From the north of Tasmania, to the south of Queensland, to the scrap heap and then to St Kilda, Mav Weller has travelled a well-worn path to 100 games. It hasn’t always worked out, but the hard-working forward has made it work.
Plucked from Burnie as one of Gold Coast’s prized underage access selections in 2009, Weller played with the Suns in the VFL in 2010 before their inception a year later.
He played 15 AFL games in his debut season and 32 across his first three years before his career reached a crossroads when he was delisted at the end of 2013.
In search of a second chance, Weller spent three weeks training at Linen House Centre ahead of the rookie draft, before the Saints used their second and final live pick on the Tasmanian, opting for him over seasoned ruckman Darren Jolly.
From there, Weller hasn’t looked back. He has cemented a spot in Alan Richardson’s side, played a handful of different roles, most recently carving out a niche across half-forward in the last year and a half, and has emerged as one of the clubs best leaders.
“It’s incredibly humbling, it’s pretty special and something I will look back and be very proud of once my career is over,” Weller told saints.com.au ahead of his milestone game at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity (at the Gold Coast Suns), it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to but it definitely made me a better person and more resilient and it helped my footy.
“Since coming down here it has been smooth sailing. It’s gone pretty quick, it’s an honour to reach the milestone with the mighty Saints.”
All 67 of Weller’s games in red, white and black have been under Alan Richardson’s watch. The St Kilda coach arrived at the club at almost the same time, beginning a relationship that has helped uncork the best out of Weller.
“I connect really well with the coach Alan Richardson; he’s been a massive influence on my career so far,” Weller said.
“He’s really instilled a lot of belief in me. When I showed up I didn’t have a lot of belief in my footy and wasn’t enjoying it as much. He’s definitely got the best out of me, we’ve got a great relationship, as he does with a lot of the boys.
“He saw a position for me up in the forward line and right now I’m really enjoying my footy and think I’m suited to that role so it’s going well.”
The people along the journey have been most memorable for Weller. He played with dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett at the Suns, a player he believes is the greatest ever.
And then there is Nick Riewoldt, a player who has had a profound impact on Weller since he walked in the door at the end of 2013, short on confidence but not short on determination.
“I was lucky enough to play with Gary Ablett who is arguably one of the greatest to ever play the game,” Weller said, “and then I come down here and you’ve got future club hall of famers like Jack Steven running around and arguably the best centre-half forward in the game in Nick Riewoldt. I’ve really enjoyed playing with those blokes and growing as a player as well.”
