Jimmy Nardella and Mitchell Ellis have played a lot of football together for their beloved Sunshine.
Having started in under-10s, the pair have gone through the ranks at the Kangaroos into the senior program in the Western Football League.
Ellis played seniors for a number of years, while Nardella played a few senior games here and there.
On Saturday, the pair both ran out with the Kangaroos reserves for special milestones.
Nardella played his 400th game for the club, while Ellis pulled on the boots for game 300 for the club.
For Nardella, it’s a club that he has always called home.
“It’s really special,” he said. “It’s been a big part of my life since I was eight years old.
“It’s been good to give back to them. I never looked like leaving and I’ve got some great friends and community around me.
“When I finish playing it’ll be a place that I still go to.”
Nardella said he was aware that he was getting close to the 400 game milestone.
It was what kept him playing this year.
“We won the premiership last year and it would have been nice to retire on that,” he said. “The 400 was there. The body is getting sore now.
“I’ll see how I feel at the end of the year and if that’s it, I’m pretty happy with how it panned out.”
Nardella has played in three premierships, one in under-16s, one in 2008 and last season.
He said he didn’t think he would get another one with last year’s years coming on one of the most special days in club history, as the Kangaroos won three premierships.
While the premiership are special, Nardella said coaching under-16s was among the biggest highlights.
“Watching them grow up from kids to men,” he said. “Under-16s was a good age as they made the transition from young boys to men.
“I’ve played a few games with some of them and it is pretty surreal. They dominate out there while I barely get a kick.
“It’s so good for the future.”
Nardella has stepped back from coaching now, but sees himself getting back involved when his son is old enough to play.
Ellis returned to playing footy this season after having a few years off.
He said it was partly as he missed playing but also that he wanted to achieve 300 games for the club.
Ellis said he was enjoying his return to the field having still been around the club even when he wasn’t playing.
“Everyone was telling me I was silly for finishing up seven or eight games short of 300,” he said.
“Covid happened and it deterred me as well. I had a couple of years off and the body was pretty good so I thought I would get a few games under my belt.
“I tried to play a few last year… I’ve got there this year, there was still a bit of an itch.”
Ellis spent a number of years playing for Seymour in the Goulburn Valley league before coming back to Sunshine to finish off his career where he started.
“It was good for my development,” he said. “I was eventually always going to come back to Sunshine.
“I’m glad I came back.”
The under-16 premiership was also a highlight for Ellis as they beat a Werribee Districts side that hadn’t lost for three years.
The finals run to make the division 1 senior grand final in 2017 was also special, along with some best and fairests along the way.
Friendships are also high on the list.
“You grow up playing and hanging out with them every week at training,” Ellis said. “They are mates you have banter with and have good fun at club functions.”
Both admit they weren’t the most talented and skilled players but were happy to go in and have a crack.
Ellis, who wears number three, said the synergy of finishing on 303 games would be special. Others have said he should target 333.
“I’ll see how I pull up.”
Both said they were looking forward to celebrating the milestone game with the club planning big things.
They said celebrating it together was even more special.
“It will be awesome,” Nardella said before the match. “I did tell them I wanted a marching band and statue.
“Hopefully we’ll get a big crowd down and I probably won’t get a kick as I’ll be overawed from it all.”
Ellis had a more simple plan.
“I’m more focused on getting the job done,” he said. “I’m looking forward to running out with the kids and having the family and friends there, more the sentimental aspect.”
