Big Q&A with former Gold Coast Suns AFL ruckman Tom Nicholls

Tom Nicholls was one of the great characters of footy. Then he suddenly retired at the age of 27. In a Q&A with the Bulletin, Nicholls details the moment he knew he would leave the AFL, if the Suns had a contract ready for him, catching fire in 2014 before missing finals, the issues that led to the off-field misdemeanours of the group and life in the business world.

AS the Suns today unveil their AFLW team and young-gun male recruits to home fans, former ruckman Tom Nicholls reflects on his development from Victorian junior to Gold Coast schoolboy and the AFL.

First off Tom, how are you enjoying life as a retired AFL player?

“It’s awesome. I’m thoroughly enjoying the free-time I have on hand. The first two weeks I think I woke up up at 9.30am or later every morning but now I have made my own routine because I have become so accustomed to having one over the last 10 years. I haven’t really known much else other than constant routine. I have implemented them around university and moving house.

What are your plans for life after football now that you have taken some time out?

I finished my commerce degree in January and I have a bunch of contacts down in Melbourne in the finance world in investment banking who I’m meeting up with. I’m exploring the options I have down there. I want to work in that field, I have been pretty passionate since I started studying it. I’m keen to knuckle down with that. My last exam was on January 23 and then I had to do the big road trip back home to Melbourne.

Former Gold Coast Suns AFL player Tom Nicholls, who has recently retired, relaxing at BSKT Cafe at Nobby Beach. Picture Glenn Hampson

You have spoken about potentially living in the U.S. for a period, is that still on the cards?

Yeah. My partner, Devon Dawson, is from Texas, America and working in the finance world, New York is the pinnacle of that and we both love the city. If an opportunity does arise then we would love to explore it. My brother Pat Nicholls is also over there in L.A. working as a tennis coach.

How did you first come to meet Devon, were you in Australia or the U.S?

It was in Byron Bay actually. She was doing a university exchange and it was literally her first weekend here. I basically met her at a bar and saved her from some European creep, so she tells me. We hit it off straight away. I asked her out on a date three days later. She didn’t even care what AFL was, she thought it was cute. She was super confused about it, like everyone. As we progressed and she stayed out here longer she began to really enjoy it. She is a massive NFL fan so she appreciated the similarities and differences.

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Were you tempted to go looking for a senior opportunity with another club instead of retiring?

It wasn’t the overriding factor but it played some part. I got so much joy out of playing at the NEAFL level even though ultimately it wasn’t what I wanted to do. You play hypotheticals and think well maybe if I got a taste or I had some earlier interest from other clubs then would I have entertained them? Who knows. At the end of the day the thought of beginning my new chapter and starting my career in the finance world was much stronger. My manager said there was interest from other clubs and if something was to happen it would be towards the end of the trade period.

You retired at the age of 27 despite being fit and healthy enough to keep going. Why did you decide to end it with footy?

It was something I had a lot of time to think about and a lot of trouble deciding. Basically I was more excited about the next chapter of my life and not wanting to wait any longer. I thought it would be selfish to go around again and unfair on my teammates if I wasn’t as invested as them. It’s so ironic because last year I felt like I had such a purpose. I was ready to play at AFL level but I knew it wouldn’t be the case with the form of (Jarrod Witts), our captain, was in. I had great purpose in helping develop the younger boys and leading by example on the field. It threw a spanner in the works which made that decision tougher.

Former Gold Coast Suns AFL player Tom Nicholls, who has recently retired, relaxing at BSKT Cafe at Nobby Beach. Picture Glenn Hampson

So when did you decide that 2019 would be your last in the AFL?

We went to Hawaii for my brother’s wedding at the start of October. It would have been a couple of days before that when I started to feel uneasy. Once I was over there it started to sink in. I actually became stressed about it. I spoke to mum and dad. Up until then I assumed I’d be playing the following year. I made the decision relatively quickly too. I didn’t start thinking about it until that period. I had even started my off-season training two weeks earlier than I was meant to. That is two weeks of beers I didn’t drink.

Did the Suns have a contract offer for you for 2020 or beyond?

The conversations were with my manager and from what he told me there was some form of offer, the details of it I’m not sure.

What was it like as 17-year-old being signed by the Suns to play in the VFL in 2010 and going to All Saints Anglican School while playing for Broadbeach?

At the time it was like ‘how good is this, I’m on a holiday’. I was so naive and immature. I thought you would have training requirements and then you would be able to go out and perform on game day but that wasn’t the case. The amount of work and everything you have to put into it for the chance to perform was something that was invaluable.

