Nathan racks up his 200th milestone game for the Purps!
Nathan Gemmill played his 200th senior game for Nathalia against Mulwala on May 3rd, 2008, match played at home.
Its hard to imagine a more consistent player, not just for Nathalia, but in country Victoria than Nathan Gemmill. In his 11 senior seasons at Nathalia, Nath has now won 5 best and fairest awards and finished runner up a further 5 times, three of those times to brother Ashley. You could also count the number of games he has missed for the club on one hand.
He has a long list of achievements as follows:
In 1991 he won the club's 4ths best and fairest award, two years later he won the thirds best and fairest award. In 1994, wearing the number 47, he made his senior debut against Berrigan with Malcolm Moon as coach. In the same year he became Nathalia's first player to represent the Murray Bushrangers. In 1995, his first full season of senior footy, he finished runner up to John Nihill in the club best and fairest and came 2nd in the MFL O'Dwyer Medal. An unbelievable achievement. In 1996 he won his first best and fairest award as Nathalia made the finals for the first time since 1989. He also represented the Murray League for the first of many times.
In 1997 and 1998 he finished runner up to brother Ashley in the best and fairest and cemented his reputation as one of the best onballers in the Goulburn-Murray region. In 1998 he was also captain of the club and was again runner up in the O'Dwyer Medal. 1999 was spent on Geelong's supp list before playing a key role in Rochester's premiership victory against Shepparton United. In 2000 he returned to Nathalia and again finished runner up to Ash in the best and fairest.
He crossed to WAFL club Perth in 2001 enjoying a solid season despite a bad run with injuries. In 2002 he went back to Rochester and was named GV player of the finals series as Rochy lost the grand final to Echuca. He was also best player for the GV in their interleague clash against the Murray League. Vic Country selection would have been a certainty but for an arm injury. In 2003 he came home and with Dylan Butler as coach he won his second best and fairest award. He again won the best and fairest in 2004 and 2005, with 2005 also netting him the MFL O'Dwyer Medal and a memorable drought breaking Premiership with Nathalia. In 2006 he came runner up in the best and fairest but possibly his greatest achievement was being best on ground in the grand final despite playing with limited vision in one eye because of a injury at work the previous day. Like all of Nath's achievements, he played this down. In 2007 Nath played a pivotal role in securing Nathalia’s 3rd Premiership in succession and was again the club best and fairest. In 2008 Nathan has been made the Senior Captain, and it would be only fitting if he was on the dias at Tocumwal in September lifting the Premiership Cup. (A feat Nathan achieved)
Nath has become the 4th Gemmill to play 200 senior games for Nathalia. His father Graeme, brother Ashley and Uncle Noel being the others, while another brother Marc and cousin Kyle have both played over 100 games for the club.
While he is a champion and without doubt one of Nathalia's greatest players he is still a champion bloke off the field. He always makes time for all people inside and outside the club and is so modest about all he has achieved.
He is a Nathalia boy born and bred and each time he pulls on the Purple jumper he plays not for himself but for the club. For over ten years he has been tagged but has continued to burn them off and win countless possessions with his hard running. He is loved by all his team-mates and supporters and respected by all opponents. Nathalia has been so lucky to have a player such as Nathan Gemmill.
~ Nathan was awarded best on ground for his 200th milestone match with Nathalia recording a 101 point victory over Mulwala. Nathan also contributed with one goal for the match.
2005, '06, '07 & '08 premiership player.
2008 Senior Captain.
~ Contributed by Neale Hawks