Andrew Durante joins elusive 400-game club

Western United defender Andrew Durante added his name to an esteemed list of players on Saturday afternoon, when he featured in his 400th Australian league game against Melbourne Victory.

 Just six players have managed the feat before him, with Alex Tobin leading all-comers with an astonishing 522 games played.

Durante had clocked his 399 appearances to date between both the NSL and A-League, with stints at Sydney Olympic (2001/02–2002/03), Parramatta Power (2003/04), Newcastle Jets (2006/07–2007/08), Wellington Phoenix (2008/09–2018/19) and Western United (2019/20 - present).

The 38-year-old's esteemed career in Australian football is highlighted by an NSL title with Sydney Olympic in 2001/02 and an A-League Championship won with the Jets in the 2007/08 campaign, a Grand Final in which Durant claimed the Joe Marston Medal as the player of the match.

The former New Zealand international says he never thought playing to the age of 38 would be possible when he set out on what was to become an illustrious career. 

“I remember when I was a young kid coming up, a lot of the pros were finishing around 32, 33 and I thought ‘if I can get to that age then I’ll be really happy to finish as a 32, 33 year old. 

"Honestly, I never thought I’d be playing at 37, 38 but I still love it.

"If I didn’t wake up every day and love it, I wouldn’t do it."

“I had some pretty big injuries at the beginning of my career with broken legs, but since then I’ve managed to keep myself on the park pretty consistently," Durante continued.

“I’ve had a pretty long A-League career, and played pretty much every game and every season from then on.

“I was pretty fortunate I was able to do that."

MOST APPEARANCES  

522 - Alex Tobin 

Adelaide City (436) 1984–1999/00, Parramatta Power (48) 2000/01–2001/02, Northern Spirit (38) 2002/03–2003/04 

479 - Clint Bolton 

Brisbane Strikers (178) 1993/94–1999/00, Sydney Olympic (95) 2000/01–2002/03, Parramatta Power (27) 2003/04, Sydney FC (109) 2005/06–2009/10, Melbourne City (70) 2010/11–2012/13 

452 Paul Trimboli

Sunshine (22) 1987, South Melbourne (430) 1988–2003/04 

447 Damian Mori

South Melbourne (33) 1989-89/90, Sunshine (24) 1990/91, Melbourne Knights (26) 1991/92, Adelaide City (216) 1992/93–1999/00, Perth Glory (129) 2000/01–2005/06, Central Coast Mariners (8) 2006/07, Brisbane Roar (8) 2006/07, Central Coast Mariners (3) 2007/08 

446 Sergio Melta

Adelaide City (446) 1977–1994/95 

406 Mike O'Shea

St George (256) 1977–1978 and 1982–1990/91, Canberra City (38) 1980–1981, Wollongong Wolves (112) 1991/92–1995/96 

399 Andrew Durante

Sydney Olympic (53) 2001/02–2002/03, Parramatta Power (5) 2003/04, Newcastle Utd (40) 2006/07–2007/08, Wellington Phoenix (273) 2008/09–2018/19, Western United (26) 2019/20, (2) 2020/21

398 Andrew Marth

Sunshine (63) 1986–1989, Melbourne Knights (269) 1989/90–1997/98 and 2000/01– 2003/04, Carlton (66) 1998/99–2000/01