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John Townsend
Tony Notte’s bid to set a new record for consecutive WAFL matches will come to an end tomorrow when he is forced to miss the Swan Districts match against South Fremantle.
The Swans ironman, who has played 194 straight games after last missing a match in 2011, was ruled out under Covid protocols. The WAFL record is held by former Swans captain Joel Cornelius who played 219 consecutive matches leading into his retirement in 2006.
South Fremantle’s Gary Scott (205 games in the 1960s) and Subiaco defender Aidan Parker (197 up to 2013), are the only other players ahead of Notte.
South Fremantle champion Stephen Michael has often been credited with either 223 or 201 consecutive games but WAFL historians Greg Wardell-Johnson and Steve Davies scoured registration and game forms to confirm the ruckman only played 188 in a row.
Notte spent last Saturday night at Royal Perth Hospital after having surgery to repair a severe head cut sustained in the match against Subiaco at Kalgoorlie earlier that day.
Swans did not have a doctor at the match and the designated doctor at the ground did not have the equipment needed to stitch the wound.
Notte revealed that he had often been forced to overcome serious injuries to maintain his streak.
“I’ve played plenty of games when I probably shouldn’t have but managed to find a way to get on the park,” he said in 2019 on the eve of his 150th consecutive match.
“The toughest was two years ago when I ruptured both medial ligaments but Stiffy (coach Greg Harding) needed me to play and so I strapped the knees up and got out there.”
Most consecutive WAFL matches
Matches Name Club Period
219 Joel Cornelius SD 1995 – 06
205 Gary Scott SF 1959 – 69
197 Aidan Parker Su 2005 – 13
194 Tony Notte SD 2012 – 22
188 Stephen Michael SF 1975 – 83
174 Rory O’Brien PT/EF 2009 – 17
158 George Prince EF 1945 – 52
IMAGE: FILE