It's not a miraculous try or a game-saving tackle, either.

In fact, Nell's favourite memory is an off-field one, just before his first game - although he didn't know it would be his debut at the time.

"I'd played colts, and when I finished that game I went down to the pub and had a chicken schnitzel and a beer when (first grade) coaches Steve Hamson and Mick Gray came up to me," Nell said.

The pair asked if he knew he was playing first grade, and he told them he had no clue.

"They told me to get up and get the kit on," Nell recounted, laughing.

He sat on the bench for all but the final 20 minutes of that clash, but said he loved following his father's footsteps onto the hallowed turf of first grade.

The Nell name is synonymous with Orange City at this point, with Tom's old man Steve racking up 100 games playing during the "glory days" where the Lions won six titles in a row.

The younger Nell said he was "very proud" to mark his 100^th game this weekend.

"I love Orange City as a club and I'm hoping I'll be able to play 200 more - the club's always looked after me ever since I left school," he said.

"It's exciting to play in the same number as my dad, wearing No.9, he taught me everything I know. He broke his leg in 1993 and I was born in 1994 so I never got to watch him play."

Pride Park has become a family home of sorts for Nell, who couldn't imagine playing anywhere else.

"It's the kind of place where everyone who plays for the club is my best mate, and who doesn't love hanging out with your best mate three times a week and the travel and games," he said.

It's never easy to head to training twice a week, week-in, week-out in freezing Orange conditions. To continue to turn up when a club hasn't won a game in nearly two years is an even bigger test of character, and Nell said going through both the highs and the lows was a sort of pride for the Lion stalwart.

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The lows have been especially difficult over the past two years, with only one win last year and the Lions yet to taste victory in season 2019.

Nell echoed the calls of all from coach Viv Paasi to young gun Fletcher Rose and said the culture of the club hadn't taken any knocks despite the lack of on-field success, but admitted the lure of a win was something everyone in the club would jump at.

Their best chance for 2019's remaining games is this weekend when the side takes on fifth-ranked Forbes Platypi at home, with a derby against Emus the following round to close out the season.

"I'd be over the moon if we could win this weekend," he said.

Orange City Lions take on Forbes Platypi at Pride Park this weekend at 3.15pm.