Geelong's Mark Blicavs could stake claims for having the most unique pathway to 250 AFL games and becoming an "inspiration" for others to follow suit.
Touted as a jet in his junior years, Blicavs opted to pursue middle-distance running in the hope he'd one day compete at the Olympics and ultimately give up football at 14.
The then-21-year-old was attempting to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics as a steeplechaser but opted to bite the bullet and have a crack at the AFL.
Growing up with Cam Guthrie, who himself has played 236 games for the Cats, the pair were coached by Andrew Guthrie, Cam's father - and he was the one who told list manager Stephen Wells about Blicavs' potential.
Current Geelong coach Chris Scott, who took over from Mark Thompson ahead of the 2011 season, recounts the story on Thursday as the club signed the Blicavs as a Category-B Rookie.
"The way I remember it was a recommendation off Cam and Zach Guthrie's dad, who coached Mark as an Under 11s player, last time he played footy (before joining Geelong)," Scott said to reporters.
"It was an off-hand comment, the way it was relayed to me, that 'the best player in the team back in the under 11s is a guy who is now 198cm and is trying run middle distance at the Olympics. If he ever went back to footy, I think he'd be okay'.
"That's one of the hallmarks Stephen Wells has approached his job over the years, the one in a million is worth pursuing if it means that one is Mark Blicavs.
"He's been critical to the way we've played... and he couldn't play at all."
Blicavs' transformation into one of the game's versatile players in the modern era has him justifiably placed alongside
The 33-year-old's longevity and consistency further his ascendancy to genuine stardom while his All-Australian blazer (2022) and dual Carji Greeves Medals (2015, 2018) add to the ever-growing heroics of the once-upon-a-time steeplechaser.
Not to mention a premiership medal.
Blicavs recalled how difficult it was getting used to the rigours of AFL football, admitting it was a shock to the system.
"Initially, it was getting used to contact sport," Blicavs said.
"When I first got to the club, I had 'Maxy' Rooke telling me, 'this is the best you'll ever feel in your football career. You'll be sore all the time."
"I got a corky in my leg and was out for three weeks... that was the big challenge.
"Then I wanted to make sure I was healthy and available and when it is my turn to play and step up I'm there to do it."
From a Category-B rookie to a 250 gamer, Blicavs has been an inspiration to those code crossing while Scott admits that finding a needle in a haystack was something the Cats thrived on.
"It is difficult to explain, and might sound a bit harsh, but just how back he (Blicavs) was when he came in," the two-time premiership coach adds.
"This was a throw at the stumps situation and to be frank, if the rules weren't the way they were with the Category B situation, he never would have ended up on our list.
"And it has inspired us to take chances on other players who are long shots as well and I think that alone is a good thing to have that mechanism in the system.
"Because without it, we wouldn't have seen Mark Blicavs play AFL football at all, let alone 250 games.
"In my mind, all things considered, it is one of the most extraordinary stories of the modern era."
Following the leap of faith, Geelong took on Blicavs, players like Tom Stewart, Tyson Stengle, Shaun Mannagh, Mark O'Connor, and Oisin Mullin were drafted to the club in a sign that it's looking at every facet of the sporting world to improve its chances of premiership glory.
Blicavs and the Cats will celebrate his 250th game at Adelaide Oval during the AFL's Gather Round when they face the Western Bulldogs.
