By his own admission, Jack Dempsey should be bringing up his century when he takes the field on Saturday against the Crusaders.
Entering the Waratahs off the back of their 2014 triumphs, Dempsey has experienced all the highs and lows of Super Rugby as he prepares to bring up 50 Super Rugby caps.
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The 2021 season has certainly been one of the lows for Dempsey and the club after their tenth straight loss following a 48-21 defeat to the Blues.
With many struggling to pinpoint the reasoning, the 27-year-old believes it's a part of professional sport, hoping the next generation learns from this experience.
“It’s been frustrating. I look at my own journey, I came in in ’14 where we won the whole thing and then part of the '15 campaign to try and defend the championship. You come in and experience the highs of the highs and now fast-forward to a low point in the club history, it’s been tough,” Dempsey told media on Tuesday.
“It’s all part of pro sports…every club has those ups and downs. To have your downs gives you a chance to reset and rebuild and build something great again.
“The tough thing in that is along the way, people lose their jobs or might have to change clubs but that’s a part of it.
“It’s unfortunate for the crop we have here, myself included, has to experience a tough year but for the guys who will be a big part of the club heading forward, it’s a hell of a lesson to learn. Whatever the path going on from here, it’s exciting which is good.”
Dempsey's journey and story is one that all aspiring superstars should take note of.
Bursting on the scene in 2015, Dempsey suffered his fair share of setbacks in between sporadical appearances for his club and country.
2016 saw him limited to 11 appearances due to a shoulder injury.
A foot injury in 2017 kept him out for three months, which was followed by a hamstring tendon injury that kept him out for the majority of 2018.
This year, it's been another foot injury hampering his season, returning last week via the bench.
Whilst he was regularly selected for Wallabies duties in-between injuries, the setbacks provided Dempsey with clarity beyond his years.
For him, it made him appreciate how special each game is and how it shouldn't be taken for granted.
“It’s pretty special for me,” he said.
“For a lot of guys, it’s not a massive thing. They're talking about 100, 150 especially for someone who’s been here seven years like myself. It’s not ideal, I could be easily coming up for my 100th this weekend if I had a better run with injuries.
“For me, it’s a little milestone to acknowledge what I’ve been through and my family have been through because they’ve gone on the journey as well.
“Also, for some of the younger guys to see what it means to get 50, it’s not always rainbows and fairies playing every game, every week. It’s not that easy and there’s a lot of obstacles in the way.
“I’m just excited to take every game as it comes. I learnt pretty early to take it one game at a time. I’m lucky enough to have it (my 50th) at home against one of the biggest sides in the world.”
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As he prepares to exit Australian Rugby for Glasgow, that's the message he wants the next generation of players to cherish.
"If I could go back and tell myself one thing as I started as they are now is about taking it one game at a time,” he added. “Don’t look into the future, yeah we’ve having a tough year but don’t check out and look to the next year because you think it’ll be better.”
“It’s about making sure you learn your lessons while you are living whether they are good, bad or indifferent.
“Obviously it’s been a tough year so it’s about making sure these young lads know what led to a poor year whether it's individual, collective or something out of your control and making sure you don’t forget what led to it and how you can improve.
“That should drive you whether you are playing here, Canberra, Brisbane or woop woop.
“In saying that, I think a lot of the lads have a good head on their shoulders so they’ll take it on board so I hope they get led in the right direction forward.”
The Waratahs head to Wollongong on Saturday as they face the red-hot Crusaders at WIN Stadium. Click here to get your tickets
