AMID the many milestones this weekend at the Swans, Sean Dempster will celebrate the first of his career, reaching 50 games.
Dempster spoke to sydneyswans.com.au on Friday about the game and his time at the club so far.
"I try not to think about it too much," Dempster said of the milestone.
"But then, on the other side, having Goodsy's 200th, Spida's 300th and Mago (Michael O'Loughlin) breaking the games record, it doesn't really seem that significant.
"I suppose their milestones are really big ones, so I've kind of taken a back seat and enjoyed the week."
When he first arrived in Sydney, Dempster did not expect to be drafted, much less make it to 50 games.
"I suppose at the time, definitely not," he said. "I thought I was pretty lucky to get drafted. Didn't really expect too much of it at all."
Drafted in 2001 under the father-son rule, Dempster was happy to go to the club for whom his father, Graham, played 64 games in the 1970s.
"I was ecstatic to be drafted to a club, and to be drafted to the club my dad had played for. There's a bit of history there, which is was really good."
It took Dempster several years to find his feet at the club. After a strong first season, his future at the club was questioned in his second year. He made it through, and in his third year he realised he could make it as a footballer.
"It wasn't really until my third year I felt that I could really do it and I felt comfortable being part of the team," said the 23-year-old.
After taking several years to break into the senior side, Dempster found a regular place in 2005 and won a premiership medal in just his 22nd game of football.
"It was pretty weird," he said.
"I remember talking to Paul Williams and he'd played over 250 games and it was his first Grand Final. I'd played 22 games and was lucky enough to be part of a side that was playing really well.
"I think it's something I'll reflect on a lot more when I finish footy and realise how hard it is. It was an amazing experience."
Now entering a new phase in his career, Dempster aims to continually improve as a footballer.
"Obviously I want to improve my game a lot. In my first year, I got a lot of games because I was a younger player. There weren't too many expectations on me.
"But now I have a lot more expectations on myself, and the coaching staff do, too, so I think I really have to start to improve my game and work hard on different areas."
Dempster's parents will be in the stands on Sunday to watch their son run out in the red and white for the 50th time. The young defender believes his father has had the most significant influence on his football, particularly in the years before he was drafted.
"He obviously played for South Melbourne and I always talked to him. Even now, I always talk to him about my game and how I'm going, and he has a lot of advice. He's really good to talk to."
