1989 – it seems an eternity ago. No mobile phones, no internet, no email, no social media, Bob Hawke was prime minister, the Berlin Wall was still standing – you get the idea. But it was in that year that an 18 year old Jason Makin made his debut for the Penrith AFC. And last Saturday at Blacktown International Sports Park, Jason played his 250th game for his beloved Rams – coincidentally, at the same venue he had played his 200th game in 2009. In doing so, he becomes only the fourth player to achieve the 250 milestone for the club – after Jason Ware, Michael Walker and Christian Triffitt.
A self-confessed “RAAF brat”, having moved with his family to various postings over the years, Jason and his family landed in Glenbrook in 1989. He had previously played senior football with Williamtown at the age of 17 and, not aware there was an Aussie Rules club in the Penrith area, had no intentions of playing until his neighbour told him about the Rams. He quickly found himself in the Penrith senior side and established himself there. That same season, the Penrith and (original) Blacktown clubs were also running a combined Under 20s side, the Nepean Colts, and he was “recruited” to play some games in that side as well. 1989 was a big year for the Rams, the club winning its first premiership (against Auburn), but unfortunately Jason missed the game due to injury.
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Nepean Colts 1989 - Jason Makin back row, 2nd from right.
Jason continued with the Nepean Under 20s in 1990 but in a strange twist the Penrith club – despite having players involved with that side – decided to field its own separate Under 20s side as well. So Jason didn’t make an appearance with the Rams at all that season – instead he had a stellar season with the Colts, winning the Best & Fairest award and being part of the side which made (and unfortunately lost) the Grand Final.
In 1991, Jason was part of the triumphant and unbeaten Penrith Rams senior side, which surged to a Grand Final win against Hawkesbury at Whalan Reserve. He was rewarded for his form that year with selection in the SFA2 representative side which played Combined Services at the Sydney Showground.
1991 was also a year of immense tragedy for everyone involved with the club, with the passing of Travis Hopper and Dianne Guymer in a car accident – Travis and Dianne’s brother Chris had been team-mates of Jason at the Nepean Colts, and Travis had crossed with him to the Rams that year to play senior football at Penrith.
The Rams only stayed in the old Sydney second division for another 2 years. In 1992 a “not fully fit” Jason played in the losing senior Grand Final to Bankstown and in 1993 he missed most of the season with a broken ankle and as a result didn’t play in another Grand Final loss.
With Penrith going back to SFA first division in 1994, Jason was a regular senior player for the remainder of the 90s, although work commitments did restrict his senior grade appearances at times. He spent a season in Western Australia at the end of the decade, playing for Newtown in the Esperance League. Upon his return, he became more of a Reserve Grade regular, until a serious knee injury at Dukes Oval in 2004 cost him three seasons of football. Undeterred, he returned in 2007, again playing in the reserves.
Much of the period 1994 to 2008 was a difficult time for the Rams, as it was for other western Sydney clubs, and people like Jason Makin (and many others) ensured that the club survived this period until divisionalisation arrived in 2009.
The Rams’ decision to field a third senior side in 2012 enabled Jason and other long-term Penrith players to continue their careers with the club. Coaching and other commitments have meant that he hasn’t always been a full-time player in the thirds, but he has been there when needed and has clocked up over 40 games in that grade since 2012.
Jason has spent the majority of his career holding down key positions in the backline or in the ruck. However he has proven more than handy when moved forward, passing 100 career goals for the Rams in 2017. He managed a career best 6 in wet conditions against Hawkesbury in 1995, and memorably kicked 4 in a struggling Rams senior side at Macquarie Uni in 2002 after playing a full Reserve Grade game and being drafted into the Senior Grade side at the last moment.
He has won several awards over the years, the most dear to him being the Senior Grade Most Consistent player in 2003, which is named in honour of his mate Travis Hopper, and was awarded Life Membership of the Rams in 2009. He has also been captain of Reserve Grade on three occasions, and coached the side twice, in addition to coaching the ladies’ Div 1 side this season.
Off the field, Jason has done an enormous amount of work in helping organize social events for the club, particularly the very successful Trivia Nights of recent years. His gift for public speaking has seen him also take on the MC role at the last few Rams presentation nights as well.
Jason is one of only two players to have played a game in each of the 4 decades of the Rams’ existence – the 80s, 90s, 00s & 10s (the other being Jason Ware). And in a sweet coincidence, he played his first game for the club with fellow Life Member Michael Walker, while playing his 250th game with Michael’s son Nathan – with Nathan wearing his father’s number 20 guernsey. To top off a special day for him, Jason played in the Rams charity day guernsey number 35 – which had been Travis’s number and which the club retired after his passing.
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Jason Makin leads out Third Grade on Saturday.
His career highlights have been the 1991 premiership and a particular Reserve Grade match when an undermanned Penrith took on Macquarie University on their home turf in 2009 and won.
When broached on the subject of retirement, the response was – “Non committal – I have a meeting with the team selection panel then I'll chat to my manager – I will see how the body is feeling over pre season.”
You would not find a better person to be involved with a football club than Jason Makin. From everyone at the Penrith Rams – congratulations on both the 250 games and also on a wonderful career.
Last Modified on 18/10/2017 14:35