Around the neck: Nicholas Jamieson (Tongala) accepts the O’Dwyer Medal.
Photo by
Bransen Gibson
Tongala midfielder Nicholas Jamieson opened up on his 2022 season, his love of the club and his future in the league after tying with Nathalia stalwart Brodie Ross for the O’Dwyer Medal on Sunday night.
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In his second season at the Blues, Jamieson joined last year’s winner Coby McCarthy and 2008 winner Darryl Harrison in Tongala’s league winners’ circle, the first tied count since Harrison did so alongside Tocumwal’s Lee Warnett.
Jamieson said he believed he had enjoyed a consistent year despite battling injury throughout the season.
“I thought I had a pretty consistent year and, obviously, Tongala went pretty solidly which helped me in the home and away season,“ he said.
“My body wasn’t holding up too well this season; I sort of struggled throughout the entire year.
“I thought I was in good shape about three weeks out from the season before injuring my knee and then I took that into round one.
“I haven’t trained once this year, I’ve really limped through.”
Jamieson rode the bumps with the Blues as the pre-season premiership favourites’ season went from a series of shock defeats to stringing together nine straight wins.
“There was that period throughout the middle of the year where we weren’t doing so well and we just needed to get back to basics,” he said.
“We ended up doing that, but unfortunately we weren’t good enough when push came to shove.”
Despite bowing out of the Murray Football League flag race in a semi-final against Moama, Jamieson said he had enjoyed his time at the club this year.
“I’ve absolutely loved it, the club’s got a lot of great people around it,” he said.
“I mentioned it on the night, but Jordan Souter is an amazing leader of the club, great coach, everyone loves playing for him.
“It’s been a very enjoyable two years in the Murray league that’s for sure. Dealing with COVID it was always something I looked forward to, coming up to play with Tonny.”
As for his playing future, the former VFL gun is weighing up his options.
“I’m mulling over that at the moment, just in terms of where I’m at with my life.” he said.
“I’ve got my girlfriend back in Melbourne and I probably want to play a bit closer, but in saying that I do love (Tongala).
“I’ll speak to a few people at the club about where my head’s at and make a decision in the coming weeks.”
For six-time Purples premiership champion Ross, it’s another accolade in a decorated trophy cabinet.
Ross was named in the best players on 16 occasions this season and was key in Nathalia’s finals dash after injury ravaged the Purples.
The boss: Nathalia’s Brodie Ross joined Nicholas Jamieson as a joint winner of the O’Dwyer Medal.
Photo by
Bransen Gibson
“It’s obviously a big achievement,” Ross said in his acceptance speech.
“It’s something you probably look back on and can say it’s been a good, consistent year.
“I’m happy to be here and happy to be representing Nathalia Football Netball Club. We were struggling early on (in the season) just through injuries and things like that.
“As soon as we picked up a bit of consistency we played some better footy as well.
“Obviously, you don’t get up here without a team game. Full credit to my teammates, they look after me.”
Ross is Nathalia’s first O’Dwyer medallist since Nathan Gemmill scooped the top gong in 2005.
