Nathan Bock’s injury-forced retirement brought a disappointing end to a GC SUNS career which promised so much when he played 21 of a possible 22 games for the club in its 2011 entry to the AFL, and finished runner-up to Gary Ablett in the inaugural Club Champion award.
Still, the inaugural SUNS vice-captain leaves the club with some notable statistical achievements and memories.
- He averaged a club record 6.2 marks per game. Tom Lynch (5.1) and Danny Stanley (5.0) are the only other players to average five marks per game or better.
- He holds the record for most marks in a season – 139 in 2011. Rory Thompson’s 105 in 2013 is next best.
- He holds the record for most running bounces in a game – 12 against Adelaide in 2011. His seven-bounce effort against Richmond in 2011 is equal second-best alongside Alex Sexton’s effort against West Coast in 2013.
- He was a member of the SUNS first side, first winning side and first winning side in a QClash, and played for the club in the first AFL match played in Cairns which also produced a historic SUNS win.
- He is the oldest player to have played for the club, having done so in his 27th and last game for Gold Coast against Melbourne at Metricon Stadium in Round 20 last year at 30 years 144 days. Next oldest have been Josh Fraser (30/107), Gary Ablett (30/52) and Matthew Warnock (30/23). Fittingly, that game against Melbourne produced another win.
