“Only the good players do it the hard way.”

There was a hint of playfulness in Stephen Milne’s voice when he handed over his famed No. 44 to then-debutant Callum Wilkie over four years ago at Marvel Stadium, but the underlying gravitas and truth in it couldn’t be more apparent in retrospect. 

The mercurial goalsneak embodied that message himself having played over 50 reserves games before landing on St Kilda’s rookie list and subsequently piecing together a captivating 574-goal career, and is now paralleled in Wilkie’s own journey from mature-age rookie recruit - plucked from the SANFL - to Saints centurion.

The wish for Milney was simple for the first-gamer: in time, become a Saint he could “have a beer or two with” within the next decade by making it onto the No. 44 locker door (either by playing 100 games or winning a Best & Fairest, All-Australian or Premiership), which currently features Milne’s name only. 

But what he and the Saints got from the unsuspecting, rookie-listed former accountant was so much more, and in record time. 

Wilkie will make St Kilda history this weekend as the club’s first player to play 100 consecutive games from debut. Only eight have done so before him, notably Fremantle great David Mundy and Brownlow medallist Shane Woewodin. 

He’s also 24 games off breaking Premiership hero Ian Synman and Jack Newnes’ joint record of most straight Saints appearances, not that he’s got that remotely in his sights with the Eagles in Perth first up this weekend. 

“I never thought I’d play 100 games, let alone 100 straight,” Wilkie told saints.com.au on the eve on his milestone match.

“I’m very honoured to be able to front up week in, week out and play my role more times than not for the team. It’s been an enjoyable five years, a weird five years with COVID and everything but I’ve loved every year here.

Luck may have afforded the reliable defender his first crack at senior level with defenders Jake Carlisle and Dylan Roberton ruled out of early 2019 with respective back and heart issues, but what has followed on-field has been far from it.

In short, the consistency from Wilkie has been outstanding across his unbeaten 100-game run. Luck can only get you so far. Like Milney said, the good players earn it.

In a pinch, Wilkie is the one who the Saints turn to. A terrific win always has the No. 44 as one of its most consistent and influential contributors; in the event of a flattening loss, he’s more often than not one who can hold his head high.

And that’s not even touching on any of the numbers, stats or accolades backing up his impeccable form which has taken him from rookie to vice-captain.

So where does that elite reliability come from? How has he not taken a misstep since coming in all those years ago?

“It’s hard to put it down to one or two things, but I’m always looking to improve. Year on year, week on week, I’ve tried to find little ways that I can get better,” Wilkie said.

“Things like building my contest work, ability to read the play, leadership and set standards and demand more from others... I’ve tried to help and guide those around me where I can.

“You’re never going to be the perfect footballer, so you’re always going to have things to work on. 

“I’m certainly not the player who can win a game off my own boot, so I’m only as good as the people around me. If I can help everyone get better, we’re going to go forward as a team and as a club, and that’s what we’re here to do.”

Wilkie credits those around him for his meteoric rise - “it’s a team sport, after all, that’s what’s going to help us win,” he says - but it shouldn’t undercut the Saints’ reliance on him.

As vice-captain of the club, Wilkie has never shirked away from working hard or rolling up the sleeves to get the job done. Funnily enough, due to his work commitments as an accountant prior to being drafted, he was never viewed as a true leader at North Adelaide.

When he spoke up, people listened, but he didn’t see himself as a leader. Flash forward to now, and as Wilkie says, it’s a a part of his journey as a footballer and as a person.

Wilkie was content to remain at the Roosters and play footy with his mates, but it was North Adelaide’s (and now Port Adelaide’s) Josh Carr who was the driving force behind him taking it to the next level.

He and Carr still share a close bond, and when coupled with the coaching of former line coach Aaron Hamill and now Australian Football Hall of Famer and assistant coach Corey Enright, has seen him elevate from serviceable backman to All-Australian contender.

Even on Friday morning before the flight over to West Coast, he’s made his way up to Enright’s desk for a quick chat and debrief before the week’s final hit-out at RSEA Park.

“Corey over the last few years has been huge,” Wilkie said.

Just like Aussie cricketer Steve Smith at Lord’s the other night, Wilkie has flown to a record century in a timeframe that beggars belief.

Although Smith was eventually dismissed at 110 courtesy of a Ben Duckett catch, the Saints vice-captain isn’t heading back to the pavilion any time soon.

“It’s pretty special when you think about it. Touch wood I’ve been lucky with injuries, but it’s something I pride myself on to give my all every week,” Wilkie said.

“Hopefully this is just the first milestone and there’s a few more games to come so I can put my best foot forward.”

Wilkie’s name will be inscribed into the No. 44 locker at RSEA Park in the coming weeks as his double-digits tally turns into the fabled three.

Milne, at long last, has a mate on the locker door with him. 

True to his words all those years ago, only the good players do it the hard way. But Wilkie is making it look easy.