Congratulations to Liam Atherton & Charlotte McGilp who will play in their 100th & 50th games this weekend!
Liam Atherton
It’s fair to say it’s been a long time coming, but it’s unreal to see Atho is finally running out for his 100th game at Marcellin.
He’s one of my great mates, who I’ve known since our days at primary school. We’ve played many games of footy together, had a million arguments about our football teams, and he’s the bloke I have to thank for getting me down to this great club.
I still remember sitting in Maths class with Liam in Year 12, where he would be planning the u19s team, trying to get blokes on board, and often chatting with then U19s coach, Simon Abrahams.
Unfortunately, I didn’t play 19s at the club, but from all reports Atho had a great first couple of years, quickly notching up his first 40ish games.
But then Covid came, and Liam Atherton never returned the same. He’s had just about every illness and injury I can ever think of, whether it’s glandular fever, shin splints, ongoing back issues, multiple concussions, the plague he started at the 2022 Nest Ball, a syndesmosis injury, a hammy, a few more illnesses, knocks and niggles, and of course Bali Belly 2026, where he returned the week of round 1 and proceeded to play 10 mins of the game before the Bintangs and Nasi Goreng’s got the better of him.
His injury history is more than enough to make most players give up, but Liam has this sheer determination to always get himself fit and firing again. Every time there’s a hurdle, he finds a way to jump over it. He is as committed to this club and this playing group as anyone I’ve ever seen.
The one thing that drives him the most is his competitiveness. He is the most competitive *insert c word* bloke I’ve ever met, whether that’s footy, talking about anything Brisbane Lions, playing tennis, pool, table tennis, golf, even words with friends, he just always needs to be the best. That’s why he always recovers and he always comes back. He won’t stop until he is back at his best!
There’s been hundreds of hours of combined physio, doctor’s appointments, massages, pilates, gym, medications, and IV drips, but finally we have arrived at the week of AtherTon (thanks Harvs). But of course, we wouldn’t be here without an injury scare — a back tweak at training on Tuesday!
Here’s hoping Atho will be fine to play on Saturday, and in what is already a massive week for the club, this is another extra motivator for the whole squad to get a few big wins on the board.
Congratulations, mate.
Seb Bartholomeusz
Atho gets to 100 games. First off congratulations mate solid achievement. wasn’t 100% sure you’d get there for a bit between glandular fever, Bali belly and every other sickness under the sun you’ve contracted. Nevertheless, credit to you for your commitment to the club and to your footy to keep at it and continue to play solid consistent footy all the way through.
You’ve always found it natural to find the footy and rack up plenty of touches working up and down the field all game. 14kms a game, I always prayed I never got the gps the same game as you, hard to find a good excuse for how a bloke is running 5 extra kms in the same game time. It’s not surprising given Liam’s dedication to pre season and training, always showing up looking to continuously improve.
Liam’s versatility as a player made him change position frequently which although annoyed him at times, always took on each challenge and put the team first. A highlight of your career would probally have to be when you got the job in Matt suckling and kept him impact-less down in Ormond, wearing him like a glove.
On the field you’re a star but off the field, I’d say it’s pretty evident you’re a guy that everyone wants to have a beer with up until it’s after lions win.
Liam has a genuine love for the club, and any opportunity to be social with everyone involved. Liam has been committed from day 1, assisting with convicnijg players from our cohort to play 19s with Marcellin, including myself and many other mates.
We’ve known each other since we were 3, we’ve been close mates ever since and I’ve had the pleasure of playing with Liam all the way from juniors through 19s and into senior footy. Liam’s game has never changed, 100% effort week in week out with such a competitive hunger for each contest. Go well this weekend, hopefully many more games still to come.
Daniel Di Paola
Charlotte McGilp
Tonight we’re celebrating Charlotte — 50 games of footy, which is a great achievement for someone who has had more setbacks than most professional athletes. Every time she gets knocked down, she finds a way to return stronger, faster, and somehow even more competitive. On the field, Char is everything you want in a teammate. She’s tough, committed and plays with a level of effort that sets the standard for everyone around her, side stepping anyone in her way. Off the field, she’s just as impressive. Char is the best travel companion and energy on a night out. I love all of our side quests, drinking games and spying on everyone from the balcony. Char, congratulations on 50 games. You make this club better, you make every memory better, and you make the sheagles a better team. We’re so proud of you, and we can’t wait to see what the next 50 games look like, if your body doesn’t break before you move to Scotland.
Sara McMillan
