In 2008, Ricky Martin and James Nardella lined up side by side to help Sunshine Football Club secure its first senior premiership of the 21st century.
On Saturday, the two were again shoulder to shoulder, celebrating another incredible chapter in their local football careers.
When Martin and Nardella ran on to Kinder Smith Reserve, it was the 300th time both men have donned Sunshine jumpers.
Ensuring a day to remember, Kangaroos’ supporters gathered at the home ground to celebrate the incredible double milestone, while the pair’s teammates did their bit, helping the Kangaroos to an 18-point win over Spotswood in the reserves’ competition.
“Playing 300 games is something I never thought about when I first went to the club,” Martin said. “I went to Sunshine as a 16-year-old because all my mates from school played there.
“Given the 300-mark is here, I haven’t really looked back since.”
As well as playing in the 2008 premiership, Martin was a member of the club’s 2011 reserves flag.
Nardella, who was overseas in 2011, tasted ultimate glory twice for Sunshine, captaining the Kangaroos to an under-16 premiership in 2002.
In today’s local football environment, where players frequently change clubs and acts of loyalty are overshadowed by huge sign-on offers and weekly match payments, Sunshine continues to buck the trend. Martin and Nardella become the 16th and 17th players in the Kangaroos’ exclusive 300-game club. Last season Jonathon Frost reached this milestone.
“For me, the most important part about playing football has been doing it with my mates,” Martin said.
“A lot of us have played our football together. It is really one of those good community clubs that is very family oriented. ”
Nardella agreed that the club environment was what kept him coming back.
“That is all you ever really want to do is go out, put the jumper on and play football with your mates,” he said.
“Sunshine has shaped the person I am. The people around the club are just such great people.
”They are always willing to help and there are so many great role models around the club. It makes me want to be a part of it and continue to be a part of it for a long time.”
Both Martin and Nardella are buoyed by the exciting future Sunshine is building.
Under the guidance of new coach Brendan Hallinan, the Kangaroos continue to push home grown talent as they look to capture that elusive division 1 senior premiership.
“It is certainly an exciting time for the club,” Martin said.
“We have some really good young kids. I’ve been around long enough to know that things don’t happen straight away; it does take time for those plans to come into place.
“I think in a couple of years, we will certainly be in a strong position with the younger guys we have got.”
While Martin is set to retire at the end of this season, Nardella plans to play on for as long as his body will allow.
No matter when their careers end, both players have said they want to remain at the club in coaching or volunteering roles for many years to come.
