From tragedy to triumph

It was a tragedy that rocked Australia. Two 19-year-olds exploring the world, taken far too soon by methanol poisoning in Laos in November 2024.

It hit the Beaumaris Football Club even harder, given Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles were much-loved members of the tight-knit Sharks community. Premiership team-mates, they had risen through Beaumaris’ junior program together, and their loss devastated the entire club.

“There were two ways this could go,” said former President Nick Heath.

“Our girls could withdraw, collapse and struggle to cope with the grief, or they could galvanise, lean on each other and work their way through it.

“One of the proudest things I’ve been involved with in forty years of footy was the way the girls leaned on each other.

“We had fantastic offers of support from outside the club, and I was so proud of the strength of the whole football club. Not only the girls, but also the players, coaches, mentors, and junior coaches from right around the club who knew the girls, their parents, and families. The internal support was incredible.

“One of our young leaders, Sophie Keogh, captain of the Reserves, asked, ‘What would the girls want us to do? They’d want us to extract every bit out of life that we can. Love life, love our teammates, love our footy.’ They set about trying to represent Holly and Bianca every week and played out of their skins.

“They got promoted to A-Grade, and whilst that made for a tough year due to the gap in standard, the girls kept fighting. Winning and losing were almost irrelevant. Just go out there in our special jumpers with the girls’ names on them and ‘shine bright.’ That became an ongoing theme for us all.”

“One of the great things about footy clubs is that they are often a tight community. We turned a horrible situation into a positive way to pay tribute and celebrate the girls, who were great fighters and competitors themselves.

“It galvanised the whole footy club in a time of crisis, despair and grief.”

The Beaumaris men’s and women’s programs had been tight-knit for years. This tragedy brought them even closer.

“They’ve shared Thursday night dinners and been very close socially for a long time,” said Nick.

“The pain that any player goes through transcends the whole club. The boys were so supportive when the tragedy happened and were always around to do whatever they could. Just be there.

“And their deeds on the footy field showed it as well.”

For Beaumaris senior men’s coach Josh Bourke, this unfathomable loss put everything into clearer perspective.

“I looked around and saw what the club means to people. It keeps them connected, safe and emotionally supported,” he said. “There are few things in society that can do that as well as sporting organisations.”

“It’s about so much more than footy, which is great and important, but in times of difficulty and trauma, the support around the club was so profound and special. It was very centring. It made intangible things tangible.”

The November 2024 tragedy also put Josh’s team’s on-field situation into perspective, given the team had been flattened by their agonisingly close relegation (by less than 2%) from Premier B to Premier C just a couple of months earlier.

The horrific events in Laos reminded players and coaches alike of life’s bigger picture and the realisation that footy could be a badly needed outlet for everyone around the club to band together and move forward with renewed purpose – to harness those raw emotions and channel them into doing what Holly and Bianca loved: playing footy for their beloved Sharks.

But like Nick Heath, Josh also realised that these unthinkable circumstances could affect his group in one of two ways, and that they would need to begin the healing process and prepare for a fresh challenge in 2025.

“As stiff as we were at the end of 2024, you make your own luck, and we got what we deserved. We didn’t win the games we should have, so we got relegated,” Josh said, matter-of-factly, as he reflected on the aftermath of the 7-goal final round loss to Old Trinity, which combined with Caulfield’s 9-goal win over Old Camberwell to swing the final ladder wildly against them.

“We went to a brief post-game function upstairs, then it came through that we were gonna be relegated. So, we went back downstairs to our rooms, grabbed a beer and chatted through a whole lot of stuff. ‘This is the reality.’

“Personally, I’m big on confronting moments. We knew how good Old Trinity were. We were 4 points up early in the last quarter and had a chance to pull off the fairytale, but they got hold of us. That’s life.

“We spoke a lot about ‘Is this who we want to be as a club? To be relegated? To be forfeiting in the Ressies? Nah, that’s not who we are as a club. We need to represent ourselves a bit better.’

“We were really fortunate to have outstanding leadership, led by Captain Cal Linehan, and we said, ‘Right, we’re going down, but we’re ‘all in’ on 2025,’ and he and our other leaders ensured there was no panic among the group. ‘These are the cards we’ve been dealt, now let’s get to work.’

