Jimmy’s 100 Game Milestone

This weekend the Club celebrates James Carroll’s 100th open-age game for the Pennant Hills Demons.

James’s footy journey started in the early 2000s, learning the game in Auskick and playing a season of Under 9s in 2006, with Joel Cousens and Bailey Miedler at Westbrook Bulldogs.

In 2007 he moved across to Pennant Hills Juniors starting in the Under 10s. He played 120 games and kicked 8 goals over 8 seasons at the Penno Juniors. He was runner-up Best & Fairest for the Under 14s in 2011 and the Under 10s B&F in 2007.

In 2013, age 16, Jim played 1 game for Penno Under 19s.

At age 17, Jimmy joined the senior club playing two seasons in the Under 19s in 2015/16 with David Pinker as coach. In 2015, the team had a “fantastic year winning 14 straight games. Unfortunately knocked out in straight sets in finals, definitely a ‘what if’ moment.”

In 2016, in the U19s again, “we were close but not good enough in the finals series.” Jimmy took pride in winning the Best Finals Player that year.

In Round 18 of 2015 he also made his senior debut against North Shore Bombers at Mike Kenny Oval. The Demons “flogged” the Bombers by almost 20 goals (116 pts). It was an “awesome day” and senior footy must have seemed pretty easy for Jim.

In 2017,  James played the majority of the year in Prems before an ankle injury in July interrupted his season. He broke back into the team for a couple of games and was the emergency player for the 2017 Grand Final.” Penno Prems won the flag that year in a nailbiter!

Since his debut, Jim has played mostly seniors and reserves and a smattering of games in the lower grades. He was a member of the 2018 Premier Division Reserves premiership side. The 2018 premiership was significant as it marked the end of a 22 year “drought” of no success, including 7 losing Grand Finals since 1996.

During his footy career, Jim “has battled with plenty of injuries … from quads, calves, ankles and shin splints. This sums up why it’s taken 10 years for him to reach 100 games today!”

Jimmy reckons Matthew “King” Carey is the best he’s played alongside. As to opponents, he remembers getting “absolutely torched by Jack Buckley” in the Under 19s 2nd semi-final in 2015. Jack Buckley is now a player with the GWS Giants.

The Carroll family connection with the Club goes back to 2013, when James played his first game. Jimmy is the older brother of Michael who plays in Prems and sister Emily played 74 games in 6 seasons, 2018 – 2023. And of course, Jimmy, Mikey and Emily are the children of this season’s Club President Mark Carroll.

Jimmy is a versatile player. His good height and skills mean he can play in most positions, forward, back and even in the ruck. He is a skilful player, sure handed, a good overhead mark and accurate kick. He’s an easy-going bloke and well liked by the playing group.

Congratulations Jimmy on finally achieving this wonderful milestone!
Go Penno!

Written & compiled by John Acheson for PHAFC, Saturday, 14 June 2025