In the last 19 years, only one man has kicked more than 100 goals in a Riverina League season.
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And Ben Perkins did it twice, with back-to-back centuries in 2005 and 2006.
More than a decade later, East Wagga-Kooringal are the Farrer League premiers and desperate to get their title defence back on track.
With Marc Geppert returning to Collingullie-Glenfield Park, who better to bring in than the original spearhead.
“It’s great, I've got a bit of training under my belt, had a few good weeks with the twos and it’s good to get an opportunity,” Perkins said.
“The last time I played here the club was still in the RFL. The club’s turned the corner and when I come back (from Broken Hill), I was thinking of retiring. I just went out for a run with them and away we go.”
Perkins was set to return to first grade in round two but a hamstring injury in the warm-up made that a false start.
After kicking 13 goals last week, and eight in his two other reserve grade games he was knocking on the door.
“He’s got presence, sure hands and a lot of experience which is great for blokes like Billy (Carey) and Hodgey (James Hodges) around him,” EWK coach Gavin McMahon said.
“He’s a real leader, he’s been working hard and he brings a bit of composure to a forward line-up that’s been a bit up-and-down for us.”
But Perkins isn’t just back for kicks.
“The ones aren’t going as well as they’d like to at this stage but it’s still a good list there,” he said.
“We’re down a tall (with Nick Hull injured) so just putting another tall in the forward line, hopefully we can stretch the opposition.”
The Hawks are still stinging from last week’s loss at home to the Northern Jets, with McMahon making it clear the onus is on his players to show what they’re made of.
“I think they probably gave us a lesson in good, strong, team footy,” he said.
“The boys get the chance to bounce back and I’m excited to see how they respond. Much as we were disappointed, it’s a test – the ball’s in their court.”
Coleambally (two wins) are just four points behind East Wagga-Kooringal but face a massive task without their Darwin recruits and a long injury list including Dean Pound (shoulder surgery), Todd Clark (broken hand), Nathan Jones (broken hand), Shaun Light (knee) and James Fallon (knee).
But former coach Josh Hamilton has served his eight-game suspension from last year’s grand final, while Carl and Tony Pound’s retirement plans are on hold again.
As for Perkins, he’s looking forward to his first trip to Coleambally, in his 102nd appearance for the Hawks.
“I’ve never been over there,” he said.
“We’ll probably expect to go a bit better than last week. We’ve definitely got a tough road ahead but it’s just a matter of turning the corner so hopefully we can get the win.”
Perkins had played 97 games for the club before finishing up as coach in 2009 and McMahon was pleased to see him return and bring up triple figures for games played, to go with his goalkicking centuries.
“It always irked him that he wanted to bring the 100 up,” McMahon said.
“You’re pretty fortunate when you’ve got ex-club coaches who want to hang around and play (Chris Jackson) or come back and play (Perkins). It’s a real pat on the back for the club and the people who are working hard to get the club going forward.”