This coming Saturday as we take on local rival Park Orchards, we prepare to celebrate, recognize & honour a club champion & decorated Saint, Jason Sharp, as he takes to the field for his 150th Senior Game.
Fittingly, Jason will play this milestone game, reached by few on the ground he has taunted & mesmerized opposition players to the point, where he seemed to be able to make his opponents & time stand still, while he weighed up his options & than weaved his way through traffic with his opponents looking like statues to deliver a ball into the chest of a leading forward. For more than a decade now, he has given the Saints faithful so much pleasure to watch his footy talents, on the ground, that along with his brother Anthony, considers their second backyard, the mighty Quambee Reserve.
What can be very rare in today’s local football, especially given the fact of Jason’s talent, he has remained loyal to the mighty Saints and helping us get through a very bleak period back in the mid 2000’s. Jason has been part of the Saints program since 1999 when he attended The Warranwood Auskick Clinic at Warranwood Primary School with his brother Anthony, which for those unaware was established by our Junior Club, now known as North Ringwood Auskick at the Junior Oval.
Jason eventually at the age of 8, made his way to our Junior Club and played Under 9’s in 2002, under the guidance of Curtis Nunn as Coach, eventually leading Jason & his team mates on to win the 2002 EFL U/9’s Lightning Premiership. While this was the only Premiership Jason would be part of at the Junior Club, Jason’s and his mates would be part of finals their whole way through from U/12’s-U/16’s. They did reach the Grand Final in U/12’s but were defeated by Rowville.
Jason would spend 8 years at the Juniors, under the guidance of 3 Coach’s, Curtis Nunn, Jimmy Darvidis & Colin Gottliebsen. This side did contain some very talented boys, including a couple of Jason’s current team mates, Matt Sheppard & Jack Whelan, so it goes without saying, the Senior Club were looking forward to these boys making their way down Wonga Rd to Quambee Reserve.
JASON’S JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENTS:
85 Games
63 Goals
2002 – Under 9’s, Lightning Premiership
2005 – Under 12’s Runner Up
2008 – Under 15’s, NRJFC Best & Fairest
2009 – Under 16’s, Best Player in a Final series
In November 2009, Jason finally made his way to Quambee to join our Colts (U/18’s) first pre-season, under the guidance of Dallas van Unen, who had taken the U/18’s that year to their first Premiership in 10 years. Unfortunately for the Junior Club, losing Jason & this team to the Senior Club, took a lot of money from the budget, as this was team of parents that knew how to enjoy themselves at Coaches Award Nights but on a positive note, the Senior Club bar income was about to triple.
Jason’s first year down at the Senior Club as a bottom age Colt was very successful. Jason played a total of 16 Games, was named in the best 9 times and slotted 38 Goals, helping the boys to win the 2010 U/18 Div 3 Premiership, giving Dallas & the boys back to back Flags.
On the back of Jason’s fantastic season, Brett Moyle, gave Jason the taste of Senior football that same year, when Jason made his Senior debut at 17 in the Preliminary Final v Doncaster, which when you think about it, shows the skill this young man had at 17, to make your debut in such an important game. Unfortunately, we were defeated 14.20.104 to 10.14.74. While Jason’s start to his Senior football did not have a fairytale ending, this was all about to change over the following 4 years.
With Jason’s football skill being so evident to Moyley & the Senior Football department, Jason would be elevated to the Senior squad in 2011, meaning he missed playing his second year of Colts and being part of Club history, as our colts achieved a club first winning a 3 Peat with Premiership Flags, but Jason’s reward with Premiership success was just around the corner.
Jason’s first year of Senior football was still very rewarding, taking to the field 21 times, named 8 times in the best for 30 Goals and playing in the Div 3 Senior Premiership side unfortunately being defeated by Doncaster..again!!
In 2012 our boys had unfinished business and Jason was determined to be part of this unfinished business. With Jason starting to really announce himself as a Senior key player, he would be used in multiply positions by Moyley, whether that be up forward, down back, in the guts or along the wing, he was becoming the ultimate swing man. Finally, after 19 games, 4 times in the best & 13 goals, Jason 20th game for 2012 would be a Premiership. Our boys were finally Premiers, the first time since 1999 and boy did they do it in style, annihilating Glen Waverley Hawks in the Division 3 Grand Final by 137-points, which is still to this day the largest ever Grand Final margin in any EFL/EFNL grade or division.
Final score: NR 25.25.175 Def GWH 5.8.38
Jason was now really becoming one of our young guns to build a club around. In 2013 and our first time back in Division 2 for some time. We had a great year in the new division, finishing 3rd with 13 wins, 4 defeats & a draw, making the finals but were defeated by Croydon in the first semi 14.8.92 to 7.6.48. Jason finished the year with 19 Games, 6 BOG’s and 16 goals.
In 2014, Jason’s football was stating to get to another level, finishing the season with 16 games, 6 times in the best & 8 goals but more importantly, Jason was now a 2 time Senior Premiership player after defeating Croydon in the Div 2 Premiership 18.14.122 to 7.9.51
After another great season in 2015, playing in Div 1 after we were promoted, Jason dropped a bombshell to the club when he informed us he was moving to QLD (Gold Coast) to study a Doctorate of Physiotherapy at Bond University. It took me nearly my full 7 days allowed to approve his transfer when it came up. Just didn’t feel right not to have this champion at our club.
While Jason absolutely loved his time on the Gold Coast and at Broadbeach AFC and lets face it, what 23 year old Aussie male wouldn’t enjoy living at the Goldie for two years, our champion finally came back home for a good home cooked meal from Mum, possibly Dad and a bloody good sun tan. I know one thing for sure, it was fantastic to hand Jas the number 34 Jumper back to its rightful owner!
