Raising the willow after slashing a ton out on the oval, feeling the rush of the crowd as your 100th major sails between the sticks, but rarely is the sacred figure ushered when speaking of the round ball game – until now.
On the weekend, one little legend did the unthinkable on the soccer pitch, venturing into territory where even the likes of Pele and Maradona have never explored.
Across the span of 26 games, Dion Arthur rippled the back of the net no less than 105 times, a mammoth achievement for a child barely measuring four feet tall. What makes it even more special is the fact that it his first year playing the sport.
Arthur banged home a whopping 76 goals for his native Orrvale Warriors in the Shepparton Junior Soccer Association, making up the rest of the figure filling in for Orrvale under-7s and Wilmot Rd under-6s; all from the confines of the defensive line.
The mind-blowing nature of the pocket-rocket’s achievements was lost on him, with “having fun” placed atop of the agenda when it comes down to the Saturday morning helter-skelter on the field.
Unbeknown to Arthur, 6, his tally idled on 93 goals with one Saturday left to crack the century.
Proud dad Clint and coach Aaron Cordy watched on as one after the other went in, until number 100 sizzled off Arthur’s boot and into the net.
Five more followed, capping one of the biggest purple patches ever witnessed across the Goulburn Valley.
But, with individual highlights spanning from scoring all eight in his second ever game, to blasting an astounding 15 goals during a 17-1 performance, one particular memory of his goal-scoring exploits leaves a grin plastered from ear to ear.
“I loved helping Lexie score her first ever goal,” Arthur said.
Having long caught sports fever as an avid footballer and cricketer of two years, Arthur remembers the seasons by which code he will be playing during its months.
He is already displaying a natural ability impossible to ignore within those codes, but after such a whirlwind season you would think he might just throw on the soccer boots for another 100 next year.
Not according to Arthur, who had another target in mind when asked what figures he might be posting next year.
“Two hundred,” he said, cheekily.
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