THIS weekend Collingwood’s Tarkyn Lockyer will write another chapter of his club’s superb success rate when it comes to former rookie-listed players when he plays his 200th senior AFL match.

But, at the other end of the spectrum, the match will be equally special in other ways for teammate Sharrod Wellingham.

While Saturday night’s clash with the West Coast Eagles will only be Wellingham’s 16th career match, for those friends and family – among them his five younger sisters – on the sidelines it will mark his coming of age as an elite-level footballer.

It will not only be the West Australian’s first regular season match back in his home state, but Wellingham will be among Collingwood’s Indigenous players that will strut their stuff during a round the AFL has set marked on the calendar to acknowledge the contribution the Aboriginal community has had on our game. 

A former rookie himself, Wellingham – like Lockyer – has also had to do it the hard way to make it to the top league. And the journey hasn’t been without its bumps.

More likely to be found riding a skateboard or surfing a wave during his teenage years, Wellingham only made the decision to give football a serious crack when some his age were giving up on that dream.

“I didn’t play any state footy growing up,” Wellingham told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“My first year of footy [was a] full season of Colts – which is the equivalent of TAC Cup footy – was the year before I got drafted.

“I just kind of skated and surfed and mucked around with my mates. I started taking it seriously when I was about 17, and when I got told that I maybe had the talent to make it I wanted to play AFL.”

Wellingham played for Perth in the WAFL and, after being overlooked in the 2006 national draft, was snapped up by the Pies in the rookie draft.

Eager to move to Melbourne and seize his chance, he happened to move in with the man who would go on to lead the club. Nick Maxwell had also been a former rookie at Collingwood, and someone Wellingham said showed what was required to make it at AFL level.

“He was awesome,” Wellingham recalls.

“He set such a good example … [he showed me] the level of professionalism that was needed in terms of dieting and looking after your body.”

Wellingham’s ride to AFL level from a rookie list hasn’t been smooth sailing, suffering the public humiliation of a drink-driving charge.

The then 19-year-old sat pale-faced beside Eddie McGuire throughout the press conference in which the club president announced his club was handing in its $500,000-a-season sponsorship.

But he has righted his wrongs and is starting to see the rewards.

He spent two years on the rookie list, but 12 senior matches in 2008 – many of them showing glimpses of greater potential – meant the Pies were keen to upgrade him to the senior list at season’s end. That was despite the midfielder breaking a foot late in year, ruling him out of much of the Pies’ summer program including the trip to Arizona.

“I was stuck in the altitude room for a fair few hours,” he said of his 2009 preparation.

He managed to get back to full fitness by the time pre-season matches began and played in Collingwood’s NAB Cup Grand Final loss.

Despite his team being on the wrong end of the ledger in a couple of outings, Wellingham has managed 20 or more disposals in each of his three games this season and continues to show the benefits of greater exposure at the top level.

He knows his game isn’t yet perfect, but with teachers like Mick Malthouse and midfield coach Brad Scott constantly lending advice, the kid who was once more comfortable hanging ten is confident he can cut it on the big stage.

“It was a bit of a hard trek for the first year or so,” he said.

“When I first came over I thought ‘they’ve got me here so they must think that I can play footy’, so I’m going to do everything I can to play.

“The biggest thing I’ve got to work on now is my concentration, for 100 per cent [of the time].

“Making sure that I hit nine out 10 kicks instead of six out of 10 … making sure I’m switched on at all times. Mick’s pretty solid on that for me at the moment.”