Early in his career St Kilda’s Jason Gram wondered if he’d even reach 10 AFL matches let alone the 150-game milestone he will celebrate against Brisbane on Saturday.

Originally from Sale, the 28-year-old was taken by Brisbane in the 2001 national draft but couldn’t break into their powerhouse premiership line-up.

Desperate for an opportunity, he asked to be traded and in 2004 ended up at the team he barracked for as a kid, playing alongside his favourite Saint, Robert Harvey.

“After four years in the system I didn’t think I’d get to 10 games because I’d only played nine,” Gram said.

“Hopefully I’ll have a fair few more to go.”

He admitted he had a slow start at St Kilda due to injury and poor work ethic and said he begged then coach Grant Thomas for a one-year contract extension.

“He gave me that one year, and that pre-season I did everything I could to show I deserved to be here, (and) 2006 was my breakout season.

“If I hadn’t done that, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

Gram finished second in the club’s 2006 best and fairest and although a groin injury has affected his input early this season, he’s established himself as a valuable senior utility player.

While he’s been a part of their past two losing grand final teams in 2009 and 2010, Gram feels he still has a chance to taste elusive success with the Saints.

He said the team had an experienced core and young guns like Jack Steven and Tom Simpkin who had stepped up.

He felt their 71-point upset win over Essendon last round was proof.

“The weekend showed that if we can play our best footy we can match it with anyone,” he said.

“This year is probably the first year you’ve seen in a long time that there’s pretty much no real stand-out team so I think anyone who can make the eight has a real chance of playing in the grand final.”