Marty Mattner has never been one for too much fanfare.

In fact, the reliable defender’s 200th game has almost slipped under the radar heading into this weekend’s clash with St Kilda.

Traded to the Swans from Adelaide at the end of 2007, Mattner has since played 101 games for the Swans, and has only missed one game since joining the club.

The 29-year-old, who hails from the tiny South Australian town of Ki Ki, said he was thrilled to be given a second chance in the AFL by the Swans.

“(Playing with the Swans) has given me a new opportunity to prove myself again at a club,” he said.

“The opportunity they gave me at Adelaide I felt wasn’t (the right) opportunity, so to come to Sydney and be given it again and to repay the club with 100 games has been great.”

While other players’ milestones have attracted wide-spread attention, Mattner said he was happy to quietly go about his business each week for the Swans.

“(I don’t mind because) growing up in the country means everything is low key because not much goes on,” he said.

“I mean, I just sort of go about my week-to-week job and play my role in the team and do whatever I need to do to make the team better and to win the games.”

Mattner believes that the game has changed a lot since he first took to the field for the Crows in 2002.

He said the speed of the game as well as the role of the interchange has altered dramatically over the past decade.

“It’s definitely changed a lot,” he said.

“My first game I sat on the bench for the first half and didn’t come on until half time.

“Since I’ve been playing that doesn’t happen nowadays, so I guess I was a bit like the sub back then and just came on after half time and played.

“The speed of the game has got a lot quicker and I think the fact it’s got quicker is for the better of the game as well.”

Regarded as one of the toughest and most reliable players within the club, Swans coach John Longmire said Mattner’s consistency and willingness to put his body on the line makes him a vital component of the Swans’ team.

“We recruited him from Adelaide for his hardness and his run and he has delivered that in spades,” he said.

“There are some big blokes out there who hit the ball hard and quite often (Marty’s) in a situation where he is going up against those blokes.

“He never flinches and he’s very tough and keeps his eye on the ball and that’s why he’s such a valued member of the team.”

Looking back on his ten year career, Mattner said he rated former Hawthorn star Shane Crawford and former Lion and Bulldog Jason Akermanis as the toughest opponents he’s encountered in his career.

“Early on in my career I got to tag Shane Crawford at the MCG one day and it was sort of a big lesson in how to play football and (another player I played on was) Jason Akermanis, in the year that he won the Brownlow,” Mattner said.

“I think early on in my career playing on those guys sort of made me a better player in the long run.

“(Aker) didn’t give me any sledges that day; I don’t think he knew who I was.”