By Nicholas Galea
The Coburg Football Club is pleased to announce that its playing list for the 2022 VFL season will have a massive boost with key defender Harry Nolan committing to the Club for another year.
The 22-year-old had no hesitation in signing a new deal to remain with Coburg having become an essential member of the line-up, playing a further 42 matches since his debut in round four 2018, where he has regularly manned the oppositions best key forward each week.
‘I have always thought of Coburg as a professional club with a local and community feel with the
camaraderie and it’s filled with a good bunch of blokes that you want to be around,’ Nolan said. ‘Everyone is good mates with each other.’
Senior Men’s Coach Andrew Sturgess, who was coincidentally an assistant coach in Nolan’s maiden season at the Club couldn’t be happier with the news and has seen plenty of progress in him. ‘I suppose when he first came here (in 2018), he was obviously quite talented and a really strong key defender even back then, he was a big boy for his size,’ Sturgess said. ‘All I think he’s done now is probably learnt how to use his size and strength a little bit better and be a bit craftier.’
Already an accomplished key defender, Nolan took his game to another level in season 2021, adding a more offensive element to his game to complement the dour defensive side he brings week in week out.
‘I think my offensive game has improved; I’ve always been a good defender but using the ball has been a bit of a problem,’ Nolan said. ‘I think that personally has gotten a lot better than it has been in the past and it has allowed me to set up a few players more regularly as well as being a leader down back.’
Sturgess also believed that Nolan; who he stated “is arguably one of the best defenders not just in the VFL but nationally outside of the AFL”, certainly took some steps forward in throughout season 2021. ‘I think what we have been able to do with Harry this year – albeit only 10 games – we’ve been able to build his confidence in going for his intercept marks and I think now what we have to try and do is grow his ability to get involved in general play on an attacking sense,’ he said. ‘Harry works as hard as anybody on his game, he’s always the first one out on the track doing some extras and doing some more kicking; which is also a part of his game that has also come a long way as well.’
In season 2021, the 22-year-old formed a strong key defensive partnership with former Sydney Swans defender Jack Maibaum, stating that they “worked really well together” and “complemented each other”. ‘He’s a really good intercept player and we are both good defenders at heart,’ Nolan said. ‘A lot of defenders now like getting plenty of the ball but I think we both are real genuine defenders who defend first and then play off from there.’
Sturgess too reiterated Nolan’s sentiment, highlighting the defensive pair as important linchpins in the team. ‘We feel like not just Harry but Jack (Maibaum) as well, two really strong, reliable key defenders back there and it showed this year when they got jobs on the oppositions best key forwards and were able to do a really good job and nullify their influence most weeks.’
After a couple of tough years playing down back, Nolan acknowledged the massive improvement the group has made since the end of the 2019 season as the club had its best year since 2016, after boosting its average score for from 67 to 77 points and conceded on average two less goals per game (95-81). ‘We won more games than any other season I’ve played in and there was another four or five games that we ideally and realistically should have won,’ Nolan said.
‘It just shows that we are heading in the right direction and we this close to being a really good side in the competition and be a team that other clubs don’t want to play against.’
‘It has to be consistency and being able to do all the right things for a whole game instead of three quarters for us to keep that edge over the other teams in the VFL.’
Coming into his fifth season at the Club, Nolan is set to play his 50th game for Coburg early on next year and couldn’t be more excited to see what season 2022 has in store for he and his teammates. ‘I’m keen as for next year, if we can get a good run with having a proper season with no interruptions,’ he said. ‘I reckon we’ll retain majority of the list, and that’s another big step in being able to retain quality players and add a few more wherever we need.’
‘It’s exciting times next year for the Club.’
Coburg fans can get excited as they can expect more news on further player re-signings for season 2022 to be announced in the coming weeks.
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