Jaeger O’Meara is set to play his 50^th AFL game when the Hawks take on the Western Bulldogs this Friday night. 

Due to injury, it has taken the promising midfielder five seasons to reach the milestone after debuting for the Gold Coast in Round 1 2013. 

O’Meara has managed just five games this season since joining the Hawks, and did not feature in either of the Gold Coast’s ’15 or ’16 campaigns because of serious knee troubles. 

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Despite missing significant chunks of football, the former Sun has certainly made an impression during his short time on the field. Since being taken by Gold Coast with Pick 1 in the 2011 mini-draft, O’Meara has been awarded the NAB Rising Star Ron Evans Medal (2013), named the AFLPA Best First Year Player (2013) and recognised by the AFLCA as the Best Young Player of the Year (2014).

The 23-year-old has averaged 20.8 disposals across his five AFL outings in 2017, including a career best 36 touch performance against Adelaide in Round 6.

Hawthorn fans will be hoping that Friday’s milestone is the first of many for this promising young Hawk.