When Chris Nolan ran onto the field for his 100th game for the Penrith Rams in Platinum Division last Saturday at Blacktown International Sports Park, it marked a unique and special event for the club. Chris’s 100th game in itself wasn’t unusual – after all, he was the 59th Penrith player to hit the “century” – it was the fact that his father David also played 100 games, making them the first father/son duo to achieve the century milestone for the Rams. David is a current board member of the club and was there to witness Chris’s achievement first-hand, in his capacity as the Rams’ Senior Grade runner.
David originally hails from Melbourne (Hawthorn area, hence his choice of AFL club!), but spent much of his early life in the Riverina before work saw him land in the Penrith area. His first season with the Rams was 1990, a good time to arrive - a year after the club’s inaugural flag. He won a flag the very next year as it turned out, when a rampant Rams side went through the 1991 season undefeated, and also played in the losing 1992 and 1993 grand finals.
A wingman who was proficient on both sides of his body, Dave suffered a serious injury at Macquarie Uni in 1995 which brought on his eventual retirement in 1997. For four years to 1998 he was also the club’s treasurer.
David and wife Kim started up the Emu Plains-Glenmore Park Lions Junior AFL club in 2000. After another stint in the Lions’ administration in the mid 2000s, David returned to the Rams in 2011 as a board member and club volunteer – where he has been ever since!
Chris, unsurprisingly, followed in his father’s footsteps into Australian Football and, unsurprisingly again, played with the Lions junior club. During his time there he made representative sides and the AFL Talented Player Pathway. He made his debut with the Rams Under 18s in 2010 while still with the junior club, although did not play in the Grand Final win that year.
He then pursued his education at Assumption College in Melbourne for several years – a school which has produced many fine VFL/AFL footballers. He didn’t play competition football while in Melbourne, but with the school he won the flag with the year 10 team in the AGSV competition in 2011; followed by premiership wins with the second 18 in both 2012 & 2013. Naturally on school holidays he also managed to fit in a few Rams games while back in Penrith.
Since returning to the Rams in 2014, Chris has been a regular Senior Grade selection, mostly in centre/midfield roles and on the half-back line.
Completing the family contribution to the club and game is Chris’s sister Emma, who has played just shy of 40 games as a Penrith Ramette and is taking a “break year” from the game in 2018.
Congratulations and thanks to the Nolans from everyone at the Penrith Rams!
David Nolan
105 Games (99 Senior, 6 Reserve)
28 Goals (24 Senior, 4 Reserve)
Senior Grade Endeavour Award 1991
Senior Grade Premiership Player 1991
Senior Grade B&F Runner-Up 1993
Senior Grade Most Consistent (Travis Hopper Memorial) 1993
Life Membership 1998
Chris Nolan
100 Games (73 Senior, 6 Reserve, 21 Under 18/19)
4 Goals (3 Senior, 1 Under 18/19)
Last Modified on 07/06/2018 20:05