Sorry Greg, never been for dinner, so not sure if it is you or Kerry that is the head chef?
While Jason had a near full season in 2018, playing 14 games, the next few years, Jason had very little game time in 2019 as he missed the whole season due to a shoulder reconstruction and 2020-2021 were basically two cancelled seasons due to covid and a certain Premier…say no more!!
Finally, Jason & the boys were back on the park for a full season in 2022. Jason racked up another 16 games & 3 goals, playing most of the year on the HBF. In 2023 once again saw Jason having yet another great season, once again playing a lot of the season either on the wing or on the HBF, but more importantly, now as one of the more senior players, he helped our very young senior list, reach a final series for the first time in a decade.
With the 2024 season only two games in, there would be nothing more fitting to hopefully to see Jason holding up another piece of silverware, after everything he has done for our club.
SENIOR ACHEVEMENTS: 2009 – PRESENT
2010 – U/18 (Colts) Division 3 Premiership
2010 – Senior Debut – Preliminary Final as a 16 Year old
2011 – EFL Division 3&4 Leader Young Gun Award (Seniors)
2011 – EFL Division 3 Team of the Year
2011 – NRFC 3rd Place Senior B&F
2011 – Coachs Award – Most Consistent
2011 – Awarded the ‘Peter Purdy’ Perpetual Trophy (Most determined)
2012 – EFL Division 3 Senior Premiership
2012 – NRFC top 4 finish Senior B&F
2014 – EFL Division 2 Senior Premiership
2016 – Named in the 2007-2016 North Ringwood Team of the Decade
Games Played – 149 Senior / 16 Colts & 26 Broadbeach AFC (Qld)
Goals – 82 Senior / 38 Colts & 5 Broadbeach
Named in the Best – 47 Seniors / 9 Colts & 10 Broadbeach
While many of us have watched just about all of Jason’s games and just been totally amazed at the ridiculous ease in which he does things on the playing field, there is one person besides his parents that have watched & ridden most of his hits, goals and bumps & the man that gave Jason the opportunity & start in Senior football & can give us the best insight to this young man’s talent and that is his and the clubs longest serving coach, Brett Moyle. (See below from Brett himself)
Jason played his first game of senior footy as a 17 year old in 2010 in a preliminary final vs Doncaster and had 9 possessions in the first quarter and was near BOG at that stage and has accumulated possessions ever since often having team high possessions.
Jason was always one of my favorites and perhaps of the guys who were the key players during the premiership years the most underrated. He finished top 4-5 in the B& F several times and with a touch of luck he could have had have 1 or 2 go his way. He was also a very good contributor in both grand final victories having well over 30 touches and many score involvements in 2012.
He was and still is a very smart player. Reads the game well and this allows him to accumulate possessions whether that be wing, on ball or half back.
He has a cheeky confidence about him, which I always enjoyed, but he has backed it up over so many years at NRFC and has reached this milestone despite playing a few years at Broadbeach in Queensland whilst studying.
Well done Jase.
While it is easy to focus on Jason as we lead up to Saturday’s big game, you cannot go past the fact what the Sharp family as a whole has contributed to this club, on and off the field.
Jason has been blessed to have played nearly all of his matches alongside his brother Anthony and our club has been blessed to have two extremely talented brothers that will both go down as club legends & Champions. For two brothers to share and be part of two Premierships and be named together in the 2007-2016 North Ringwood Team of the Decade, would have to be very rewarding and a massive thrill for the Sharp family.
Now to Mun & Dad and let’s face it Kerrie & Greg are also pretty legendary around our club along with a few other parents! Kerrie & Greg would have only missed a handful of the boy’s games over the last two decades but would be confident to say, they would not have missed a Club function and possibly would
be the last to leave also along with the van Unen’s, Whelan’s & Fenton’s, to name a few . Mum and Dad could also be where Jason gets his off-field appetite and fun from. While Jason comes across as more of the silent type and has let his football skills do the talking, there is no doubt when he has got a few beers under the belt with good mates, supporters, coaches, Presidents or just anyone involved at our club, he has definitely provided us with some classic moments & entertainment at club functions and Grand Final nights. While certain ‘good sources’ (teammates) who will remain anonymous, it has been mentioned that Jason is definitely a club pest & doesn’t mind stretching the truth about how many
possessions he had that day. Am also led to believe that Jason once paid possibly a Club record Thursday night fine by the players for an incident at a 7/11 after a club function, Jason??
While everyone still hopes that Jason still has many more games in him and can get to that 200 Game status and join his big bro Anthony, it is only Sharpy that knows what is in store for the future. One thing we do know, is that Jason will go down as one of our best to pull on a North Ringwood Jumper. In his 149 games so far, he has given our members so may memories, entertainment, thrills & excitement, and he will always be remembered by his peers from opposition clubs as one of the toughest & talent opponents to play on.
Speaking on behalf of our Saints family, here’s to plenty more games of watching the number 34 Jumper running around Quambee.
Jason is just a true North Ringwood Champion & Clubman.
On a personal note (Mark Jonas) it has been a privilege to be part of this young man’s full NRFC career, from his first day at U/9’ as his Junior President, all the way through to watching him pull on his NRFC Senior jumper for the 150th time and to be able to see all this unfold and be part of it is very rewarding for me. Jason, enjoy the week and enjoy the game. It is a fantastic milestone to reach & to be a one club player. Well done champ, MJ
To all Sainters, get down to Quambee on Saturday to watch and support a true champion & legend of our club, Jason Sharp
