The Only Surprise Is That It Took This Long

Nick Morton - photo taken at Riverside a couple of weeks ago. Apologies I cannot find who to credit.

Give Nick a Break

Before the commentary starts, and it will, I'd like to ask the Tasmanian football community for one thing.

Give Nick a break.

He is about to be criticised by some for leaving.

Some will say it's about the money.

Some will say he should have stayed.

Some will question his loyalty.

Frankly, that is nonsense.

A player who joined South Hobart as an 11-year-old does not need to defend his loyalty.

A player who became captain does not need to defend his loyalty.

A player who became the club's all-time leading goalscorer does not need to defend his loyalty.

A player who was recognised as Tasmania's best player three years in a row does not need to defend his loyalty.

A player who gave nineteen years to one club does not need to defend his loyalty.

That conversation ended years ago.

Nick has fielded opportunities for years.

Tasmanian clubs wanted him.

Interstate clubs wanted him.

Opportunities came and went.

Yet he stayed.

Partly because South Hobart is his club.

Partly because his father Ken was there.

And partly because loyalty still meant something to him.

For nineteen years Nick chose South Hobart when many others would have left.

That choice should not be forgotten now.

Nor should his standing within the game.

This is a player who became South Hobart's captain.

A player who became the club's all-time leading goalscorer.

A player who became a three-time Tasmanian Player of the Year.

A player whose standards, professionalism and winning mentality have been praised by teammates, coaches and opponents alike.

The reality is that nobody in Tasmanian football should be surprised that a club like Northcote City came calling.

The only surprise is that it took this long for him to finally say yes.

A Fabulous Opportunity

Let's also not pretend this is not a fabulous opportunity.

Nick is joining Northcote City in Melbourne, a club chasing promotion into Victoria's top division.

They have recruited him because they believe he can help get them there.

Think about that for a moment.

A club in one of Australia's strongest football environments believes a player from Tasmania can help lead them to promotion.

That is not something to dismiss.

It is something to celebrate.

And yes, he will be paid.

After everything he has contributed to the game over the years, nobody should begrudge him that opportunity.

For most of his football career Nick played for little or nothing.

While players came and went, while clubs recruited from elsewhere, while others chased opportunities, Nick stayed.

He trained.

He played.

He captained.

He scored.

He represented South Hobart year after year.

If a Melbourne club believes he can help them succeed, wants to test him in a stronger environment and is prepared to reward him accordingly, good on him.

I would hope every footballer gets that opportunity at some point.

There is also something fitting about the destination.

At Northcote City, Nick will reunite with his brother.

Over the years they have shared a unique football journey. They have been teammates and last season Max coached Nick at South Hobart.

Now they have the opportunity to work together once again as Northcote City chase promotion to Victoria's top division.

Football has connected their lives for almost two decades.

It seems fitting that it will help write the next chapter too.

South Hobart Got the Best Years

What makes Nick's story remarkable is not that he is leaving.

It is that he stayed so long.

South Hobart got the goals.

South Hobart got the trophies.

South Hobart got the captaincy.

South Hobart got the leadership.

South Hobart got the standards.

South Hobart got the best years of his football career.

Few clubs get nineteen years from a player of that calibre.

South Hobart did.

For years South Hobart supporters have enjoyed watching one of Tasmania's best players wear their colours.

Now another club gets that opportunity.

And make no mistake, Nick loves this football club.

I know this decision was harder than many people realise.

Leaving a club after a season or two is one thing.

Leaving after nineteen years is something else entirely.

South Hobart is where he grew up.

It is where he became a senior player.

It is where he became a captain.

It is where many of his closest friendships were formed.

It is where he celebrated some of the best moments of his football life.

When you spend that much time somewhere, it stops being a club.

It becomes part of who you are.

For years South Hobart has also been the place where father and son shared a football journey.

That chapter changes too.

For the best part of two decades, South Hobart supporters never had to imagine a season without Nick Morton.

Now they will.

Who knows what the future holds?

Perhaps one day we will see Nick back at South Hobart.

Perhaps we won't.

What I do know is that very few players leave behind what he leaves behind.

Records.

Goals.

Memories.

Standards.

Respect.

And a place in the club's history that nobody can take away.

Records are made to be broken, but some feel like they might stand forever.

One Final Thought

Football has taken Nick and Max on some interesting journeys over the years.

They have been teammates, player and coach.

Now football has found a way to bring them together again.

As someone who has had a front-row seat to both journeys, I cannot help but think there is something rather nice about that.

Next Saturday, when Nick Morton walks off D’Arcy Street for the final time as a South Hobart player, the club won't simply be saying goodbye to a captain, a goalscorer or a three-time Tasmanian Player of the Year.

It will be saying goodbye to an era.

Whatever happens next, Nick Morton has earned the right to write the next chapter on his own terms.

And after everything he has given South Hobart Football Club, he owes nobody an explanation.