If I was to give advice to someone who thought the same way as me I’d say you are a business going into this industry which is an AFL club so you have to look after every aspect of it. There are non-negotiables like diet, sleep, work ethic and many layers on top of that. I could deal with stress pretty well but there are so many different personalities at a club. Some would rely on that adversity in their outside life to be able to perform on game day and once everything was smooth sailing at home they would be a bit lost. I found it completely fascinating.

Gold Coast Football Club players go through a training session for their Bronze Medallions at the Kurrawa Surf Club. The Victorian members of the Gold Coasts 17-year-old picks from left to right Matt Shaw, Trent McKenzie, Piers Flanagan, Tom Nicholls, Taylor Hine, Jack Hutchins and Josh Toy

You were always a favourite of media and fans because of your outgoing nature, has that always come easy to you?

I just enjoy the company of people. Whatever background they come from, I’m lucky to be interested in people. I have always thrived in social environments, obviously being with 45 blokes it’s fun to bounce off different personalities, get some of the stiffer blokes to loosen up. The fans were always really good to me.

You have a big love of music and it stems from your family, doesn’t it?

I’m no good at it but I’m a massive curator. Dad loves it, he has played guitar forever and mum loves music too. When I was younger mum and dad would blast their music and I would hate it, it was a bit left-of centre. I was so embarrassed. Now I absolutely love it, it takes me back to those times.

In our circles of friends, there is always one who introduces everyone to the next big band or song before anyone else knows about it. Was that you?

I like to think so. That is the other thing about music – I love the joy that people get from it. Music is such a good connector so when you can introduce something to one of your friends and they love it, I get a massive kick out of it. I can open their eyes and experiences to other stuff. Someone organises the playlist before games and I took the reins in the NEAFL. When I was younger playing senior footy I think my music was too disruptive and ahead of it’s time for the majority of players.

Tom Nicholls kicks a goal on half time during the round 6 AFL game between the Gold Coast Suns and Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium, Carrara. Pics Adam Head

In 2014 the Suns looked set to go to the finals before Gary Ablett had his shoulder injury. Did you assume the rise would be linear from that year?

Pretty much. That was the first time I did my PCL, not that it had anything to do with the results. Leading up to that we played Richmond in Round 1 and after that game when we won at Metricon, we had this winning feeling and went into games knowing we would win which was pretty cool and something I haven’t felt since. Than there was a changeover of coach and a couple of players left. If things had of gone our way, a few injuries here and there, who knows, we may have made finals and had more stability at that time.

Even though the team was doing well that year, you still had some teething issues off the field, didn’t you?

It was a bit of infrastructure but more so that fact there was 20 of us born in 1992, so 18-years-old in 2011 and first year in the system. We were the largest demographic of the playing group so we had the most influence over the group. It’s like handing the reins of a law firm over to kids. You don’t have the experience so while you have talent, you can’t run the other aspects. I think that was what led to the misdemeanours off field. We would have weekends off more recently and we would get a talking to from the senior leadership group, who were bigger in numbers, about no one stuffing up. Previously we wouldn’t have systems in place where we could talk openly about going out to have a drink. If we did go out on the odd-occasion it would be on the down-low and then you would come into the club feeling guilty. Now guys can have more autonomy around their life. We had a 12am curfew one year so if it was 11.30am you would be stressing to get home. If you didn’t you thought you did the worst thing in the world.

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You were at the Suns as they were forming the AFLW team, how do you feel about the club finally having it established?

It’s awesome. Over my time I went out to footy training clinics and I was always surprised by how many girls were involved, even more than I was by the number in Melbourne. It was obvious from the start there was a massive demand from girls in general but even more so on the Gold Coast. You could tell by the way they went about it. We did one session with the under-16 academy and I swear there were more girls than boys there for trials. For girls on the Gold Coast, to being able to aspire to fulfil their dreams on the footy field is awesome.

They are preparing to play their first home game at Metricon Stadium. Take me through how your own maiden home game at Metricon went in 2013?

We played North Melbourne. I had my best mates pre-planned to come up and I had family there as well. I played on Todd Goldstein who went on to become an All-Australia. I had nothing to lose and that was my first win. It was really special to have my first win there on that day.

TOM NICHOLLS PLAYER BIO:

Age: 27

Born: Yarrawonga, Victoria

Family: Parents Connie and Andrew, brother Pat

Drafted from: Sandringham Dragons (TAC Cup).

Height: 203cm.

AFL games: 45

Career highlights:

■ 22under22 (2013)

■ AFL Rising Star nomination (2013)

The quote book: “I have a book from over the journey which is pages long. I have each player and there are some quotes they have said that have been so stupid. Luke Russell features heavily.”