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100 gamer Simon Wiggins joins Coach Brett Ratten at his mid-week media conference.
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BY HIS own admission it’s been a long time coming, but Simon Wiggins plays his 100th AFL match for Carlton this weekend and he couldn’t be happier about it.

“It’s something that I’ve always wanted since the first day I stepped in the club and saw all the names on the lockers,” Wiggins says of the milestone that will see his name join Ian Robertson, Alex Marcou and Ron De Iulio on the No.34 locker.

“It’s been great this year, things have just changed around so much, the four or five years leading into this year were that difficult; I didn’t know what it was like to saddle up for a game of football thinking that we were a really good chance of winning.

“You obviously get a bit down and it’s not as much fun as you had hoped, but this year every game we go into all I’m thinking about is that we’re a real chance and that we can knock this team off.”

A self-described spare-parts player, Wiggins has played everywhere but in the ruck at AFL level. Ironically, versatility has worked against Wiggins' efforts to secure a regular senior berth.

“One week you might go alright and then the next week things don’t work out as well,” he says.

“It’s a week to week thing, I’ve never really been able to look too far ahead with my career; I’ve just sort of looked toward the next week and eventually I got here so I’m really proud.”

Wiggins, 25, counts former Blues Barry Mitchell and Peter Dean as major influences on his development.

“A lot of my football is above my shoulders. I’m a bit of a worrier, and Mitch knew how to deal with me,” he says.

“I did a bit of work with Peter Dean as well and he’s been a bit of a mentor. I’ve really appreciated their help over the years.”

Wiggins is the only remaining member of the club’s 2000 draft intake, which coach Brett Ratten maintains is a testament to his iron-willed determination to succeed.

“You don’t know if Wiggo’s going to get 100 kicks or 100 possessions, but if you go to war with Wiggo you know he’s there fighting for you every step of the way and that’s what I love about him and I think the players love that too,” Ratten says.

“If you asked any player at our club who their top three favourite players were they’d all probably have Wiggo in there.

“He’s respected around the group for the way he goes about things, how hard he is on the ground, how hard he trains and he’s just a down to earth good bloke. He comes to the club with a smile on his face and he fronts up and butters up, and the players around the place love him.”

Wiggins has managed 10 games this year after overcoming the hamstring injuries that dogged his development and he’s determined to be a part of the good times at Princes Park after fighting through the bad.

“I’m out of contract at the end of the year, I’m not sure what’s going to happen there,” he says.

“But I’ve got five or six weeks to just keep putting my name up there and hopefully be at the football club for as long as I can.”