Essendon swingman Michael Hurley will celebrate his 100^th game in the red and black when he takes to the field in Saturday night’s elimination final against North Melbourne.

Hurley made his debut back in Round 1, 2009 against Port Adelaide in Adelaide going on to play ten matches in his first season.

The 24-year-old is likely to be one of the most important players on the field on Saturday night with his ability to play forward or defence highlighted in the last month of football.

Coach Mark Thompson said on Friday morning he would consider playing Hurley forward this weekend.

“They are tall forward line and we have been playing people like Myers and Hibberd on talls,” Thompson said.

“It gives us more options because if things don’t work out forward we can move Hurley forward.”

Hurley said earlier this week he was looking forward to his milestone game but was focused on the more important task of winning a final.

“I am pretty proud that I have played one hundred games for the Essendon Football Club

“You get your name on the locker now which is fantastic.”

“This week it will be in the background a fair bit which I am pretty happy about because we have bigger fish to fry with the final so that suits me well.”

Hurley is confident he is currently in career best form.

“In the past I have had quiet good games and then gone missing for a month or so,” he said.

“The second half of this season has been my most consistent month of footy.”