Football
30 July, 2024
Nield leading by example
Kalkee Stalwart Matt Nield is having a fantastic year in the seniors in the Horsham District League following a move to the midfield in 2024.
After playing most of his career on the wing, Nield is relishing a midfield position and has been one of the bright sparks for the club this season, which has battled many injuries.
Nield has played 13 games, kicked three goals, and featured in the best on 11 occasions. As an older team member nearing his 250th game at the club, he provides valuable experience to the younger players.
"Hopefully, I am a good voice on the ground and lead by my actions. We are a quieter group, and I just direct them on the ground to where they need to go and to do what they need to do, and I lead that way," Nield said.
"Maybe with age, I am getting smarter, but getting more opportunities through the midfield helps. I am really enjoying it.
"It was a little bit of an adjustment, as we lost all our starting midfielders at the end of last year, so I got thrown into it this year and love it."
While Nield has played in premierships, the highlight of his career is seeing his children enjoy themselves at the family-orientated club.
"Kalkee is a great family club. As I have a young family, my partner comes out every Saturday, and the kids come out and enjoy it. It's definitely one of the highlights," Nield said.
Whilst Nield is getting older, he is hopeful he has many years ahead of him.
"Hopefully, I have another three or four years ahead of me. There are a lot of bigger bodies in the midfield, so they feed it out to me as much as I can, and I use my running ability to help the team more," Nield concluded.