“I HAD it pencilled in for a long time.”

Marc Pittonet set himself a challenge. Get to 100 AFL games before 100 VFL games.

At one stage, he was 20 games behind with nothing to spare. He was even named for his VFL century in the final round of 2025, before he was a late out as an AFL emergency.

And now, a career-best season has ensured that Pittonet will achieve that AFL milestone in Round 24, in an achievement which even the most ardent of Pittonet fans would’ve even thought was a bridge too far at a point in time.

“I’m 12 years in now, and it’s something I didn’t think I’d get for a lot of years,” Pittonet told Carlton Media.

“I’ve played a lot of footy and played with a lot of players, the goal was to get to 100 AFL games before 100 VFL games. Early in my career, I probably didn’t appreciate milestones because between being at Hawthorn and Carlton, I’ve been around so many players who have played 100, 200, 300 and even players who have gone on to play 400.

“The longer you’re in it, the more you value how hard it is to get to each one… it means a lot.”

A popular figure at IKON Park, Pittonet arrived at the Blues after seven games in five seasons at Hawthorn, spending a lot of his time battling away for Box Hill as he developed his craft.

Seeking greater opportunity at the end of 2019, it was a Deadline Day trade which saw Pittonet become a Blue for effectively pick No.54, coinciding with Andrew Phillips’ departure to Essendon.

From there, Carlton has been able to call upon Pittonet not only for his consistency on the field, but his character off the field. A Carlton Respects ambassador and now Vice President of the AFLPA, Pittonet’s standing at the Club has been reflected with his two Best Clubman awards in 2021 and 2025.

While Marc Pittonet has been a great fit for the Carlton Football Club, the Carlton Football Club has also been a great fit for Marc Pittonet.

“The Club has really taken me in, and the fans have been amazing to me. To be part of the fabric, the other one I’m in pursuit of is 100 club games - I want to get my name on the locker.

“I feel very privileged to play for a big club that has got a big history, a blue collar history which is how I go about life and how I go about my football.”

Perhaps the best person to talk about Pittonet’s “blue collar” approach is Matthew Kreuzer, a former teammate of Pittonet’s who has now become his long-time ruck coach.

The former Carlton favourite was effusive in his praise for this week’s milestone man - not only for his development on the field, but his exceptional character off it.

“He’s just a great human. He’s really dedicated to his footy both on and off the field and a really great person,” Kreuzer said.

“It’s been great to see his journey and progress over the years. The last six years, I’ve worked closely with him and I’ve seen the work he puts in. His attention to detail is one thing that really stands out, and you know what you’re going to get from him every week.

“I don’t think I have met someone who loves ruck craft more than him. He’s looking at every little thing: where their feet are placed, the angle, everything. He takes it to the next level, but it works for him.”

The first time the duo crossed paths was at Box Hill City Oval back in 2015, when Pittonet was still 18 and Kreuzer was coming back from injury via the VFL. As the former No.1 pick reminisces, “I do remind him every now and then I gave him a bath that day - he still remembers it”.

And despite that ‘bath’, what has eventuated between the two has been a close mentorship and friendship which Pittonet believes has been a key driving force behind his longevity in the game, resulting in his 100-game milestone.

“I couldn’t speak more on the impact that he’s had on me as a person and as a player. He took me under his wing and showed me everything he did over so many years, and then there’s the care he’s had for me during the week when I’ve been in the team, out of the team or injured,” Pittonet said on Kreuzer.

“I wouldn’t be here playing 100 AFL games if it wasn’t for him.”

Kreuzer himself has seen the “two sides” to Pittonet more closely than most.

“He’s definitely got the white-line fever. He gets very angry out there, but then if you run into him in the street, he’s a big friendly teddy bear.

“He’s always very polite and very interested in what everyone else is doing, he has genuine care for everyone and he’s the ultimate teammate. That’s both on-field and off-field, because you always know he’s got your back out there.”

That “big friendly teddy bear” will be immersing himself with the Carlton fans pre- and post-match, with Aisle 27 on Level 1 being the official ‘Pitto Pit’ for Saturday’s game.

“I will be keeping one of those [cutouts] as my post-career thing to show my kids one day.”