Beau Maister’s wonderful football journey will reach a significant milestone when he runs out with the Claremont side to do battle with Subiaco at Leederville Oval on Thursday evening. He will be celebrating his 150^th senior match for the Tigers in a distinguished career.

“To play one game for this great club is an achievement, let alone 150 games,” said the genial Maister. “Looking at some of the characters, some of the legends who have come before me, men like Graham Moss, John O’Connell and Kevin Clune, to name just a few, it’s not a right, but a privilege to represent such a proud club.”

The 32-year-old Maister, born in Albany and a product of the Railways club, will become the 32^nd player to earn life membership of Claremont by notching 150 senior appearances for the Tigers.

Describing himself as a young naïve country lad moving to the big smoke as a teenager 15 years ago, Maister said that he was fully committed to giving “everything” in a bid to make a mark in football. “But for things to pan out the way they have is a dream,” he said.

Apart from his 145 league appearances and four Foxtel Cup matches for Claremont, the powerfully-built Maister has played one interstate match for Western Australia and 44 AFL matches --- 23 for the West Coast Eagles and 21 for St Kilda.

After playing colts football for Railways in Albany and a couple of league games at the age of 16, Maister, an apprentice carpenter, jumped at the opportunity to move to Perth and take his next step, playing under coach Ash Prescott in the Tigers colts side in 2003.

In 2004 Maister was captain of the colts side (coached by Matt Angus) and was also named as captain of the WAFL colts team of the year, as well as shining for WA in the under-18 carnival in Melbourne.

It was during the carnival that Maister, an outstanding centre-half-forward, was switched to centre-half-back when in successive matches he was opposed to Travis Cloke and Jarryd Roughead.

Late that year Maister was drafted as a rookie by the West Coast Eagles before he had made his league debut. It was as a West Coast rookie that he played his first senior match for Claremont as a tall, somewhat skinny kid in a forward pocket against West Perth at the Showgrounds in round one in the first official WAFL match at that venue for 79 years. He kicked two goals in a low-scoring contest to play an important role in Claremont’s one-point victory.

After being on West Coast’s list from 2005 to 2010, Maister was a permanent member of Claremont’s league side in 2011 when he starred in the grand final victory over Subiaco, kicking five goals and being awarded the Simpson Medal as the best player in the match.

He joined St Kilda in 2012 and wrist and hamstring injuries and serious damage to his left shoulder restricted him to 21 AFL matches in three seasons. He underwent surgery on his shoulder, groin and right thumb.

Maister returned to Claremont in 2015 and his determination and commitment have been a great benefit to the younger players at the club. He proudly dons the No. 42 jumper every week, the same number he has worn throughout his career with Claremont.

“Numbers don’t define you as a footballer,” he says. “And I have been blessed at Claremont, with the Eagles and the Saints to have been coached by really good coaches.

Maister is extravagant in his praise of the support he has received over the past decade from his wife Bec, who presented him with their first child late last November, a delightful daughter Rylee.

“Bec has been with me throughout my career and my family, my Mum and sister, are first and foremost,” he said. “You can’t put a value on their support.”

Maister is looking forward with optimism for a successful and rewarding season with the Tigers, saying: “Our best is definitely good enough to compete with and challenge the best sides in the comp.

“Previously we could have used the fact that we’ve got young players in the side as a bit of a reason why we’re a bit inconsistent. But I think that we’re beyond that now. It’s time for these younger guys --- like Ryan Lim, Jared Hardisty and Alex Manuel, plus others who are coming through as well --- to show the way. Obviously, the older boys have to dig in and play their part.”

By Ken Casellas