Nash hoping to return for Simonstown
AFL Frustrating time for Hawthorn star
FERGAL LYNCH
As Conor Nash continues his journey back from serious shoulder injury with Hawthorn's feeder side Box Hill hawks he already has one eye on coming home to Navan later in the year and possibly helping Simonstown Gaels in the latter stages of the SFC, should they make it that far.
Speaking to the ClubSpot app Nash revealed his disappointment at not getting more first team opportunities with the Hawks, but he is looking forward to the second part of the season and returning home in the AFL off-season.
"Halfway through the AFL season now and I hasn’t gone my way in terms of playing first team football, but personally I’m happy with how I’ve been performing," Nash told ClubSpot.
"The body has been good off the back of a shoulder reconstruction last year so that’s always half the battle.
"I'll refresh now over the bye week by getting out on the golf course a lot and be ready to attack the back half of the year.
"I’d hope to get home at some stage in October and maybe play some round ball if the opportunity arose."
Nash has been known to dip his toes back into the GAA when he comes home to Meath during the AFL off-season and he played a part in Simonstown's Keegan Cup success before he left for Australia in 2016 and again when he returned in the off-season in 2017.
A hugely promising rugby player the Navan man was tipped to make the grade with Leinster, while there were also high hopes that he could be the midfield driving force for the Meath senior football side for many years.
However Hawthorn came calling for Nash and the lure of playing professional sport and completing his education in Australia proved too strong for the Simonstown man to turn down.
Of course making such a huge move at such a young age did have it's concerns for Nash, but he is delighted with the support he has received and the network of friends he has built Down Under.
"I was fairly lucky that I had Conor Glass (Derry) to make the move Down Under with. We lived with a lovely host family who looked after us so well and made things feel quite homely," recalled Nash.
"Having said that, there were certainly some big challenges, such as dealing with being away from family and friends. I am the eldest of three children with a younger brother and sister who I’m very close with.
"There were/are times when I miss home, but I just try to keep myself busy and up to date with all that’s happening at home. I Facetime home every few days and we just discuss the simple things going on in our lives, it keeps you connected in my opinion.
"My parents have been so supportive since the start and certainly would not still be here if it weren’t for them.
"Football wise, my athletic attributes are my main strength, so dealing with training loads was all fine. It’s the constant learning and pursuit to improve that comes with being a professional player that has and continues to be a challenge."
Winning a Keegan Cup with Simonstown was a dream come true for Nash, but it could have all very different if he had chosen to go the other route in Navan and join the O'Mahonys.
Nash still recalls his early years with the north Navan club and reserves special praise for the player he regards as the best he has played with and remembers one current Meath star as one of the toughest opponents he has ever faced
"I was quite lucky to choose Simonstown as I could equally have started with Navan O’Mahonys,2 said Nash.
"Being in the parish of Navan you could choose between either club, but Simonstown was on the far end of town from my house.
"If it weren’t for a good friend of mine, John Smith, who lived across the road I probably would have ended up playing for the hoops of Navan O’Mahonys. Thankfully I made it to the the Northside Blues and have enjoyed every minute.
"My first memories would be of the ‘mini leagues’ when I was four or five years old. The club run a mini league competition one night a week for six weeks around September and October and kids from as young as three up to 12 are divided among teams according to their age group.
"You could be playing for any county in the country and would be given the appropriate colours to match. I think I was on the Cork team the first year I played and distinctly remember a very large, long sleeved jersey draped over me.
"The mini leagues were great fun and there was a big finals night at the end, with a Meath county player presenting medals.
"Growing up I had a few sporting idols. With rugby, it was pretending to slot conversions like Ronan O’Gara or lay a big tackle like Brian O’Driscoll. Dad is a Limerick man so we were drafted into supporting Munster, but we quickly realised that Leinster were a better team.
"With Football, it was Joe Sheridan, Seamus Kenny or Graham Geraghty. ‘Sham’ Kenny was very prevalent around the club, so he was a big influence.
"Certainly as I got older himself and Colm O’Rourke were big helps and winning the clubs two Keegan cups with them was very special.
"The best GAA player I have played with would be Shane O’Rourke for sure. Playing midfield with him the last couple years before I left for Oz were special.
"He was at the latter end of his career and probably not as mobile as he once was, but football wise he was so gifted. He is the most natural footballer I’ve seen. His football IQ is outrageous and strikes the ball so well off either peg.
" The toughest opponent I’ve faced in the AFL would have been Alex Rance who played with Richmond. He’s constantly engaging you off the ball and moving you to vulnerable spots in marking contests.
"With GAA, I would have many battles with current Meath midfielder Ronan Jones throughout our underage years. He was a formidable opponent who is fiercely competitive," said Nash.
With their bye week out of the way Nash is hoping to pull on the brown and gold jersey on Friday against Sydney Swans.
The former Meath minor player has been listed as an emergency replacement for a few games and had played a couple of times in other games, but he is determined to nail down a regular starting spot before getting home for championship football with his beloved Simonstown in October.