Toast Mark LeCras - 200 Magnificent Games

[CM9000]

LeGod plays his 200th against Gold Coast this week.

2010 BnF and AA, 419 goals (third at the club), 12 goals against the drug cheats. Not many players have had the highs of Lecca's career, fewer can say they starred when their team was the bottom side. At his peak, Lecca was the most accurate kick in the game; at any angle, at any distance, you were near guaranteed a goal when it was in the Frenchman's hands.

In his later years, Lecca has been cruelled by injuries. To name a few, he:
* Missed the entire 2012 season with an ACL.
* Broke his arm early in 2013, causing him to miss several games and severely impact his accuracy.
* Dealt with a bad hip throughout 2017.

At this point I'm going to take my sponser cap off and say this: Lecca played through all these injuries, for better and for worse, and 2017 was a year to forget. However, the mark of a champion player is their ability to respond and thrive under adversity, and the Frenchman's start to 2018 is a testament to that fact.

LeCras is a true champion, and he's not even finished yet.

Some career hightlights:


And the greatest moment of his career:

 

[omgfridge]

Past few years I've been a huge knocker on Lecca, like Masten level disapproval. I will eat my humble pie for his incredibly consistent start to the 2018 season. He has absolutely lifted. Hope he keeps it up.

The Essendon game is legend status.

 

[jesterwester]

That Knee injury really robbed him as it came right in the peak of his career. If he hadn’t done it I reckon he’d have kicked 500 by now and been in the top echelon of small to medium forwards.

He’s been a gem to watch and such a ridiculously consistent goalscorer for such a long time. Last year he seemed to be out for the count- that hip injury really robbed him of his power and ability to put on any defensive pressure but he still bobbed up with 30 goals.

Can still remember that ridiculous above his head goal he kicked against Carlton at Etihad (might have been Telstra stadium at that point) - was a ridiculous goal but it was no fluke. He can kick them from absolutely everywhere.

Edit: you can see that goal I’m referring to at 4:34 in the 2nd video in the OP.

 

[Godfather32]

Was one who thought Lecras should retire at the end of last season, glad he didn't though because he's been great this year. The impressive thing has been his pressure and tackling, probably close to the best they've been in his whole career.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

yummmmmmmy, that's the taste of sweet humble pie in my mouth.

Absolute gem of a forward and was our only shining light of 2010. There's no doubt if he keeps this form up, he could play on in 2019 and get that 500th

 

[donpyke92]

Champion player, champion bloke.
Injury free so far this year we are seeing his class.
Obviously great team man, looking how the young guys get around him after a goal & vice versa.
Happy to take his team mates to his best fishing spots as well
Hope he keeps smashing it this year & earns another year contract.
Was shifted to midfield duties a bit & spitter role previously, (maybe because he was the only guy that could kick accurately), which has robbed him of his best position. One of our best.
Congrats Lecca.

 

[Avalor]

Lecca has been immense in the 3 games to date. 200 games is hell of an achievement. If he can keep this form up, he'll play on in 2019 with a new contract in his back pocket. Good on him - a champ.

 

[Shmiddy15]

Will always be thankful to him for being one of the few shining lights throughout a pretty torrid time for us during 2008-10. Well deserving of becoming a 200 game player.

I'm still salty that he wasn't awarded AA selection in 2009.

 

[squashface]

I’ll cop it and say I thought he was done last year but he has been absolute god-like so far this season.

Well done Lecca.

 

[Mick63]

Congrats Lecca, reaching 200 probably looked unlikely midway through last year.

I remember being at his first game in 2005 against Port at Subi. He looked like a little kid running around out there but still managed to kick 1-2 snags from memory.

The footage of him doing his knee in 2012 was devastating. After making the prelim in 2011 I thought 2012 could have been something special.

Here's hoping we put in an awesome performance for him on Saturday.

 

[kranky al]

Well so far this year it looks like hes been reading the other thread and using it for hate fuel

Long may this revival continue

If it does we can all go back and edit each post with an apology addendum

 

[Milenko]

Great Home & Away Rounds player!

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Great Home & Away Rounds player!

He has a hell of a lot of mates in this regard at the West Coast Eagles.

 

[Suma Magic]

I was there for his 12 goals. Such an impressive performance.

Hopefully he can have a day out on Saturday.

 

[DanWCE]

Great stuff Lecca. Nic Naitanui plays his 150th this weekend too.

 

[Sammy J]

Thought he was cooked tbh - has been fantastic so far in 2018.

Well done to Lecca, has been a star for us for a decade.

 

[RookiePick]

He is quite simply one of the best footballers to pull the boots on for this club. Injury, definitely, and attitude, arguably, have held him back at times but Lecca is a sublime talent. Let's hope the injury gods are kind and we get to watch 25 top shelf Lecca games this year.

Happy 200th Mark!

 

[SloppyJoe]

Great player and a great bloke. Unfairly maligned last year considering his injury, that we had no viable alternatives and he still kicked 32 goals.

 

[Benji85]

LeGod, LeClass, LeKing, LeKween, LeCroquembouche

Great come back, can't keep a star down for long. A quality 200 games, pleasure to watch

 

[Chris_6678]

Stick him at FF and make sure he gets another 12 goals!

 

[sey666]

Lecras is on track for another 40+ goal season. Should go again in 2019 - already done more than Cripps (in fact even with injuries had done a lot more than Cripps in 2016 and 2017) who just got a 2 year contract extension. Seem to have great chemistry with Ryan as well. Form is temporary class is permanent.

 

[Chris_6678]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/he...e/news-story/d1cca06cd562f8ab1a06fff32b7803ba


Ellis, who played 34 games for the Eagles after playing in Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership, admitted he’s been mesmerised by the West Australian’s good looks.

“His face, his tan, his natural running ability, his skills — he’s just the complete package,” Ellis said.

“It’s almost got to the stage where I’ve looked at him a couple of times and considered swinging his way because he’s pretty flawless that guy.”

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Will never forget that night at Etihad, had the time of my life. The Bombers kid chanting “Ooh aah” after the match and being yelled at by his father topped it all off.

Well done Lecca.

 

[ep2018]

Will never forget that night at Etihad, had the time of my life. The Bombers kid chanting “Ooh aah” after the match and being yelled at by his father topped it all off.

Well done Lecca.

I was there too, my first interstate eagles game. Watching Essendon supporters throwing insults at their own players also made the night memorable.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

I was there too, my first interstate eagles game. Watching Essendon supporters throwing insults at their own players also made the night memorable.

Mine too yep, they really hated Knights!