainy Tuesday morning on my birthday to run around a footy field with 44 other sweaty blokes. So it’s still an absolute dream,” Mundy said.
“I've always said along the journey that I'm happy to play for as long as I can, as long as I'm contributing effectively on field. I feel like I'm doing that at the moment and pulling up really well.
“(350 games) is obviously a lot of games, a lot of time and effort has gone into it by myself and a lot of people surrounding me. It's obviously special but I always feel that the 50 milestones are a little bit of a placeholder waiting for the big hundreds.”
Mundy believes Fremantle have a list that can compete in the near term, but lamented the inconsistency that has led to results like their 69-point loss to Geelong in round 18.
“I feel at our best, we are as good as any in the league and we have demonstrated that at different times this year,” Mundy said.
“We’re focusing all of our attention on that consistency, both within games and within seasons, it’s something that's growing.
“We had a blip on the weekend (but) I think with our group moving forward anything's possible. I think it's really encouraging signs for our fans.”
Mundy said the margins between the best and the rest in the AFL was small and hoped it was only a matter of time until it clicked.
“I don't think there is much of a gap, but in saying that, the hardest part of being a consistent, elite AFL team is that last little bit,” Mundy said.
“We have a crop of younger players in that 20 to 24 year old bracket who are really driving themselves and driving the competition among the players to get better every single day.
“This group is well placed to drive themselves through. We've got a great coaching group that are teaching us a lot and guiding us as best they can to game day.”
While Mundy’s 350th game will be at a neutral venue at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, he said he couldn’t wait to return to WA for a three-game home stand against Richmond, Brisbane and West Coast – where he will look to equal Matthew Pavlich’s 353 game record at the Club.
“I run out onto the field, especially home games in front of the Purple Army and I still get goosebumps when they roar as we come out onto the ground,” Mundy said.
“It's an absolute dream and privilege to play for Fremantle.”
Get ready for #ForeverMundy
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