Nick Holland

For the fictional character, see Nick Holland (EastEnders).

Nick Holland

Personal information
Birth	29 July 1974 (1974-07-29) , Adelaide, Australia
Recruited from	North Adelaide Football Club (SANFL)
Playing career¹
Debut	Round 3, 8 April 1994, Hawthorn v. North Melbourne, at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Team(s)	Hawthorn (1994–2005) 179 games, 239 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season
Career highlights
AFL Rising Star award winner 1995 Hawthorn Best and Fairest winner 2000 International rules series 1998

Nick Holland (born 29 July 1974) is a former Australian rules football player. He played 179 games for the Hawthorn Football Club between 1994 and 2005, serving as Vice Captain between 1999 and 2003. He is a previous winner of the AFL Rising Star, Hawthorn's Best & Fairest award, Hawthorn's leading goal kicker in both 1997 & 2000 and represented Australia in International Rules. He is now a lawyer and media personality.

Football career

AFL career

Holland was recruited in the 1992 AFL Draft as a centre half-forward for the Hawks. He played his first two games at full-back and although not given another game during that season, returned as a centre-half forward the following year. It was in that role that he established himself. He was awarded the Norwich Rising Star Award in 1995 and also achieved a second placing in Hawthorn's Best and Fairest award. Holland was Hawthorn's leading goalkicker in both 1997 and 2000. In 2000 he also shared the Peter Crimmins Medal for the best and fairest player with Daniel Chick.

During 2001, Holland suffered both shoulder and thigh injuries but recovered in time to play in the finals, yet struggled to make an impact.^{[citation needed]} At the end of 2001, Holland signed a contract, worth millions of dollars, to play for Hawthorn for four more years.^{[citation needed]}.

End of career

Holland retired from AFL football at the end of the 2005 season, following a shoulder injury sustained while playing for Hawthorn's VFL side, the Box Hill Hawks. He had played 179 games for Hawthorn and kicked 239 goals.

After football

Holland studied during his AFL career obtaining both a Science Degree and a Law Degree. He was admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of Victoria in March 2007 and is currently working for the Melbourne law firm, Holding Redlich.

He is an executive director of the Sports Law Committee and works in the media with sports radio station SEN and is a regular contributor to ABC Unleashed. He also plays in the E. J. Whitten Legends Game game, in which he Captained the All Stars teams in 2007 and 2008.

Nick recently became a member of the VFL Tribunal.

Media Profile

Holland made several appearances on the panel of The Footy Show and the 'Rex Hunt Footy Show' during his football career.

Hosted kids show on "Totally Footy" on Channel 10 and co host of Channel 7's 'Around the Ground' with Craig Hutchison

Co-hosted SEN's 'Ford League Teams' and 'Sunday Sports Central' and 3AW 'Sports Today' with Gerald Healy

Holland is currently an ABC Columnist for ABC's Unleashed, writes for The Age Newspaper and makes regular appearances on the ABC News show 'The Drum'

Personal life

Holland is married to former model and fashion entrepreneur Rachel Holland. Together they are the Myer Fashion on the Field Ambassadors for the Spring Racing Carnival.

Awards and achievements

• 1995: Norwich Rising Star
• 1997 and 2000: Hawthorn leading goalkicker
• 1998: International Rules selection
• 1996–1999: Represented South Australia (Vice Captain in 1998)
• 1999–2003: Hawthorn Vice Captain
• 2000: Peter Crimmins Medal
• 2007 Admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria

External links

• Nick Holland's statistics from AFL Tables

Awards
Preceded by Chris Scott	AFL Rising Star 1995	Succeeded by Ben Cousins
Preceded by Shane Crawford	Hawthorn Best and Fairest winner (tied) 2000	Succeeded by Joel Smith