The President of the ‘Will Nolan Fan Club’ has been, understandably, a little toey this week………
With the opening-round Good Friday clash between the town’s arch rivals looming, she’s cognisant of an extra edge to this eagerly-anticipated contest………
Her grandson is lining up for his 100th senior appearance with the Rovers…….
Beryl Nolan has no doubt touched base with the Fan Club’s other ‘aficianado’ – Will’s maternal grandmother, Val Carmody – who’s equally as enthusiastic but probably not quite as vociferous as her feisty counterpart.
Beryl’s four sons – Brendan, Mark, Paul and Scott – have all worn the Brown and Gold over the journey, as have five of her other grandkids – Tom, Harry, Sam, Jack and Bridie……
And she admits that when the Hawks are flying, the crowd on the balcony of the Maroney Pavilion is roaring, and the kids are in the thick of the action, life can’t get any sweeter…….
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In particular, she harks back to that day in 2016 when the Hawks engaged in a riveting contest with the Magpies…….
It was 17-year-old Will’s Senior debut……He’d already played his part but, at a crucial stage of the last quarter, scooped the Sherrin up at centre half-orward, composed himself, and nailed a goal on the run,which gave the Hawks a clear break…….They went on to score an unlikely 23-point win …..
The following week they repeated the dose with a nail-biting four-point victory over Corowa-Rutherglen……It was two-from-two for the youngster……He thought to himself: ‘How good’s this ! ‘……
Alas, ‘Shagga’ was to figure in just 6 wins over the following 42 games as the Rovers endured rocky times….
The slightly-built, left-footed defender had, by this time, established himself as a permanent fixture in the side……He found his niche down back and was entrusted with roles against the best of the O & M’s elusive small forwards, and handled them with aplomb……
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He can’t really remember his dad playing…..He was just a toddler when a knee injury finished Mark’s career at North Wangaratta……But he’s heard plenty from Rovers stalwarts who assure him that Mark departed O & M footy just as he was reaching his prime.
‘Pecker’ had served a solid apprenticeship of 21 Thirds and 55 Reserves games before he became an established Senior player, predominantly as a back flanker.
When he ran out on Grand Final day 1994 he’d played in winning sides in all but two of his 38 appearances…….A season later, he’d departed to the Northerners, with 56 games and a growing reputation to his credit.
“Yeah, he tells me he’ll always have it over me until I play in a premiership side…. “ Will says. “He’s proud of that ‘94 flag and he won’t let me forget it…..”
Mark has played a hands-on role in Will’s career…..
“He coached me for a bit when I was playing Junior League footy with College……In hindsight, it was a good thing because he forced me to play in a few different positions, like a back flank or down forward, rather than get stuck in that on-ball mind-set, picking up easy kicks.”
“He’s a pretty tough critic…….Mind you, he doesn’t go out of his way to rip into you if you’ve played a bad game..….But if you get a compliment from him you know you’ve gone okay….He always has the best intentions……”
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In contrast to his old man’s slow-but-steady progression to Senior footy during one of the Club’s most successful eras, ‘Shagga’ played just 12 Thirds games before being promoted for that ‘Local Derby’ of 2016.
He’d been through the Murray Bushrangers program earlier in the year before missing the final cut……Bypassing the Reserves, he lined up alongside his cousin Tom in his initial taste of the big time. In quick succession he earned a Rising Star nomination,and represented the O & M’s Under 18s.
Clean hands, long, dashing runs out of defence, and efficient disposal became his trademark – along with having the most distinguishable head of hair in the competition.
“When ‘Crezza’ arrived at the Club he told me to get it cut or I wouldn’t be playing Seniors,” he says…….”That was a bit of a shaky start……I thought I’d see if he’d keep his word but he didn’t mention it after a while….”
Those bohemian-style Nolan dreadlocks would indicate, at first glance, an unconventional type of fellah ……somewhat of a non-conformist ………
To the contrary …….He’s a quiet, rather introverted, graduate Podiatrist who’s highly-respected by his team-mates and has been a long-term member of the Players’ Leadership Group. You’ll find that he’s among the first to volunteer if something needs to be done around the Club.
The fact that he won the Club’s Brotherhood Award in 2019 and 2023 indicates his standing within the group.
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Having experienced turbulent times in the first three years of his career, Will’s in a good position to discuss the transition that came about in the Cresswell years…..
“With all due respect, we didn’t have the ‘cattle’ beforehand, but if ‘Crezza’s’ nothing else he’s a brilliant recruiter…….He was just what we needed…..someone from outside the Club, I guess….”
“He lifted the training standards and helped me, personally, understand what I had to do to become a better player…….He gave me a couple of sprays at first, but there were a few other blokes, like ‘Gatto’ and Jack Gerrish, and ‘Pup’ Clark every now and then, who copped it a bit more than me…..”
“Blokes he saw potential in, he rode reasonably hard…..He always meant well, and sometimes his delivery was questionable, but ‘Crezza’ always had his players at heart…..”
The Hawks were transformed from easy-beats to finals candidates….They went on a rollicking ride in 2022, winning five games straight at season’s end before falling to Yarrawonga in a topsy-turvy Preliminary Final.
Their fight-back from 36 points down in the second quarter to trail by just a goal early in the last, was full of courage but injuries to key players took their effect as the Pigeons drew away.
Will lifted to another level in those big games and thrived on pitting himself against big guns such as Joe Richards, Lochie Dale and Albury’s jet Jeffrey Garlett, in shut-down roles.
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Will feels that the Hawks’ coaching handover from Cresswell to Sam Murray last season was relatively seamless….
“After the ‘Crezza’ years it was a good change…..The younger blokes don’t feel as intimidated, I suppose, and don’t mind putting their thoughts forward…”
“I find Sam pretty good…….He’s a bit more collective-driven…..Obviously, there are pros and cons with regards to playing-coaches, but he’s done a pretty good job so far……It’ll be interesting to see how he goes in the mid-field…..”
Will missed three of the early games of Murray’s tenure last year when he was injured in a marking contest in the season opener against Wangaratta.
He copped a heavy knock to the ribs just before half-time, was taken from the field and didn’t return. He watched from the boundary as the Rovers stormed home in the final minutes to seal a dramatic two-point win.
The incident, which was referred to the Tribunal, required his presence….”Geez, it was a long night……I was glad to get it over and done with,” he says.
Niggling injuries, such as rolled ankles and groin problems, have also robbed him of a few games over the years but he’s thrilled to finally fulfil his ambition of reaching the century…..
“That’s always been my dream…. Growing up around the place, and knowing how much importance the Rovers place on the ‘100-Game Club’, I couldn’t be more rapt……”
At 25, the 178cm, 80kg backman is one of the more under-rated players in O & M football, but that’s how he likes it……He’s probably played his best footy over the last couple of years and there’s no reason why he can’t continue in this vein for several years.
“Would 200 games be on the horizon?” I ask.
“Can’t see why not,” ‘Shagga’ replies.
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PS: Will Nolan began his O & M career as one of the few players to sport the Number 61 guernsey before the Rovers sympathetically handed him Number 7.
Four other players who’ve worn Number 7: Keith ‘Demon’ Ottrey, Denis Hill, Greg Tanner and Ross Hill, are members of the ‘100-Game Club.
This story appeared first on KB Hill’s website On Reflection and is used here with permission.
All photos sourced from KB Hill’s resources unless otherwise acknowledged.
To read more of KB Hill’s great stories on the Almanac, click HERE.
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