Mick Nolan (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Mick Nolan was an Australian rules football
player for North Melbourne
. Because of his weight of 135 kg and height of 194 cm, Nolan was dubbed the "The Galloping Gasometer
" by commentator Lou Richards
. Until the emergence of Aaron Sandilands
in the early 2000s, Nolan was the heaviest ruckman
to play VFL/AFL football. He was nevertheless surprisingly agile and regarded as one of the best "palm" ruckmen of the 1970s. Nolan had a long kick and was unusually effective, for a big man, in picking up the ball at ground level.
As a child in Tarrawingee, Victoria
, Nolan supported St Kilda and had the ambition of playing in their first ever premiership. He was recruited by North Melbourne from Wangaratta Rovers and reportedly knew little about North when he arrived, including the fact that the Kangaroos at the time had never won a flag. Nolan made his senior debut in 1973.
North Melbourne rover Barry Cable
said that Nolan was the best ruckman he had played with, because of his ability to palm the ball directly into Cable's hands. Nolan's efforts were rewarded with a place in the Kangaroos' team for the 1975 VFL Grand Final
, a game in which he dominated the ruck, playing a crucial part in North's first premiership. Nolan finished third that year in voting for the Kangaroos' best and fairest, the Syd Barker Medal
. This in itself was remarkable, given that nine members of the 1975 Kangaroos team were later included in the Australian Football Hall of Fame
.
In a famous incident, during a game against Carlton
at Arden Street
, Carlton player Mark Maclure
while running for the ball, decided to run into Nolan, who stood his ground and looked likely to be knocked over. However, Mclure bounced off Nolan and fell to the ground, while Nolan casually picked up the ball and handpassed to another North player, as if nothing had happened.
Nolan was regarded as unlucky not to play in the 1977 VFL Grand Final
, since he played 19 games that year.
After Nolan finished his career with North Melbourne in 1980, he was recruited by then VFL president Allen Aylett
, to move to Queensland
, to develop Australian rules in that rugby
-dominated state. Nolan coached the Mayne Tigers
in the QAFL
from 1981 to 1986, winning a flag in 1982. Nolan also served as captain and coach of the Queensland state team.
Nolan died on 27 May 2008 following a short battle with cancer
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player for North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. Because of his weight of 135 kg and height of 194 cm, Nolan was dubbed the "The Galloping Gasometer
Gasometer
A gas holder is a large container where natural gas or town gas is stored near atmospheric pressure at ambient temperatures. The volume of the container follows the quantity of stored gas, with pressure coming from the weight of a movable cap...
" by commentator Lou Richards
Lou Richards
Lewis Thomas Charles "Lou" Richards is a retired Australian rules footballer, who played 250 games with the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1941 and 1955...
. Until the emergence of Aaron Sandilands
Aaron Sandilands
Aaron Sandilands is an Australian rules footballer. At 211 cm tall and weighing 122 kg , he is the heaviest and equal tallest player in the history of the game...
in the early 2000s, Nolan was the heaviest ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
to play VFL/AFL football. He was nevertheless surprisingly agile and regarded as one of the best "palm" ruckmen of the 1970s. Nolan had a long kick and was unusually effective, for a big man, in picking up the ball at ground level.
As a child in Tarrawingee, Victoria
Tarrawingee, Victoria
Tarrawingee is a town in north eastern Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Rural City of Wangaratta local government area, north west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Tarrawingee and the surrounding area had a population of 507....
, Nolan supported St Kilda and had the ambition of playing in their first ever premiership. He was recruited by North Melbourne from Wangaratta Rovers and reportedly knew little about North when he arrived, including the fact that the Kangaroos at the time had never won a flag. Nolan made his senior debut in 1973.
North Melbourne rover Barry Cable
Barry Cable
Barry Cable is an Australian former Australian rules footballer who played in the West Australian National Football League and Victorian Football League . Cable played as a rover. He won the Sandover Medal three times while playing with the Perth Football Club.-Club career:Cable played 225 games...
said that Nolan was the best ruckman he had played with, because of his ability to palm the ball directly into Cable's hands. Nolan's efforts were rewarded with a place in the Kangaroos' team for the 1975 VFL Grand Final
1975 VFL Grand Final
The 1975 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the North Melbourne Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 27 September 1975. It was the 79th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
, a game in which he dominated the ruck, playing a crucial part in North's first premiership. Nolan finished third that year in voting for the Kangaroos' best and fairest, the Syd Barker Medal
Syd Barker Medal
The Syd Barker Medal is awarded to the North Melbourne Football Club player who has been judged the best and fairest of the footy season. The award has been given out continuously since 1937. Before then it was known as the Syd Barker Memorial Trophy....
. This in itself was remarkable, given that nine members of the 1975 Kangaroos team were later included in the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
.
In a famous incident, during a game against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
at Arden Street
Arden Street Oval
Arden Street Oval is a sports oval based in Arden Street, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is currently the training base of Australian rules team North Melbourne Football Club and up to the end of the 1985 season it was used for elite-level VFL/AFL matches.-History:The North Melbourne...
, Carlton player Mark Maclure
Mark Maclure
Mark Maclure is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.Mark made his debut for Carlton in Round 13, 1974. He retired from the game in 1986 after playing 243 games for the club....
while running for the ball, decided to run into Nolan, who stood his ground and looked likely to be knocked over. However, Mclure bounced off Nolan and fell to the ground, while Nolan casually picked up the ball and handpassed to another North player, as if nothing had happened.
Nolan was regarded as unlucky not to play in the 1977 VFL Grand Final
1977 VFL Grand Final
The 1977 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the North Melbourne Football Club and the Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 24 September 1977...
, since he played 19 games that year.
After Nolan finished his career with North Melbourne in 1980, he was recruited by then VFL president Allen Aylett
Allen Aylett
Dr. Allen Aylett is a former Australian rules football player and administrator. He was the chairman/president of the North Melbourne Football Club during the 1970s and then again from 2001–2005...
, to move to Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, to develop Australian rules in that rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
-dominated state. Nolan coached the Mayne Tigers
Mayne Australian Football Club
Mayne Australia Football Club are an Australian rules football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Enoggera. Their club colours are black and yellow and they are nicknamed the Tigers....
in the QAFL
AFL Queensland
AFL Queensland is the governing body of Australian rules football in Queensland. It was formed in 2000 after the previous governing body for the sport in Queensland, the Queensland Australian Football League , went into voluntary liquidation...
from 1981 to 1986, winning a flag in 1982. Nolan also served as captain and coach of the Queensland state team.
Nolan died on 27 May 2008 following a short battle with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.