ANTON Maggi never had any choice but to play for Sebastopol Vikings.
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Three hundred senior games later, and he would not take any of it back.
Maggi, 34, will today play his 300th senior game for Sebastopol, in what has been a career littered with premierships and personal accolades.
Now mostly playing in the Vikings’ reserves due to an ongoing knee injury, Maggi says reaching the triple ton is a milestone that has been on his mind for some time.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for some time, it’s not like it’s a massive deal but it’s good to reach the milestone,” he said.
Maggi first started at the club in its Ballarat District Soccer Association days in 1999, long before a shift to the Football Federation Victoria state league was even thought of.
Captaining the firsts side for more than six years, while also collecting five BDSA league titles and three cup trophies, it has certainly been a dazzling career.
Throw in a league best and fairest in 2008 (even though he was runner-up in the club best and fairest that year) and Maggi has certainly had a career to remember.
He said his biggest highlight was the club’s 2006 cup win over Vic Park, although he was enjoying soccer as much as ever now the Vikings were competing in the state league four, against Melbourne sides.
They are no longer as dominant as in the BDSA days, which is an aspect he enjoys the most.
“It’s obviously more challenging and the competition is a lot better as a whole,” he said.
“It’s much more enjoyable in my eyes, I’m pretty competitive as a person and it’s good to be in a good competition.”
Maggi was thrust into the soccer club from a young age.
His father, Fred, was a founding member of the club in 1972 and is still on the committee, his brother, Jim, coaches the thirds side and other brother, Peter, coaches the women’s senior team.
“I never really had a choice but to play at Sebastopol, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.
Sebastopol comes up against Laverton Park on Saturday in their Football Federation Victoria state league four match on Saturday.
Laverton Park is bottom of the ladder in both seniors and reserves, while Sebastopol will be aiming for its third win in a row to continue its climb from the bottom areas of the table.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au