“It led us to a refresh and renewal that needed to happen, and we welcomed in some young talent – the likes of Tom O’Rourke, Ben Seers, and Jhett Haeata. They would all ultimately have an impact come the finals twelve months later.”

“That honest conversation was the catalyst for a strong pre-season. We had upwards of 80 players on the track at times, with incredibly consistent attendance. Good numbers training consistently sets you up for the year.

“But I was really conscious that historically, you don’t just drop down a section and win the flag, particularly between B and C-Grade, which can give your club a real whack. There’s a big perceived difference between the two, and you can lose momentum, so I was well aware that it would take enormous effort and consistency to get back up to Premier B.”

A narrow 4-point loss to St Bede’s/Mentone at home in the opening round was followed by a thumping 100-point win over Glen Eira/Old McKinnon.

“But then we got touched up by Parkdale,” Josh recalls.

“I called our President, Nick Heath, on the Monday and apologised. I’ve coached footy for a long time, but I’d never done that before in my coaching career. But this wasn’t an effort or performance that I want a group I coach to be delivering.

“In hindsight, that start to the season was advantageous, because any perceptions that we would comfortably ‘walk’ through the year were quickly dispelled.

“We’ve got to get to work here.”

Josh called on his friendships and connections with other coaches for guidance on what his team might be lacking. Former Sharks junior Tom Lynch (who had spent the past couple of seasons coaching North Melbourne’s VFL team) provided some invaluable direction.

“Our boys play cricket together, and he steered me into some of Collingwood’s connection stuff. In a Thursday night team meeting, we watched footage of Jeremy Howe miked up during a game and saw the levels of recognition and celebration for your teammates’ efforts, including defensive efforts.

“We spoke about how it makes you feel when a teammate rewards you like that – your effort and engagement stay high, and now it’s about more than just your own output.

“Now, every coach coaches effort. There are lots of different ways to do it with stats, trademarks and key metrics that indicate effort. What got me was tangibly coaching it. I teach connection and effort in my job as a primary school Principal, but you can’t just talk about it. How do you make it tangible?

“We put some really clear parameters around team love and care, and what that looks like. We formed a clear path forward, based on celebrating and investing in each other. It really shaped our year from that moment on.”

The Sharks suddenly clicked into gear with an 89-point win over Parkside, which was followed by an 8-goal victory over Prahran, a 61-point win over Mazenod, and a 59-point triumph over PEGS.

“That PEGS game gave us a sense that we were starting to shift as a group, and sides were struggling to score against us. PEGS played well, but we held them. We got a sense that our year was turning.”

An 89-point thumping of Marcellin followed, giving the Sharks five straight wins by an average margin of 69 points. Josh and his coaching staff had introduced more leg speed to make their game more explosive, but it was the connection piece that had become their ‘special sauce.’

“I clearly remember that home game versus Marcellin, and it was almost intimidating the way we celebrated our defensive acts and supported our teammates. We generated belief from it – ‘this works.’ Our buy-in, commitment and concentration all improve when we do this. That readjustment and explicit focus probably set up our year, to be honest.

“It helps when your defenders own it. Having a player like Cal Linehan, who also captains the Big V, lead us alongside Charlie Wilce and Liam Hayes gives it real validity. They always put their body on the line and sacrifice for others.

“We got a pretty quick return on it. We refined what it looks like and created new stat metrics around effort – these are what our trademark actions look like and how we respond when we deliver on them.”

The winning streak continued with tight wins over St Bede’s/Mentone Tigers (19 points), second-placed AJAX (10 points), before blitzing Parkside by a whopping 122 points.

It set up a Round 12 blockbuster against the unbeaten Parkdale, and the Sharks formally announced themselves as a genuine contender when they ran away from the Vultures to post a 34-point win that could have been significantly more if they hadn’t kicked 7.22.

“We certainly got better at moving the footy, and a big part of that was minimising risk. I’d had a good chat with Tom Lynch about AFL trends, and he said, ‘With you local blokes, it’s all at a million miles an hour.’ So we consciously slowed down at times with the ball in hand, and that allowed us to spread better from defence.

“Our defence was the cornerstone of our game throughout the year. When you’ve got the Big V captain, you’re going to be well organised.”

“The question became, ‘Could we then score enough?’ Yes, we were kicking a lot of points, but when you’re retaining the ball in the front half as effectively as we were, that’s going to mean density in there, which means quick shots with less time and space.

