Adelaide United FC captain Travis Dodd is set to etch his name in history this Friday night, as he prepares to walk out for his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance when The Reds take on Perth Glory.
Dodd will become the first Adelaide United player, and just the second in the league, to reach the milestone, the attacking midfielder set to join Newcastle Jets captain Matt Thompson as the only two players to make 100 Hyundai A-League appearances, Thompson having achieved the feat back in Round 8.
Starting in 91 of his 99 appearances to date, Dodd played every game in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons and has only missed four of the club's total of 103 Hyundai A-League matches.
The 29 year old missed one match through suspension in 2005/06, the Round 5 match against Sydney FC last season after being rested following The Reds' AFC Champions League Quarter Final in Japan just three days earlier, while the other two games where he was absent were earlier this season due to a calf strain, his record highlighting both his longevity and his value to the club since he signed prior to the inaugural Hyundai A-League season.
Of his 99 appearances, Dodd has worn the captain's armband for 43 of them, while he has scored 21 goals, seven of which came last season as he helped The Reds reach the season decider for the second time.
Dodd has played a total of 138 games in all competitions for Adelaide United, the most of any player, his journey in the Hyundai A-League to this point seeing him capped for the Qantas Socceroos, in which he scored on debut, while he also led United into the 2008 AFC Champions League Final and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup.
Playing in his fifth Hyundai A-League season and with a career that has comprised of stints in Greece and Malaysia, Dodd is not showing any signs of slowing up, the explosive midfielder currently contracted to The Reds until the end of the 2010/11 season.
But while Dodd is sure to treasure the moment as he leads the team out on Friday night in his 100th appearance, more than anything else he will want to see United collect three points against the Glory on Friday night.
Reds defender Iain Fyfe is also nearing the milestone, the Adelaide born former Sydney FC player currently with 97 Hyundai A-League appearances, 88 of those coming during his time with the club from the harbour city.
Adelaide United's match against Perth Glory on Friday night at ME Bank Stadium in Perth kicks off at 9.30pm ACDT (7.00pm AWST), and Dodd will be hoping his 100th will be memorable for all of the right reasons.
