It is one of the most remarkable AFL stories and it continues to get better with each passing week, and Tom Atkins will notch another milestone this weekend when he runs out for his 150th AFL game on Saturday afternoon. 

The journey started at St Joseph’s and included several years with the Cats' VFL program. He was overlooked in multiple AFL drafts before finally earning his chance in 2019, when he was added to Geelong’s rookie list.

He went on to make his AFL debut in the opening round of the 2019 season and there was no looking back, going from strength to strength every year and developing into one of the Cats' most important players.

So, what is the secret behind the resilient and humble character that Geelong fans admire?

Atkins attributes much of his journey to the impact of family.

"I am so lucky with my family," Atkins told Cats Media. 

"With my parents, they have been so supportive all along the way. Dad had a great career of his own as a footballer, so growing up watching him, being involved with clubs that he has coached, that has no doubt rubbed off on me.

"Hopefully I can now try and have that same effect on my son, Alfie.

"He might not like footy at all, but at least I will get him around the club and around those environments, because I think they are great for you as a person as well as developing you as an athlete.

"I love my family."

Starting his AFL career in 2019, Atkins has been a picture of consistency playing 149 of a possible 166 games over the past seven seasons. 

There have been some role changes along the way; he started as a pressure forward and spent some time across half back, before finding a permanent home in the midfield during Geelong's 2022 campaign.

Atkins played a vital role in the Cats premiership triumph, but his impact off the field was also recognised as he received Geelong's Best Clubman award in both 2022 and 2023. 

But perhaps what he became best known for was his elite tackle pressure, becoming one of the competition's best defensive midfielders and breaking the tackling record for a home-and-away season this year.

Despite being an obvious strength in his game, Atkins said it was always something that came naturally to him and was a way for him to cement his position in the teams he played with. 

"I think I have just always been that way, it probably comes from playing in teams where I am not the first option offensively," Atkins said. 

"Even when I was at Joey's, I was a young guy playing in a team full of stars really. The way you can contribute is through your defensive pressure.

"Then even into the VFL you come in and you are trying to hold your spot, you are playing with older guys who are the first option in there, again you just try to contribute defensively.

"Even now, you have Max [Holmes] and Bailey [Smith] who are getting attention from defenders each week. I am bringing my defensive side into that mix to try and help.

"I think it is just the way that things eventuate, it is something I have struggled with is trying to attack or a bring a more offensive part to my game. That is what my main work-ons are, trying to get more involved when we do have the ball.

"I would say that I haven't really put a lot of time into my defensive stuff, it is just something that has happened organically."

For any onlooker that pays attention to Geelong's pre-game warm ups, one regular sight will be Tom Atkins and Gryan Miers completing their preparations together, often pairing up to go through final drills before taking the field.

The pair spent time together in the VFL during 2018, before they both made their AFL debut in Round 1 of the 2019 season against Collingwood.

Atkins spoke about his connection with Miers and how their bond has helped both players grow.

"We debuted together and his first year in the AFL, I was still in the VFL so I got to play that whole year with him," Atkins said. 

"Then we got to debut in the AFL together, from there we haven't really left each others side over the following years. It is a nice routine that we have got going, we are both aligned with our values and what we want for the team.

"I think we have just grown as footballers together, obviously I love Gryan and he is a great person, don't tell him that.

"I am very lucky to have someone like him to lean on and to use to get better at footy."