“We got better at dealing with that and understanding that the game doesn’t just get played one way. Given we also had the dominant Cal Heath in the ruck, we were always going to be a good chance of winning clearances.

“But at times we can go slow, build it up, retain the ball and wait for a gap. We did a lot of training for that and got a lot more efficient ahead of the footy, which made a massive difference.”

Premier C was now clearly shaping as a race in three between the Parkdale Vultures, AJAX and Beaumaris.

“We were pleased to get that win over Parkdale,” Josh admits, “But they probably had 10 of their Best 22 not playing. So, we certainly weren’t thinking we were favourites.”

Another four massive victories followed, setting up a Round 17 showdown against the now third-placed AJAX, who sat two games back at 12-4, meaning a Beaumaris win would wrap up a Top 2 finish and the double chance.

Once again, the Sharks rose to the challenge, booting 14 goals to 2 after quarter time to post a comprehensive 71-point win.

“They had a couple of outs, so the margin was inflated,” said Josh.

“We were clinical inside to outside, with speed on the outside and a strong defensive set up. It did make me feel like if we’ve got everyone available, we’re going to be hard to beat. We’re a premiership chance here.”

“But then a week later versus Glen Eira/Old McKinnon, we put up nearly our poorest game for the year. They were fantastic and took things away from us. I had a moment of panic – ‘Is this where we’re at, or are we just hanging out for the finals?’

“Ultimately, I decided that, given the Top 4 was already locked in, that last round was just a strange round and let’s wipe it.”

Despite winning 15 straight games and hitting the finals with a 16-2 record, Beaumaris had finished second behind the 17-1 Parkdale Vultures, whose only loss had come to the Sharks in Round 12.

The two powerhouses would clash again in a highly-anticipated Second Semi Final at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, with the victor to secure a place in the Premier C Grand Final and automatic promotion to Premier B.

Beaumaris seized the early initiative, but booted 0.6 to 2.2 to actually trail by 8 points at the first change. A further 2.8 followed in a frustrating second term, and the Sharks headed to the major break 2 points down despite having generated 16 scores to 8.

3 goals to 2 in a tight and tense third term saw Beauy snatch a 5-point three-quarter time lead, before all elements of the Sharks’ game clicked together in the final quarter, and they racked up 19 Inside 50s to 3, ramming on 8.5 to 1.1 to blow the final margin out to 51 points. 36 scoring shots to 15 told the story.

“We could have won that game by more if we were more accurate and clinical,” Josh reflects.

“Our consistency throughout the game was really high – there were no big lapses. We made ourselves difficult to play against, and we looked dangerous when we had our moments.”

“It was pure relief when that siren sounded – we’re back up to B-Grade after our first time in C-grade for 15 years. It was exciting. We’d done the work, qualified in good shape, and now we get to play off in the Grand Final.  

“But if I was feeling good about us, I was equally concerned by how good AJAX were in the Preliminary Final – wow!”

The Jackas rocketed out of the blocks to lead the Vultures by 35 points at quarter time, on their way to a superb 45-point win that saw them come from fourth position to a Grand Final and promotion to Premier B.

“They were outstanding,” said Josh. “Parkdale looked a bit beaten up, and AJAX were ultra impressive. You have to respect the season Parkdale had. They were fantastic and set the standard as far and away the best team in the competition during the year to finish a game clear on top.

“So yeah, we were concerned. If you beat Parkdale like that, it’s not a false result. Their pressure around the ball & their ability to win the stoppage and score from it were great. They were clinical in front of goal.

“We went into Grand Final Week absolutely on high alert, because AJAX are such a great momentum team. If they get a sniff and get hold of you, they are very challenging to play against.”

The Sharks entered as red-hot favourites, but the Jackas pushed them all the way in what turned out to be a suitably fiery and physical contest befitting a Grand Final.

Beaumaris led by 17 points at quarter-time and 20 at the half, stretching their advantage to as much as 33 points entering time-on in the third term, but AJAX refused to yield, and a couple of late goals reduced the margin to 20 points at the last change.

“It was a strange game,” Josh concedes. “I never felt comfortable in the Grand Final. I got the sense that we had the run of the game, but to their credit, AJAX kept us on edge.

“They kept scoring in important moments. Just as I felt like we were going to take control, they’d fight back and have a good period to make it close again.”

