When the Hawks run out against the Bombers this Friday night under the bright lights of the MCG, Conor Nash will complete his journey to game 100.
While 100 games is no easy feat to achieve for any AFL player, it is even more rare for players who come into the game from Ireland, with just over 10% achieving this feat.
Speaking on the Talking Hawks Podcast ahead of his milestone game in the brown and gold, Nash reflected on the pride he feels in becoming only the eighth Irish player in AFL history to make it to 100 games.
โProbably for the Aussie side of things, 100 games, yes, it's a milestone, but it's not the biggest milestone,โ he said.
โFor an Irish player, it's probably something a little bit more special. So I'm pretty happy with it.โ
For Nash, it hasn't always been smooth sailing in his career at Hawthorn.
The Irish-born Hawk joined the club as a category B rookie at the end of 2016 before boarding the plane and setting up home in Melbourne.
He missed the majority of the 2017 season through injury, before getting his opportunity to make his AFL debut in 2018 against the Geelong Cats in Round 21 of that year.
Nash featured in the last five games for the season, including Hawthorn's two finals appearances, where he played as a pressure forward.
The now midfielder struggled to make an impact over the next few seasons as a forward, and if not for Sam Mitchell, who was head coach of Hawthorn's VFL affiliate Box Hill at the time, he may have been lost to the game.
He credits now Hawthorn head coach Mitchell for helping him to become the player that he is today, where his toughness is lauded by Hawthorn fans.
โI was at a crossroads on numerous occasions and could very easily have went the other way,โ he said.
โI suppose it was great that I got a different set of eyes at the right moment. Sam was huge for me down at Box Hill, just switching to a midfield role was kind of a last shot and that was really it.โ
A product of County Meath, the former Leinster rugby union fullback has now become a key part of Mitchell's game plan with his ability to cover many different roles making him one of the first selected.
โIt's a big asset of mine and one of the big reasons that I'm getting a game,โ he said.
โSo wherever it is I'm needed, whether it's a few minutes in the ruck to give Meeky (Lloyd Meek) a good break or play a shutdown role or a bit on the wing, I'm happy.โ
Since 2022, Nash's durability has been on show, with the 198cm Hawk missing one of the last 70 games for the Hawks, believing the reason he has been so durable is through the effort he puts into his recovery post match.
โIt's hard week to week, but I think it's just the time and effortโ, said the Irishman.
โThere was a group of us that were at a recovery place called Super Young yesterday. I was out there for two hours in the cryo chamber, sauna, ice baths, and that just to get the body moving again.
โI think it's just time and effort and attention to detail. Plus I love all that other stuff that comes with playing footy.โ
Nash is using the experience of finals last year as a motivation for 2025, having tasted success in September for the first time ever during Hawthorn's 37-point victory over the Bulldogs in last year's elimination final, before succumbing to Port Adelaide in heartbreaking circumstances.
โI'd say that I think everyone saw the devastation, felt the devastation along with us. It was just such an opportunity to really push on,โ he added.
โWe just know we have to improve and that's what we've been focused on all summer. So, yeah, hopefully we can get to the real pointy end again this year.โ
Nash is looking forward to playing in front of an expected crowd of over 86,000 at the MCG as the Hawks take on rival Essendon in their first home game for 2025.
โFootball is nothing really without the fans and the members. So to get the Hawks faithful there in huge numbers that we know they will,โ he said.
โIt's going to be massive.
โIt'll be a nice occasion and even sweeter if we get the four points against the Bombers."
The Hawks are looking to make it back to back wins to start the season for the first time since 2022.
To hear the full interview with Conor Nash, click here.
