East Ballarat junior graduate James Frawley ticks off another major achievement in his AFL career on Saturday.
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The Hawthorn premiership defender plays his 200th game against Brisbane Lions in Launceston.
The milestone comes in his 12th AFL season after being recruited by Melbourne via North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup with selection 12 in the 2006 national draft.
A member of one of the Ballarat district’s best known football families, Frawley has spent most of his career in defence, where his uncle Danny Frawley carved out a legendary career with St Kilda through the 1980s and 1990s.
James’ father Michael is in the Ballarat Football League hall of fame, having been a three-time North Ballarat premiership player and selected in the East Ballarat team of the century.
James made his AFL debut against North Melbourne at the MCG in round nine, 2007, and went on to play 139 games with Melbourne.
His stand-out year with Melbourne came in 2010, when as a 21-year-old he earned All-Australian selection.
The lure of a premiership led to his move to Hawthorn as a free agent at the end of 2014.
The success of another key defender Brian Lake’s switch from the Western Bulldogs to Hawthorn persuaded him to make the call.
"Every player plays footy to try and win a premiership and be in a successful side and that's what I see here at Hawthorn and that's why I made the choice.
"There were many factors that came into the decision, but Lakey has had some good luck coming here from the Bulldogs two years running for two flags, that's a pretty good strike rate."
Frawley landed the ultimate success of a premiership in his first year with the Hawks in 2015.
Frawley told Hawthorn's website earlier this week that he would try to treat the 200th as a normal game - celebrating with family and friends after the game.
The 29-year-old said it was an achievement to reflect on in retirement.