Nick Holman is the epitome of the aspiring country footballer. A young man who grew up with a dream to play at the elite level. He left family and friends in regional Kyabram to follow his heart in the city. And for 13 years it's been his life.

There have been countless ups and downs. Numerically speaking, more of the latter. And some old-fashioned kicks in the guts, including one big one which 10 years ago looked like it could have been 'fatal' in an AFL sense.

But Holman has endured. He's got up when he's been down. He's said "yes" when others said "no". And he's said "I can" when others said "you can't".

It all started on 21 November 2013 when the AFL Draft was held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Holman was 18. And it ended today, at least emotionally, just 10km down the road at People First Stadium, when Holman, now 31, announced his retirement from AFL football.

He'll play his 145^th game for the SUNS against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night and his 154^th and last game overall.

The number '145' is key. It underlines his grit and determination, and his refusal to accept "you're done" after he was delisted by Carlton two years and nine games into his career in 2015.

Consider the Draft Class of 2013. It originally comprised the many thousands of young hopefuls who nominated for the draft. Holman, drafted at #51 by Carlton, was one of 66 players taken in the National Draft and 103 first-timers drafted that year.

Of those 103, 25 were cut without playing AFL football. And of the 78 who did play a further 53 have since left the AFL.

Of the 25 'survivors', only 11 are still at their original club. And of the 14 others only three have played more games at their second or third club than Holman.

Charlie Cameron, originally a rookie pick to Adelaide, has played 203 games for Brisbane. Toby Nankervis, originally pick #35 to Sydney, has played 178 games at Richmond. And Jarman Impey, originally pick #21 to Port Adelaide, has played 166 games at Hawthorn.

It's a convoluted mass of numbers but it's a big badge of honour for Holman, who will leave the SUNS sitting equal 12^th on the all-time games list of 162 players who together represent the 16-year history of the Gold Coast SUNS.

NOTE: HE'LL BE EQUAL 12TH IF BALLARD PLAYS .. IF NOT HE'LL BE OUTRIGHT 12TH

It's been an outstanding return on the minimal investment of rookie pick #18 in 2017, which the SUNS used to move Holman from Central Districts in the SANFL where he'd played in 2016-17 after being cut by Carlton at 20 in 2015.

Indeed, he's one of only four SUNS rookies to have played 50 games for the club, and heads easily a group that includes Bodhi Uwland (71), Jesse Joyce (64) and Connor Budarick (55).

Holman will forever be player #98 on the SUNS all-time list. He debuted with the club in Round 1, 2018 against North Melbourne in Cairns in Stuart Dew's first game as coach and has seen 64 teammates do likewise.

His game count year-by-year will finish 22-12-12-16-20-19-21-16-7, giving him 145 of a possible 242 games. And when the side to play St Kilda this week is announced he'll be listed as an 'in' for the 16^th time.

From the irrigation district of the Goulburn Valley, Holman sits alongside AFL stars Garry Lyon and Brett Deledio, Test cricketer Jimmy Higgs, music industry icon Molly Meldrum and ex-Victorian premier John Allan as famous products of Kyabram, population 7416 at the last census in 2021.

But first and foremost, now, he's a soon-to-be ex-SUNS player after an emotional retirement speech to the club today.

He acknowledged it was "cool" to begin his career at such a big club as Carlton, and told how he "loved every minute of it, even if it was 'short but sweet'."

Then he moved onto the SUNS. "Thank you for taking a chance on me when nobody else would. I'm extremely grateful to the club for showing faith in me, and I like to believe I've repaid that faith as a player and a clubman.

"This place is full of great people... from the footy department and the admin people upstairs... and all the players... it's been such an amazing place to come to work every day."

Then Holman offered a string of what he labelled "useless statistics", starting with a medical recount which included 90-100 stitches, three broken backs, one broken hand, one broken finger, one torn shoulder ligament, one partially torn MCL and turf toe."

He added 11 headbands and one "successful" trip to the tribunal, before getting into full stride... 154 matchies (match payments), 625 high-kicks in the gym, 9000 unsuccessful calf raises, one perforated bowel, 342 pre-game pain-killers and, according to ChatGPT, 10 double-doubles – double figures in possessions and tackles – not bad for a half-forward."

He claimed to be a three-time membership shout-out champion, and noted that, with Touk Miller and Alex Sexton, he shared second spot behind David Swallow for the most different venues played at by a SUNS player.

It will be a great trivia question in time... he played at 21. There were People First Stadium, the Gabba, Cairns and Townsville in Queensland, the SCG and Engie Stadium in Sydney, the MCG, Marvel Stadium, Ballarat and Geelong in Victoria, Adelaide Oval, Norwood, Barossa Park and Mt Barker in South Australia, Subiaco and Optus Stadium in WA, Hobart and Launceston in Tasmania, plus Darwin, Canberra and China.

Holman continued on his special takeaways: "I've had three chooks who lasted about four weeks, 25 business ideas, and was co-organiser of the best footy trip the world has ever seen. And I've got it on the record from 'Dimma' (Damien Hardwick) life membership – even if I've fallen five games short (of the automatic mark of 150)."

Then he put away the jokes. "It's been a lot of hard work, and a lot of fun and endless memories. All I ever wanted to be when I got here was the player I could be, and the best teammate I could be. I've loved running out with you guys knowing that you knew that I had your back.

"I always wanted to create a connection with everyone and make the place as much fun as possible... even if some jokes fell flat and I took things too far.

"I wanted to be a person people could come to for help... or just a hug. I think I'm authentic, determined, honest, trustworthy and loyal, and that I've lived those values every day regardless of what's been happening.

"I'm proud of the career I've made after getting the arse at Carlton. I wanted to come in and be one of the hardest workers... to be reliable and relentless in my attack on the ball and the man with the ball. I wanted to set the standard and bring the fizz.

"With most players offence is their one wood, but where I think I stood out was my defence and contest. I've always had an appetite to defend and chase and pressure. I worked out pretty quickly that was my point of difference and the position I could play. I wanted to be a player who could fill holes and play wherever is required."

Noting the relentless nature of the game, he made special reference to the last two years, which followed a time in which, whenever he was fit, he generally played.

"I'm proud of the way I handled myself through this difficult situation. There were lots of tears in my car and at home, but I always tried to come in the next day with the attitude 'how do I help'.

"My favourite part of footy is being able to take as many people as possible on the journey... friends and family travelling to all parts of the country to watch me play. I find giving back to those people who have given so much to me my most rewarding and priceless achievement."