The Rochester Football Club Facebook page said it all. “Congratulations on your 200th game, ‘Knighta’, you’re a legend of a player and an even better bloke ! “
That’s not a bad accolade from a club where the ‘bloke’ has spent 12 of his 15 years of senior football plying his trade.
“I’m still a country boy at heart, ‘ Nick Knight asserts, even though he is now living and working in Melbourne as a scaffolder, along with his wife Lucy and two little daughters in Isla and Pippa.
‘Knighta’ grew up in Rochester and made his senior debut as a 16 year old in 2001 under Dave Williams as coach. He has remained a loyal son and clubman ever since except for short stints at South Bendigo (2007) and Colbinabbin (2008 & 2009).
His timing at Colbinabbin in 2008 was ironic because in that year both Colbinabbin and Rochester both won their respective flags. The closest ‘Knighta’ has ever been to a Tiger flag was in 2002 when Echuca knocked off the Tigers by 20 points in the GVFL grand final at Deakin Reserve.
Maybe the Tigers are a realistic chance for this year’s flag which would certainly top off the half-back flanker’s footy career now that he’s hit the big 30.
Again the Facebook page continues the story by stating that Knight “has made his name at the club playing off the half-back flank/on-ball and received his highest individual honour at the club in 2013 by being named the Seniors’ Best & Fairest. “
Knight describes himself as a no-nonsense half-back whose aim is to get the job done.
He nominated Dave Williams, Grant Weeks and Ash Watson as the footballing highlights of his time at Rochester.
“Dave Williams was hard but fair, Grant Weeks, one of my best mates, kicked 14 goals in the last game of 2014 to reach his century, and Ash Watson has won 4 senior Best & Fairests on the trot.”
“But most of all I treasure the friendships I have made during my twelve years at the Club.”
Last Saturday at Benalla was a memorable occasion for ‘Knighta’ for two reasons.
The highlight was GVFL chairman David Rofe presenting Knight with his GVFL Life Membership Medallion, and the lowlight was the Benalla mud which was the worst conditions he’s ever played in.
Now, he’s looking forward to September, and hoping he can reward his most loyal supporter, his Dad (John), with a Tiger flag.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a good crack at it, anyway ! “
Written by John Coghlan
Last Modified on 27/09/2016 17:49