Nathan Steinberner retires from SANFL

[Big Phil]

Unfortunately due to yet another injury, poor Nathan Steinberner has decided to retire from SANFL football effectively immediately after announcung to team mates at training tonight with minimal fuss, that this latest finger injury will mean he'd be out for the rest of the year anyway. Congratulations to Nathan on a great, sustained career Centrals in the SANFL, as well as 20 games in the AFL with Port Adelaide Power. One of the quickest players in his prime, Nathan was known for taking opposition players on and running with the ball. He will be sorely missed by Centrals but let's hope he stays involved in the club in a coaching capacity of some sort because guys like him are hard to find.



Name: Nathan Steinberner
Club: Central Districts
Guernsey: 34
Birthdate: 11/3/1977
Recruited From: Tanunda
League Debut: 1997
Games: 141 SANFL, 20 AFL

Achievements:

AFL: 20 games with Port Adelaide Power.

Five-time Premiership player: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005.

Jack Oatey Medallist: 2004.

League Captain: 2006.


A much loved personality around the club and developed, over time, into a great leader around the club and in every aspect of the word, he is a genuine club man and one of the nicest guys you could meet at a football club. Showed great courage to come back from 3 or 4 shoulder reconstructions but the body just broke down each time with soft tissue concerns. His courage and dtermination was typified after coming up for the Grand Final in 2000 after having his appendix out the week before. He took his place in the side and went on to be a part of club history and a member of that first elusive premiership.

I remember Nathan coming to the club as a timid, very shy, softly spoken young man from Tanunda in the Barossa Valley and after making his debut way back in 1997 his SANFL career has come to an end some 11 years later. I guess fittingly in some way, Nathan's last game for the club was in the League side after he managed to get back into the side for his first senior game since early 2006. His pace and ball winning ability is something we will always remember "Steiny" or "Lager" for and after 141 league games, the curtain comes down on a great career. If not for the shoulder reconstructions and numerous games missed due to injury, Nathan could have made 200 games but for now that's it. Real testiment to his determination to keep coming back despite the amount of injuries he has had to put up with.

A much loved player with the supporters and players a like, Mr Steinberner, a PE teacher with Faith Lutheran College in Tanunda, will retire from League football knowing that he gave it his all but the body just gave up on him in the end. After having started with the Underage sides in the early 90's, Nathan made his way trough the grades, played 16 reserves games in 1995, 13 in 1996 then made his League debut in 1997. He made his AFL debut against Richmond in Rnd 21 for The Power and only managed another 19 games over the next 5 years with 1999 his best season playing 11 games at the elite level.

A great club man who will be missed as I say. He will retire from Centrals going down as one of our great all time players. With 5 Premierships, a Jack Oatey, Captain in 2006 an a reputation as a great club man, Nathan's name will go down in club history as a true champion. For me, Nathan's blistering speed off that wing in the early 2000's was just an absolute highlight to watch and I will take with me some great memories from Steiny's enveous career at SANFL level. Good luck in life after football Nathan, I hope retirement is enjoyable for you. Let's hope you can hang around the club to pass on your wisdom, courage and determination to our future breed of league stars.

CONGRATULATIONS NATHAN ON A GREAT CAREER...

[dogs01]

A better club man you will never find, and a great bloke to boot. Well done lager on a great career.

[spell_check]

Like Clay Sampson, I think before anything else the determination shown to battle against persistent shoulder injuries. I recall Nathan going off with the shoulder ailment in the 2005 GF; then coming back on later in the match. Unfortunately though, these injuries limited his on field captaincy to not even one quarter of the Anzac Day match in 2006. Kind of cruel really for a player who, so to speak, led by example in his efforts on the park and to work through the pain the injuries brought.

[JK]

Sad to hear he's hung up the boats, perhaps my favourite non-Norwood player ever ... Enjoyed his talent, his onfield determination and maybe even moreso his off-field determination.

Many players plagued by injury give the game away early (and understandably so) but this bloke has stuck at it for ages ... Never forget the goal he kicked one Friday night at the Parade (maybe 2002), left foot, boundaryline about 50 out on the run.

Well done on a great career, and I hope his time after playing days is good to him.

[G]

Wow what a surprise
Some smart judge posted on here in the pre-season and said he was FINISHED, just took him 7 or 8 months to realise.

[Big Phil]

Wow what a surprise
Some smart judge posted on here in the pre-season and said he was FINISHED, just took him 7 or 8 months to realise.

Ease up G

If not for this recent finger ligament injury, Steiny made his way back into the league side on his own merits and would have played an important part of our side in the finals campaign. So what, you predicted this will be his last year, good on you. Don't be so negative towards a great career from Nathan. You certainly can't knock the guy for his persistance in trying to get back to consistant league footy, the body just could not hold up for him anymore. Well done once again Steiny.

[wycbloods]

Good on Nathan on his career. He obviously has a great love of the game and the people he plays with to put his body through what it has been. Not many people can say they have gone through what Nathan has just to get out on the park.
Good luck to him with whatever he goes on to do after footy.

[hawkseye]

Wow what a surprise
Some smart judge posted on here in the pre-season and said he was FINISHED, just took him 7 or 8 months to realise.

Well done Steiny loved watching him carving up sides down the wings of the Ponderosa.
G you looking for congrats? Was always on the cards this year. That makes you Captain Obvious.

[Dogwatcher]

Well done Steiny on a good career. A good player. A courageous career and above all has remained a good bloke throughout it all.
He played footy how it should be played with speed, aggression at the ball and with courage.

[G]

Hang on boys, Ive never bagged him and also appreciated his worth to the Doggies side BUT it was obvious to a blind man that he was pushing shite uphill playing another year.

[TigerBoss]

Steinberner has been one of my favourite non-Bays players of recent times...his no fuss, hard at it, hard running style has earnt my respect...

I always felt he wasn't given a decent opportunity to prove his worth at the Crows, but since returning to the Dogs, has achieved so much in what was a very good career...

Still, the Dogs have a knack for being able to find very good replacements for the good players upon their departure, so in about 12 months time, it'll be "Nathan who?"

[CENTURION]

Steinberner has been one of my favourite non-Bays players of recent times...his no fuss, hard at it, hard running style has earnt my respect...

I always felt he wasn't given a decent opportunity to prove his worth at the Crows, but since returning to the Dogs, has achieved so much in what was a very good career...

Still, the Dogs have a knack for being able to find very good replacements for the good players upon their departure, so in about 12 months time, it'll be "Nathan who?"

Hopefully it will be Nathan Grima

[G]

TB he was at The POWER not the crows.

[Big Phil]

Yes, he did play at Port Adelaide Power as I mentioned in my initial post and TB, trust me, all Doggies supporters will forever know he great number 34 and Steiny will go down as one of the clubs great players of all time.

[topsywaldron]

TB he was at The POWER not the crows.

I hate it when people loosely affiliated with the media get it wrong.

[Big Phil]

Back on track, although it is old news now, there was a good article written by Warren Partland in today's Advertiser about Steiny...

Here is the link if you want to check it out...

http://www.sanfl.com.au/news/sanfl_news/482/

Once again, well done Nathan Steinberner on a great career with Centrals.

[Macca19]

Didnt have enough tricks for AFL level, though he played some handy games. He owned Ronnie Burns from memory. Was predominantly used as a tagger at AFL level for us, his foot skills probably werent consistent enough.

Great SANFL player though and can look back and be proud he got the best out of himself.

[TigerBoss]

TB he was at The POWER not the crows.

I hate it when people loosely affiliated with the media get it wrong.

Hooray for TB. What a goose.