Reaching 150 AFL games is certainly no easy feat, but to do it in the fashion star Bomber Michael Hurley has is a remarkable testament to his character.

Swinging forward and back, leading through mud and clear water, overcoming injuries and receiving All-Australian selections before and after a year out of the game, it has been far from a conventional career.

Hurley admitted “it’s taken a while” to reach the significant milestone, but said the occasion has given him the chance to reflect on his time at the club.

“There was a little bit of a video before training today, which I suppose was pretty cool to look back at some of my vision from my first year and second year – I looked pretty young and unathletic back then,” Hurley said on Thursday.

“I have had a little chance to reflect and you think about the guys you’ve played with, some of your role models and things like that, it’s pretty special.”

He credited a number of Bombers including Brent Stanton, Dustin Fletcher, Jobe Watson and Brendon Goddard with helping him reach the heights he has to date.

“It’s guys like that that have really shaped my career and helped me along the 150 games.”

It is easy to forget that one of the league’s greatest defenders has spent a large part of his glittering career as a forward, booting over 100 goals. 

In fact, he too understates his success as a forward after being drafted as his age group’s greatest key defender

“In junior footy I sort of played a bit of forward and a bit of back, but I think I was drafted predominantly as a key defender.

“Having started as a defender I thought I’d probably stay there, but (after) the retirement of Lloydy and Scotty Lucas I sort of got thrown down the other end and toiled away down forward for a few years, which was pretty tough. 

“I wasn’t very good at it, but I guess it helped me be a good defender as well I think.”

When you play 149 games you’re bound to be a part of some big moments, and Hurley has certainly not broken that trend.

One of his fondest memories occurred against bitter rival Hawthorn in the last round of 2009, his very first season, when he truly announced himself as a future star of the competition.

Hurley kicked four goals that day and coolly bombed home the winning goal on his opposite foot from more than 50m out. It sent the Bombers into the finals and dashed the reigning premier’s hopes of a finals return in one fell swoop.

“It was pretty exciting. Looking back now I can’t believe that I actually tried to do it, I definitely wouldn’t be having a crack at it now,” Hurley said.

“But I guess you’re young and you’re care free and you have a go, and fortunately it paid off.”

Hurley was caught up in Essendon’s toughest period but broke through his challenges to emerge better than ever on the other side.

Earning his second All-Australian selection following the devastation of a year out of the game was an astonishing achievement, but he stressed he didn’t make it on his own. 

“I’m very lucky that I’ve got a great support network. I’ve got a fantastic girlfriend, I’m from Melbourne so I get to live around the family with my mum and dad and my brother and sisters.

“It was a bit of a rollercoaster (with) a few ups and downs.”

Driven to succeed, Hurley believes reaching the “ultimate goal” of a premiership before his time in the league runs out is definitely achievable. 

“I think every player comes into the AFL wanting to win a premiership and I think we have the right mix at the moment at the footy club, we’ve just got to find some form and really find some consistency with our footy.

“(It is) really exciting what this group can do and I’m really excited about what the future holds for the Bombers.”