After GC SUNS ruckman Tom Nicholls surprised a pair of young Auskickers on Tuesday, you could say his work for the week in terms of promoting the game was done.

But the ruckman added two new members to his fan club on Thursday following an interview on AFL.com.au’s First Bounce program.

They were no ordinary members either.

518 games of AFL experience between them. Five premiership medallions. All-Australian selections. Both AFL premiership captains.

It’s a pedigree which has made Wayne Carey and Cameron Ling household names in AFL circles.

‘The Duck’ and ‘Lingy’ were full of praise for Nicholls.

“Very refreshing when someone uses your name when they’re talking to you. Nice man,” Carey said.

“Yeah, he seems like a lovely bloke,” Ling added.

“I haven’t had the pleasure of actually meeting him but I want to now.”