Mitchell Park’s Nat McDonnell says 300 game milestone spurred by son’s love
HE IS 36 and he’s on the “older man’s training regimen” but this Australian rules stalwart says playing game 300 has been spurred by his footy-loving son.
NAT McDONNELL says his son’s love of football inspires him to keep turning up for Mitchell Park Football Club each Saturday.
The 36-year-old veteran this month chalked up his 300th game for the Lions against Central United at Mofflin Reserve in division seven.
These days, McDonnell is “pretty much cemented to the goal square” and his body takes three or four nights to recover from games.
But his 10-year-old son Sonny, a Noarlunga junior, helps motivate him to continue playing.
McDonnell ran through a personalised banner with Sonny and daughters Cody, 12, and Eve, 3, before lining up in the milestone match.
“(The body) definitely knows it’s played 300 games,” McDonnell says.
“I’m on an older man’s training regime (sic), if you know what I mean.
“A reason why I’ve kept playing for as long is my son is just obsessed with footy.
“He’s at every game, runs the water, does everything.
“It inspires me.”
McDonnell and his identical twin Luke started with the Lions’ juniors in the early 1990s because they lived down the street from the club.
The camaraderie and escapism of football are McDonnell’s favourite parts of the game.
“For two hours, nothing else in the world matters except for a ball going through some sticks.”
Luke, who played alongside McDonnell until a few years ago, came down from Darwin for the clash against Central United.
“I miss not playing with him a bit but when you’re out there, the boys are all your brothers in my opinion,” McDonnell says.
McDonnell’s highlights include three premierships – in 2002, 2012 and 2015.
“You can’t really separate them – they’re all really good in their own right.”
McDonnell “can see the light at the end of the tunnel” but is unsure exactly when he will retire.
“We’ll see what happens.”