Mick Nolan (footballer)

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Mick Nolan (November 9, 1949 – 27 May 2008) was an Australian rules football player for North Melbourne Football Club. He was recruited in 1973 from Wangaratta Rovers. Dubbed by Lou Richards as the 'galloping gasometer', (Newspaper cartoonists included) Mick Nolan was at the time the heaviest ruckman to play VFL football. Despite his weight of 123 kg, Mick Nolan became one the most agile and best 'palm' ruckmen of the 1970s since John Nicholls of Carlton Football Club.

Barry Cable was quoted to say that Mick Nolan was the best ruckmen he had played with, because of his ability to palm the ball directly into Cable's hands, which made roving easier for Barry Cable. Mick Nolan's efforts were rewarded in 1975 with a Premiership berth, where he dominated the ruck and played a crucial part in North's victory providing on-ballers plenty of possessions in the game. Mick Nolan also finished off the Kangaroos terrific 1975 premiership season by finishing 3rd in their best and fairest. Not a bad effort by the big man, considering the 1975 premiership side has 9 members of the AFL hall of fame.(including Barassi).

Mick Nolan supported St Kilda as a child because he dreamt of one day playing in their first ever flag. When he arrived at North Melbourne, he didn't know that the Kangaroos had not won a flag and it is a unbelievable story that the big slow developing kid from Tarrawingee in Victoria country could star in North Melbourne's first ever flag.

Nolan's ability to kick long and pick up the ball at ground level was impressive for a big man at the highest level of football. One of the most funny and bizarre incidents happened at Arden Street Oval during a home and away season against Carlton. Carlton's Mark Maclure (now footballer radio commentator) was going for the ball in the centre of the ground, and decided to run into Mick Nolan: to everyone's surprise, Nolan stood his ground and looked likely to be bowled over. However, when Mark MaClure hit Nolan; Maclure fell back hard onto the hard ground, and Nolan watched as he fell. Nolan then casually picked up the ball and hand passed to a North player as if nothing happened. North Supporters were amazed and loud laughter of the crowd could be heard at Arden Street, because who would ever run into a giant of a man, as big as Mick Nolan. Mick Nolan was unlucky not to play in the 1977 VFL Grand Final, as he played 19 games that year, missing the final. However, to North supporters the galloping gasometer'; Mick Nolan is still one of the club's favourite and most likeable players to pull on a North jumper.

After Mick finished his playing career with North Melbourne in 1980, he was asked by then VFL president Dr. Allen Aylett , if he could move to Queensland to try to lift the profile of Australian Rules Football in a Rugby dominated state. The idea was that maybe, football in Queensland could grow strong enough to one day field a VFL/AFL football team. Mick coached the Mayne Tigers in the QAFL from 1981 to 1986 winning the flag in 1982 and narrowly losing in 1985. Mick also captained and coached the Queensland state side with much success for many years during the 1980s.

Nolan died on 27 May 2008 following a short battle with cancer.^[1]

[edit] References

• Mick Nolan (footballer)'s statistics from AFL Tables

• Fullpointsfooty profile