NOBs games record holder Scott Sleep is a living legend of the club. He spent 23 consecutive seasons as a player and then coach at NOBs, retiring from active duties only this year. His record at the club will probably never be bettered.

Nickname: Sleepy, Sleepo, Violent Wind

Grew up: Mildura

AFL/AFLW team: Carlton and Carlton (thank god I also follow Liverpool FC)

Schools: Mildura Secondary College, Herning Gymnasium (Danish Equivalent of High School) and a couple of brief stints at VUT

Previous Clubs: Mildura FC

Playing Career: 334 games (I think) 2012 Senior Premiership, 2010 Reserves Premiership and 1997 C Grade Grand Final

Playing career achievements: 2005 C Grade Team of the Year, 2005 4th C Grade League B&F, 2006 Cashen Fogarty Trophy Winner, 2006 Harry Leigh Trophy Winner, Vice Captain 2005 – 2007, Games Record Holder, Life Member

Coaching Career: Reserves coach 2016 & 2017 (no achievements other than honing my Saturday morning story telling, inspirational speech skills and enjoying the company of some great young NOBs players)

Major Injuries: 2 of note, 1 serious and 1 unfortunate. Serious one was a shoulder reconstruction in 2000. The other happened in a game against Fitzroy Reds. It was a tight & hard fought game and during the 3rd qtr I was courageously running back with the flight of the ball into an oncoming pack. That pack included club great Matthew Keown. Now if anyone has ever watch Kewy they would know that he is slightly more adept at taking massive hangers than Jeremy Howe and if you have and the pleasure of seeing him at the gym they will know that he predominantly focuses his time on 180kg leg presses. Long story short, as he was about to sit on an opponent’s head and at the apex of his jumping power his raised knee on his non-jumping leg caught me in the family jewels. After visits to the doctor and some awkward sonagrams, the specialist described my injury (and I am quoting verbatim) “Have you ever seen an orange run over by a truck.” I trained Tuesday.

Best player seen on the field at Brunswick/North Old Boys: Due to the length of time I have been at NOBs narrowing it down to 1 is difficult. Honorable mentions go to Bruno Conti, Daniel Tonkin, Paul Booth, Ben Jordan, Matt Hyde, Chris Hosking and Jason Cordy.

From the first decade the best player I saw and played with was Shannon Mikunda. I saw him get the sit on a CHB, take the mark and then continue to ride him into the turf finishing in what would be similarly described as a hunting photo where the hunter kneels over his trophy lying on the ground. The CHB got up and had grass in his teeth.

From the second decade it would without doubt be the previously mentioned Matthew Keown. His high-marking prowess aside Kewy played week in week out with 3 opponents on him. Winning Club and Leagues B&Fs while trying to better multiple opponents was a no easy task but he managed it with what seemed a measure of ease and to this day I credit my senior premiership to him. I also really enjoyed his verbal sprays at qtr time when we hadn’t started well with the one at Yarra Valley being his best.

Best player seen off the field at Brunswick/North Old Boys: I am assuming I can’t say myself so once again I am going to have multiple.

First would be Luke “Tickets” Curry. As a wet behinds the ears boy from Mildura, Luke was a sight to behold off the field. His tan skin, smooth talking and ability to look good with 1 too many buttons undone on his shirt was only part of his appeal. Combining all that with the fact that he drove a little red Alpha Romeo sports car meant he was a hit with the fairer sex and on top of that was one of the very few that was willing to stay out as long as I. This combination made for many long great sessions and stories at establishments such as The Cactus Club and the Great Northern Hotel.

There are a number of others that have performed well over the years but my favourites are the people that ensure a fun time is had by all.

Peter O’Farrell (and his wonderful family). There is a certain house party in the early years that deserve a mention if not an explanation as well as a convertible car ride where everyone else with a roof was a lesser person for it, and he let them know. In more recent times Peter, Sally and their boys are very generous hosts with their time and backyard which provides players and administrators alike with great memories that I will always appreciate.

Dennis Fogarty is someone who I always have really enjoyed being in the company of. From the early days of footy trip team selection & speeches to the later years of Premiership photos and Boxing Day phone calls he has been a constant source of good times.

Best memory from Brunswick/North Old Boys: After 23 seasons at the club it is difficult to narrow it down to 1. There are so many from Footy Trips with Olympic swimmers, The O Files, Pre Season camps where I “accidentally” forgot my asthma inhaler, playing my 300th game with my great friend Dan Tonkin, the bus ride back from Whitefriars in 2016, the enjoyment I didn’t envisage I would get from coaching, Club functions especially Cloud 89 through to all the fantastic people I have become friends with over almost 25 years but the one that stands out is the moments after the 2012 GF with the team and Dan. Dan and I had played together for over 15 years and to finally achieve something that we had wanted to do for so long was very special.

Professional career and current location: ANZ – Process & Tools Manager for the Investment Management Office (all that really means is that I am good at Excel.)

Kid(s) and age(s): Magnus Sleep – 6