Ahead of his 100th game, carltonfc.com.au asked for Dennis Armfield’s observations on a myriad of subjects, from footy to the future:

On game no. 100
It does seem long ago that I got to the club. It’s a pretty surreal feeling, to be playing your 100th game when it’s gone so quick.
There’s still a lot of pressure to stay in each week. You’d think that if you’d play 100 games you’d be pretty safe, but you’re still ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’ and on the edge – and that’s how I’ve always played my footy.

I remember we were still in the old stand when I first came to Carlton, and you’d look up and see the players and the number of games they played . . . and I remember thinking ‘I can’t wait to see ‘D. Armfield, 1’’.
When I saw the history I was just rapt to think how good it would be to see my name with just 1 next to it. Then you see the locker and you see the names - Darren Hulme, Des English and Ollie Grieve - and you think getting your name on it is a special moment. Hopefully that’s just a few days away from happening - to be etched into Carlton history for life.

On the No. 27
When I first came to the club it was first in best dressed. The lowest number, number 8, went to Kreuzer who was drafted in my year, Steven Browne got the next number and I was third.
When I came to the club I had a bit of a relationship with (former Carlton footballer) Brad Shine’s son and Brad’s old No. 10 was available.  I thought I might ask for 10, but Richard Hadlee who came to the club as a pre-season draftee got the 10 and 27 was next in line. But there’s no chance of changing it now – I’m rapt with it.

On Rugby Union
I made the state squad, but rugby union wasn’t very big in WA, so it came to a time when I was 15 or 16 that I got asked to move to Queensland to play in that competition. But I just wasn’t ready. I missed my family and friends too much.

On converting from union to Australian Rules
It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made – or the best decision my father made for me.  One year he couldn’t make the trip to rugby training and I couldn’t get there, but he had a mate who played footy who drove past my house and he said ‘Why don’t you just latch on and learn this game?’, so away I went. That was 2003, I was 16 or 17 then, and at that time I was playing rugby and a bit of school footy.
In terms of my footy I was okay at it. I was very raw and pretty rough around the edges but I played a few Under 17s games for Eastern Hills Hawks, then Swan Districts picked me up. A year later I left Swans to complete my Year 12 studies and I played amateurs. I enjoyed my amateur footy, had a very good year and came runner-up in the B & F. I was happy to keep playing in the ‘ammos’ until Swan Districts rang to ask me if I’d come down. I didn’t want to go, but Dad said ‘This is an opportunity’.
So Dad forced my hand I guess.
I went down to Swans and in 2006 and ’7 was fortunate enough to break into the League side. Then in 2007 I got drafted here.

On the overlap between both sports
If you played footy from day dot you’ve definitely got a better chance because you know what to do, you know the game and I sometimes still find myself running around out there thinking ‘Where’s the best place to run?’. You see these other blokes get the ball all the time who just know where to go – left, right or centre – whereas I guess I can still get a bit lost sometimes. But rugby’s helped me with my defensive side and that’s what I like to be known for – my defensive side, so there’s pros and cons.
Now I understand the game a bit better and I feel a bit more confident in the side. I know it sounds stupid after 99 games, but I now feel as though I belong and I don’t have that self-doubt anymore.
The other thing is that my teammates back me in now. They give me a lot of confidence, which is something you definitely have to earn. This is a footy club, you earn your stripes and to gain their confidence helps really helps.

On the bubble
It’s not fair at all to say players live in a bubble. Players live in the real world. There are a lot of players, not just myself, who try to help. I do a lot of community visits, hospital visits, and I try to work with kids with disabilities, I want to get involved with the juvenile kids because they make one mistake and suddenly they’re outcasts. And you do feel sorry for them.
There’s a lot of players involved – Levi Casboult, Kade Simpson, Jeremy Laidler, Sam Rowe – all these blokes who do it off their back and not for fame or fortune. They don’t do it to tell everyone. They do it because they enjoy helping out.
We’re pretty lucky as footballers. We’re role models to people and a lot of us have decided here’s a chance to give back.

On fame and celebrity
I’m still pretty low-key. I can still get around town and get away with a few things.  But you love it when a kid walks up with a big smile and says ‘G’day’. I’ll always say ‘G’day’ back and I’m not going to bite.
I used to be a North Melbourne supporter and I was a massive Wayne Carey fan. I remember one day I was out at the airport waiting for them to fly out and Wayne Carey signed my football card.  I know it sounds silly, but that was one of the proudest moments of my life, and to be able to have that sort of effect on others is a great thing.

On Mick Malthouse
Mick’s come into the club and we’ve all jumped on board. He’s a very powerful figure. He’ll tell you when you’ve done something right and he’ll tell you when you’ve done something wrong and how to fix it. I’m very grateful to him and to all the coaches I’ve had Brett Montgomery, Gavin Crosisca and now Johnny Barker because I’ve played a bit more forward . . . and there’s ‘Greeny’ (Brad Green) too.

On when it ends
I’m at ‘Uni’ at the moment studying podiatry. I always wanted to be a ‘physio’, but with the demands of football the way they are the commitment to physiotherapy is too high. Podiatry  is a good fit, I have a mate who does it and I figured if I can pursue the same we can do something in the future together.
The way my degree’s going it’ll take me another nine years to finish it off, but it gives me something to look forward to – and if footy was to end tomorrow I’ve got a pathway.

On the coaching craft and a potential career as coach
I took up a course with Luke Webster about two years ago, but I just don’t think I’ve got the footy brain. I would like to stay in the game if I could, maybe around the club, because the club is a great place to be. But at the moment I’m just enjoying playing and maybe when it’s over I’ll get away for a little bit.

On the fun aspect
Footy’s a business and you have to be professional, but to run out there and play with your mates it’s still fun.