Deniliquin’s Sam Lloyd joined footy folklore on Saturday, August 14, 2010, reaching 100 goals for the Murray Football League season against Nathalia.
Lloyd booted six goals to become the fourth ever Deniliquin Ram to reach the milestone, joining Greg Collins (101 goals in 1972), Trevor Sutton (121 in 1981 and 249 in 1982) and Paul O’Bree (114 in 1992) to notch goalkicking centuries in a season.
It was the start of what was an outstanding decade for Lloyd, who now plays at the top level for the Western Bulldogs in the AFL.
While he has had many big moments since, the 100th goal is still one that sticks out clearly in the 30 year-old’s mind.
‘‘It was a great feeling kicking it, not just for the 100 but to do it around a great group of mates and teammates. We had a special group then,’’ he said this week, reflecting on the milestone.
‘‘It ranks pretty highly in the achievements but it still sits well under the flag with the Rams in 2011.
‘‘I remember I knew I needed four goals for the day and it was against Nathalia so I wasn’t sure I was going to get it.
‘‘When I did kick the goal it was so fun having mates from the crowd and family run out there on the ground.
‘‘I was covered in beer after it though, I still remember who it was too — Joe Dohnt with a XXXX can.
‘‘It was only the second quarter and I smelt like grog the rest of the game.’’
Lloyd’s tally at the end of the MFL season was 110 goals, with the Rams finishing sixth on the ladder before bowing out in an elimination final against Moama.
His 100th major came in interesting fashion, with Lloyd recovering from a slip up to put through the milestone goal.
In 2010 Lloyd said it was ‘‘the best feeling of my life’’.
‘‘I sort of slipped over and the defender got out in front of me, but then Gilbert (McKinnon) kicked it low to me and I was given a bit of space in front of an open goal,’’ Lloyd said at the time.
‘‘The celebration felt like it went on for ages.
‘‘People ran onto the field from everywhere, I didn’t know what to do at first — I tried to run away.
‘‘The boys carried me off after the game as well. It was unbelievable.
‘‘It couldn’t have been more perfect. I had my older brother (Jack) and a few friends come up from Melbourne and I kicked it right in front of them.’’
Rams 2010 coach Gary Parsons sung the praises of Lloyd following his milestone goal, saying the sharp shooter often made him shake his head in disbelief.
‘‘He (Lloyd) kicks a couple of goals every week that make you think, ‘how did he do that?’,’’ Parsons said following that game in 2010.
‘‘He reminds me a lot of (Collingwood forward Paul) Medhurst, just a small forward that’s hard to match-up on.
‘‘You match him on a small guy and he can sit on their shoulders and you match him up on a big guy and he out-runs them.’’
Lloyd’s achievement included hauls of 12 against Echuca United, 11 against Congupna and 10 against Rumbalara.
‘‘The whole footy club is pretty proud. He was swamped by our thirds and fourths kids and is held in pretty good regard around the place,’’ Parsons said.
‘‘He’s a real knockabout young bloke that’s a local product. That makes it even more special.
‘‘You get an outsider that comes in and kicks 100, well that’s fine, but if you get a young kid that’s locally born and bred it just adds a bit of speciality to it.’’