When Peter Gordyn was dragged along to Newcomb training ahead of the 2014 season, little did he know he would still be pulling on a Power jumper ten years later and preparing for his 150th game for the club.
The 32-year-old, who in Saturday’s clash with Anglesea will become the first player to reach the milestone at Newcomb since Terry Doyle a decade ago, is one of local football’s more unique stories.
He had never played Australian Rules before good mate Jacob Hobbs lured him to Grinter Reserve during some of the club’s darkest days.
“I was a bit of a basketballer; I was playing that a few nights a week,” Gordyn said.
“I always wanted to play footy, so it worked out quite well.
“And before I knew it, I was playing senior footy sooner than you would expect.”
After just three games in the reserves, Gordyn was given the tap on the shoulder by then-coach Chris Carlon to make his senior debut.
Newcomb was on the end of a 157-point hammering, but Gordyn showed enough to feature in the Power’s best players and hold his spot for the rest of the season.
He recalls Carlon keeping his message simple for the newcomer.
“I was quite fit back in those days, and he could see the potential in that,” Gordyn said.
“He kept the instructions pretty simple, and I did my best to follow that.
“I’ve never been flushed with talent, but I pride myself on being a hard worker.
“And, I guess, that’s where I found the back pocket – keeping it simple and playing a simple role.”
Since making his debut, Gordyn has played 142 of 156 games, with only four reserve grade appearances.
However, the one regret of his career was being left out of Newcomb’s Round 11, 2017 victory over Portarlington, which snapped a 72-game losing streak.
“I was dropped to the reserves for the first time for that win,” Gordyn said.
“That was heartbreaking.”
Despite Rory Nicol being the coach who left Gordyn out of that match, he credits the long-serving mentor for his development as a player, and he still carries Nicol’s words when he runs out each weekend.
“He certainly straightened me out and let me know when I was being soft,” Gordyn said.
“He’s still in the back of my head. When the opportunity’s there to go, I think of times that Rory gave me a clip.
“He was massively influential on my football.
“He was the one who steered the Newcomb resurgence.”
Newcomb is winless through the opening five rounds of the 2024 season.
However, encouraging performances against reigning grand finalists Torquay and Drysdale, where the final margins were 11 and eight points, respectively, has Gordyn confident the Power are on the right track.
“The difference it would have made to get over the line would have been huge,” he said.
“But, inhouse, we’re really positive, and we know our best footy’s good enough.
“It’s just finding consistency across four quarters and across the week.”
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