ALL-Australian. Charles Sutton Medallist. Captain. 100 AFL games.
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Western Bulldogs defender Easton Wood knows his growing list of achievements stems from an opportunity to play school football in Geelong 10 years ago.
Wood, who will play his 100th match against the Cats on Friday night, moved from his Camperdown home to board at Geelong Grammar on a general excellence scholarship.
His deeds on the football field culminated in Bulldogs list manager Scott Clayton taking a punt on him in the 2007 national draft.
Two years later he made his debut. The game, a round 19 loss to West Coast at Etihad Stadium, remains one of his standout memories.
"So much work went into that. I spent two years on the list before finally wearing the jumper for the football club and before that I'd spent my time dreaming of playing professional sport,” Wood said.
"For me, growing up as a kid I loved sports and being outside and playing team sports. I was doing everything - footy, cricket, basketball or even squash.
"I didn't think footy was an option for me until late in year 12.
“The big thing for me was being at Geelong Grammar and playing APS. Because I didn't play TAC Cup for Geelong Falcons, I thought my chances of AFL were limited.”
Wood, coming off a career-best season which netted a club best and fairest and All-Australian honours, is relishing the chance to captain the Bulldogs in injured skipper Bob Murphy’s absence.
"I absolutely love it. It was daunting initially to get my head around the whole thing but I am learning on the fly,” Wood said.
"It's a great honour to lead the boys out each week. I feel like I see things with different eyes. It's nice to feel like you're contributing and giving back too.
"I like to be really measured and really think things through. I only speak up if I believe it and have conviction in it.”