Norwood Captain Matthew Nunn celebrates 100-game milestone

Norwood Co-captain Matthew Nunn will play his 100th SANFL game during Monday’s King’s Birthday clash with South Adelaide at Noarlunga.

2022 Club Champion and Jack Oatey Medallist Harry Boyd will also run out in his 50th SANFL match.

The 2022 Premiership skipper (Nunn) said the 100-game milestone was a proud moment for him, having played at the club since his junior days.

“Knowing where I have come from and to play 100 games (is special), playing juniors here I feel like I have been around forever,” he said.

“I will get my name on the locker underneath Garry McIntosh which is special, with a Premiership asterisk next to it.

“When I first started at the club it was a goal of mine to Captain the club and play 100 games, to tick both of those off I am really proud of myself.

“Captaincy and 100 games means a lot, but the main one is the Premiership – that’s all we play for and it was an amazing moment last year to get that.”

To have his name printed on his No. 14 locker, Nunn said it meant a lot to him, having spent a lot of time looking at the names that already existed on the lockers.

“It’s a personal accolade, but you also want to leave something behind that people will remember you for,” he said.

“You look at the names on the lockers that are already there and a lot of them are good mates that I have played with.”

Nunn played his first Senior game in 2014 at the age of 16 – a Friday night game against Sturt at The Parade – and said the likes of Alex Georgiou and Jace Bode were great role models.

“In that 2012, 2013, 2014 era I had a lot of great mentors,” he said.

“That mateship and developing those long lasting relationships are important, that’s the amazing thing about footy clubs – you get to go out on the field and celebrate wins and Premierships, but the thing that lasts forever is those friendships.

“I was able to come through the ranks with a really strong, connected group, which is similar to what we have now.”

Nunn has spent considerable time on the sidelines with injury, particularly over the last three seasons, which he said had played on his mind.

“Without injury I probably would have brought up the milestone a couple of years ago,” he said.

“I have thought about it a lot because careers are limited and I did worry about doing another injury and what that would do to my body and mental state, and whether I would be able to have a reasonable career.

“To get to 100 games is nice because I didn’t think I was going to get there at one stage.”

Nunn said he and the group were trying to remain in a positive mindset, despite the winless start to the 2023 season.

“We are trying to win every game of football we play, we just need to keep positive and fix a few things – there is only one way to look at this situation and that’s to get a win next game,” he said.

“We have had injuries and new guys into the team. Retention (each week) is important in the SANFL, but it is nice to see some new faces play for Norwood for the first time, and exposing them to SANFL football.

“Fortis in Procella (Strength in adversity) is a big thing for us, it’s painted all over our walls – it’s one of those things where you can say it but you have to believe it. Last year was a massive example of that and we still do.

“You need to stay strong because there is always going to be adversity in your life, whether it’s on or off the field.”

By Josh Teakle, Norwood FC