“I was never very good as a junior,” he said.

“In under 12s and under 14s I was the kid who sat on the bench most weeks and only got to a play a few minutes in the last quarter.

“I was a terrible kick, I used to do the double-handed boot-banger.”

But in the space of a few years it all changed.

By the time he got to under 18s, McLaren was a star on the rise, making his senior debut in 1997 before spending the following season with the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup competition.

McLaren, who plays his 200th senior match for the Saints in tomorrow’s elimination final against Cobden, revealed he had never been dropped since he was first elevated to the top-grade.

In fact, he has only ever played one reserves match and that was in round two this year because he had to get to Melbourne to catch a flight to Perth for a friend’s wedding.

But injuries have drawn out his march to the milestone.

He missed most of the 2008 season with a quad injury that he repeatedly aggravated.

“I would have easily missed 50 games, maybe 60 or 70, a full year, a year in Perth, I would probably have been high up there in the 200s.”

McLaren, renowned for his ability to run and carry the ball out of defence, said he started his career on a wing before moving to half-back. More recently he has been playing in the full-back line.

“I don’t dislike it,” he said.

“I am a bit realistic with how my body has been, I can’t play up the ground for four quarters week in and week out.”

McLaren, whose father Brian and brothers Joe and Liam have all played more than 100 games for the Saints, said he was looking forward to tomorrow’s match.

“It’s an honour club-wise to get some milestones in your career,” he said.

“There has been some great players at our club play 200 and beyond. It’s a nice reward for a lot of hard work.

But I would happily trade it for a win on Sunday. Every time you play a milestone game you want to do well and win”

McLaren said the Saints were keen to turn the tables on the Bombers, who have won their two meetings this season.

“It’s one of the teams we match up pretty well with. They will take some beating, that’s for sure.”