Simon Nunan

Simon Nunan played his 300th game for Mount Barker during the 2016 season. The epitome of a loyal one club player but Simon could easily have played elsewhere. It was assumed when they were youngsters that Simon and his brother Greg would continue to play for Onkaparinga Valley where they had played modified rules. When they became old enough for junior colts there was no contact from ‘Onkas’, so they both decided to play for Mount Barker.

Simon played a number of seasons of junior football with Mount Barker that culminated in playing for Sturt’s under 17s and 19s. Simon played his first senior game for the ‘Barkeroos’ in 1999 when Sturt had a bye and the following season he played in the clubs first premiership in 17 years. He would go on to play in three more premierships with Mount Barker in 2003, 2004 and 2012. Simon was captain of Mount Barker for eight seasons that included the 2012 season as a premiership captain. The 2004 premiership was also extra special in that Simon was named as best on ground.

Simon has won two Hills Football League Mail Medals in 2005 and 2008, and has won the Murphy Medal as Mount Barkers best and fairest on six occasions. Simon coached the senior colts to a flag in 2012 and in his second stint as coach has had them playing in the last two grand finals.

Currently sitting on the committee of the Mount Barker Football Club as a junior football representative, Simon still coaches the senior colts. He umpires the modified rules football in the morning where his two sons Jess and Jayden are players.

Simon was awarded life membership of the Mount Barker Football Club in 2014 and is also a life member of the Hills Football League. After playing his 300th game, Simon was quoted in the Courier as saying ‘ The premierships and friendships you make are what you cherish the most. Captaining a premiership is a dream most kids have and playing in a flag with my brother Greg in 2004 was a highlight as well’.