Sturt premiership forward Josh Hone will play his 200th Hostplus SANFL League game on Saturday. Picture - Cory Sutton
By ZAC MILBANK
He’s been one of SANFL’s most consistent crumbers but Sturt’s Josh Hone is showing no signs of slowing as he prepares to join the illustrious 200 Club.
The dual premiership goalsneak is set to line up in his 200th Hostplus SANFL League match against Port at Alberton on Saturday with plenty left in the tank.
Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 28-year-old is currently fifth in the race for the Ken Farmer Medal with 26 majors to his name while continuing to play his role in the Double Blues’ unbeaten run to start 2025.
With 262 career goals to his name since making his debut as a 17-year-old, Hone has ambitions to surpass 300 and beyond.
And the 250-game milestone could also be well within reach for Sturt’s No.5, who made his League debut in Round 15 of 2014.
Nominating his crucial major in the victorious 2017 SANFL Grand Final against the Magpies as his favourite, Hone is a joy to watch given his bubbly energy inside 50m.
A master at crumbing the Sherrin off hands at pace, the 175cm pocket rocket reckons he’s kicked the majority of his majors from the south-western pocket at Thomas Farms Oval.
Once a heavily-reliant avenue to goal for the Double Blues, Hone no longer needs to kick a bag to ensure victory for his team such is its newfound penchant for hitting the scoreboard.
He’s more than happy to share the six-pointers around if it means earning a third premiership medallion at season’s end, something which has been driving him since his involvement in the 2016 and 2017 back-to-back flags.
Just as he’s comfortable playing his role on the field, Hone does his bit off it working with his parents and his brothers at his family’s business in the Adelaide Hills – Australian Paving Centre.
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