Starting the 2013 season in promising form – having already booting 21 goals – Essendon forward Stewart Crameri will reach a significant milestone this week.
Despite his long journey to reach the highest level of football, Crameri will reach his 50 game milestone when the Bombers face Sydney on Saturday.
“It’s pretty exciting to finally get to 50 games,” Crameri said.
“It has taken me almost four years to do that, and at one stage I probably didn’t think I’d ever get there in the end.”
Earlier this week, Crameri reflected on his first day at the club, training in front of a large red and black crowd.
“It’s funny to get nervous at a training session, but I remember my first day at the club and at training there were about 2000 people in the crowd.”
“I thought to myself – I haven’t even played in front of a crowd that big, let alone train.”
“But it was a good first day and it was good to see so early that Essendon has so many great supporters.”
Taken in the 2010 Rookie Draft, Crameri was elevated to the senior list the next year. His first full season for the Bombers, in 2011, ended with a shoulder reconstruction that forced him to miss the club's elimination final against Carlton.
Last year, he booted 23 goals in the first nine games but could manage only another nine for the year as injuries took their toll. However, the damaging forward still managed to take out the club’s leading goal kicker award, for the second year in a row.
“So far this year I’ve kicked 21 goals, so while it’s not outstanding, I think I’m kicking the goals regularly which is what you want from your forwards,” Crameri said.
Crameri noted the big task ahead for the Bombers when the side faces the reigning premiers this Saturday afternoon at the SCG.
“Sydney are going to try to shut our midfield down, so that’s going to be hard for us,” Crameri said.
“In the last couple of years I think we have been strong against Sydney so hopefully we can really take it to them this weekend.”
“It will be good to play my 50th against Sydney in a big game.”
