Williamstown champion Nick Meese retires from the VFL
After a 162-game career that took in a premiership, a best and fairest and seven VFL team-of-the-year selections, the big man will step away from the state league and play local football next year.
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“I’m 31, mate. My body is getting old and tired, and I reckon the time is right.’’
And with those uncomplicated words champion ruckman Nick Meese last night confirmed his retirement from the VFL.
The Williamstown big man finished on 162 senior games, 13 short of being granted life membership of the league.
He would have got there comfortably if Carlton ruckmen of taller stature but far less ability hadn’t bumped him to the reserves at his first club, the Northern Blues, so often.
Still, he leaves the VFL with a bulging bag of honours, his most treasured the 2015 premiership and the 2017 Gerry Callahan Medal as best and fairest.
“I still reckon I’m going OK as far as playing goes,’’ he said.
“But after 12 years … work commitments and everything (he’s a plumber) … I just don’t think I can commit in the fashion I want to, or the fashion I have done for a long time.
“It just feels right, to be honest.’’
After graduating from the Northern Knights in the Under 18 competition, Meese started at the Northern Bullants in 2007 (his father, John, played for the club when it was Preston).
But Carlton big men had to be selected ahead of him and he often found himself in the reserves.
He left after three years, returning to his junior club, West Preston, winning the league medal and playing in a premiership.
Meese returned to the VFL in 2011, and the following year won the first of his team-of-the-year jumpers (he finished with seven).
He was hit by a selection squeeze again in 2013, being dropped to the Development League.
That was it for him at the Northern Blues. He wanted out.
Ahead of 2014, and after much acrimony between the administrations of the Blues and Williamstown, Meese, Kane Lambert, Adam Marcon and Tim Currie all crossed to the Seagulls, at a cost of $25,000.
It must be the best money Willy ever spent.
Lambert went on to be drafted and has played in two AFL premierships with Richmond. Marcon was also drafted, played for Richmond and now captains the Towners.
And Meese, 195cm but as unshiftable as Ayers Rock, became the best ruckman in the VFL. He did it not by springing spectacularly high at ruck contests, but by moving his body, working the angles and getting first hands to the ball.
“It’s not rocket science, mate,’’ he said of his method. “The ball is going to drop there, stand between your opponent and the ball.’’
Three years ago an AFL recruiting manager said Meese could play in the AFL.
But the manager said if he drafted Meese he would be run out of the recruiting game. “You can’t draft a 195cm and 105kg ruckman!’’ he said.
Around the same time Willy coach Andy Collins said AFL clubs should be paying Meese because he was teaching their young ruckmen how to play the game.
“AFL clubs all around Australia are in his debt,’’ he said.
Meese said last night he didn’t feel bad “bullying’’ opponents because he’d had the same done to him by Will Minson and Ben Hudson!
The big fellow went out with another sterling season, averaging 46 hit-outs, 13.2 disposals and 6.2 tackles per game (his tackles invariably followed a ruck contest; as he likes to tell his great mates from Port Melbourne when they are out on the squirt, he was a tap-and-wrap ruckman).
He also finished with his sixth consecutive VFL team-of-the-year jumper.
“I’ve had a great time,’’ Meese said.
“I loved my time with the Bullants — my dad is a life member there and so is my uncle (Adrian Marcon) — but to come to Williamstown … I just found my club. That in itself is an absolute highlight for me, the people at the club, the friends I’ve made. Playing at Burbank Oval (Point Gellibrand), I’ve been trying to negotiate a home-games-only contract for years! I’m the only one who wants to play there.’’
Meese said he would play local football next year, because he still enjoyed the game. Where will he play? “That’s a discussion to be had,’’ he said.
The club that signs him will be gaining a heck of a player. A champion of the VFL, no less.