Mack Trucks Milestone Alert - Jaenke-Cain notches 150th Senior Game vs Grange

Ben Jaenke-Cain will play his 150th Senior Game for the Western Magpies on Saturday at Wilston Grange.

Ben's first season in Senior Football as a 17 year old was a memorable one as he was a member of the Western Magpies 2008 Premiership side that came from 45 points down in the Grand Final to defeat Palm Beach-Currumbin at Broadbeach. 

He started playing as a junior at Springwood then crossed to Sherwood and was the Brisbane JAFL Under 16 Division One League Best & Fairest winner in 2006. 

Ben says he joined Sherwood in 2004 in under 14s for two reasons

1. He wanted to play with a few mates

2. He wanted to wear the famous black and white stripes as he was (and still is) a passionate Collingwood supporter. (thats the only type isn't it??)

Ben has experienced the highs and lows of football at the Magpies as after the 2008 Premiership, the Pies were elevated into the Velocity Sports Cup in 2009 and struggled to make an impact. He was among the Pies most consistent players in a tough two years and when the Pies decided to drop back a level when the NEAFL was formed he elected to play at the highest level he could and joined Redland in 2011.

He rejoined the Pies in 2013 and slotted into the midfield where he has played most of his footy since then. He had his best year in 2014 when he won the Bill Pierce Medal for Best & Fairest  after a prolific season and has figured in the top 5 in voting in every year since then.

Not endowed with searing pace and sometimes struggling to kick the ball over a jam tin, he never stops working and competes hard at the contest and just wins the football over and over again - one of the more important traits of a midfielder one would think!

In the Magpies player profiles over the years he is regularly dubbed both "Mr Perpetual Motion" and "Mr Consistency" and comments along the lines of “works hard at both ends of the ground’, “works hard back into defence"  "provides  a link forward as well as winning plenty of hard ball in the centre square” and “a fine contributor all season and rarely had a bad game”.   These frequent comments underline his contribution over 149 senior games to date!

Ben turns up week in, week out, is also “ Mr Durable” as he has missed only a handful of games in his 9 years at the Pies and continues to play well in the middle of the ground. He is a coach’s delight as he goes about his work with a minimum of fuss and is a popular clubman at the Pies.

He says the highlights of his career are the 2008 flag, the Bill Peirce Medal in 2014 and being elevated to the Magpies Leadership Group in 2018.

He credits his grandfather Ron for getting him into Australian Rules footy and developing a love of the game and has had great support from his Mum Karin and Step-Dad Stuart ( a Magpies trainer for many years) and his father Donald who all contributed to his development as a player and gave him the determination and dedication he has today.  His partner Danica is also a great support to him and he credits the guidance and support of family and friends for the success he has had to date. 

At 27 years old he has plenty of footy in front of him and he still enjoying he game and says there is a buzz about Chelmer at the moment as the Pies build momentum this year. He still has the fire in the belly to compete at a high level and  strongly believes the 2018 Pies have the ability to go all the way.