29/03/2026
This week's LEGEND OF THE GAME🔥
🏈🏈🏈Nicholas Antipas🏈🏈🏈
Here is his story...💯
"In the early 1980s, a friend mentioned he was playing American football in Frankston and asked if I would like to join.
I was the son of a professional soccer player, my father, Fotios Antipas. That conversation marked the beginning of a 15-year playing career. We originally started with the Frankston team, which later split into two clubs: the Razorbacks and the Brighton Outlaws. I joined the Outlaws as a field goal and punt kicker, contributing to their first two bowl victories.
In 1985, I was selected to represent the All-Stars against New South Wales at VFL Park in Waverley, Victoria.
In that game, I scored the first points via a field goal, with George Makris as the holder. We went on to win the match, which served as the curtain-raiser to the BYU vs Wyoming college game. During that game, the special teams coach from BYU approached me about the possibility of playing in the United States. It was a great honour, and I was seriously tempted.
However, I was married with two young children and had a business that was performing well, which made the decision difficult.
Following this, I transferred to the Melbourne Hornets, which later became the Kew Colts. The Colts went on to win two premierships under Eric Mangini, who later became a defensive coach under Bill Belichick and eventually the head coach of the New York Jets. It’s remarkable to think that what began as a backyard-level team connected to the highest levels of the NFL.
During my playing career, I was selected eight times for the All-Star team. I held the record for the longest field goal at 57 yards and recorded a punt of 82 yards. I maintained an 89% field goal success rate and a 48-yard punt average.
Now, at 64 years of age, I sometimes reflect on the opportunities I had to go to the United States and wonder what might have been. However, I have no regrets. The friendships I built and the camaraderie we shared are what I value most.
I hope all players from that era remember that they were true pioneers of the game we love.
In the early years, we even played without pads."
Nicholas Antipas
Gridiron Victoria NFL American Football Australia Nicholas Antipas
Gridiron Down Under