“It was a close game that felt even closer. We definitely felt under the pump. But all year, our final quarters had been dominant. We were fit, well-trained and committed.”

The first two goals of the final term, to Liam Hayes (6 minutes in) and Joel Cusack (4 minutes later), saw Beauy’s advantage swell back out to 31 points.

Goals then became hard to come by, and AJAX never really threatened again as the siren ultimately sounded to hand Beaumaris a hard-fought 21-point win and their first senior men’s premiership since their Premier B flag of 2016.

Having not lost a match since April 26, their 17^th straight win is a club record:

Going up, with the cup! Sharks coronated as Premier C champions after a near-flawless campaign

“In the Ammos, these boys invest incredible time and effort for the betterment of their club and their love of the game,” said Josh, with emotion in his voice. “So, I was really pleased for them, first and foremost.”

“To have sat in the rooms after that Trinity game a year earlier, after they’d kicked 7 goals to none in the last quarter and we went down to C-Grade on percentage – that was a really painful experience for this group of young men.

“Even more so when you remember that we had fallen short of beating Fitzroy in the 2023 Premier B Preliminary Final and going up to A-Grade. A year later, we found ourselves down in C-Grade.

“So, I was overwhelmingly pleased for them. They, the coaching staff and the committee had given their heart and soul to achieve this. And I hope that in some small way (which means a lot) that it’s a bit of a ‘thank you’ to all who have invested so much.

“It’s the volunteers, and what we love so much about our community club, given it’s also got tentacles that stretch out into our junior program – it was so many more than just the 60 players on our list.”

“Seeing all those people post-game who contributed to the success, and hearing Cal getting choked up, was so special. We got back to the clubrooms and celebrated with the likes of Tommy Lynch, Jackson Kornberg and Justin Plapp, who have all played a part in Beaumaris’ history.

“They’re the wonderful memories you’ll never forget. Yes, it’s the group who were directly involved throughout the season, but Beaumaris is a community far beyond that, and they all share a piece of it.

“The other piece is aspirational for the club. I’d coached here previously, and when I came back, it was a lot around ambition. I want to see us push towards A-Grade and be competitive at the highest level. That took a blow when we got relegated.

“But our women’s team plays in Premier, our Under 19 boys play in Premier, so now it’s our turn in the senior men’s program. We’ve got to work towards joining those teams in the top-tier comp.

“This flag is a step closer to where we want to be.”

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So, what did winning the flag mean to the club more broadly?

“It’s a question that gives me goosebumps,” Josh admits.

“I reflected on this at our Best & Fairest night, when we presented our Mateship Award for both our men’s and women’s programs. Ours is called the ‘Tim Russell Award,’ and I’m a very good friends with Tim’s brothers. The girls’ award was named in memory of Holly and Bianca, and both mums got up and spoke.”

Nick Heath also remembers the evening fondly.

“All four parents attended and wanted to be part of that presentation. It was a fun night, and I could see the parents thinking that their own girls should have been there. They have been so strong in every ‘first time’ situation with the girls not there.

“I got a sense of joy in seeing them get a little bit of escapism and connection back to the community that loves them. Their strength and fortitude in still being around the girls’ teammates to support them in their grief – as parents, they’ve gone so above and beyond the call. It’s been inspirational to all of us.”

“I coached an Under 19 flag at Beaumaris in 2008, so I’ve been affiliated with the club for many years,” said Josh. “There has always been an amazing sense of mateship and care when you walk in the doors at Beaumaris.

“This has been enhanced by female footy, and Holly and Bianca’s passing reinforced it. The women are getting a sense of their own stake in the club. They went into Premier Women’s, and a few girls have now reached the 100-game milestone. They’re developing their own history and their own story.”

“I give huge credit to our women’s program. What they’ve done to honour and cherish the memory of Bianca & Holly has been remarkable. And winning the flag reinforced to me that we are all one club. We hurt together, and we celebrate together.”

Nick agrees with Josh’s sentiments.

“The men’s program also wanted to do justice to Bianca and Holly’s memory and show our girls how much they care for them,” he said.

“So, we went from asking ourselves, ‘How do we cope and deal with this tragedy’ to the men’s program kicking into a 17-game winning streak to win the premiership as the ultimate tribute to the girls. It’s restored my faith in human nature.

“There’s no full stop on grieving. But twelve months on, we’re stronger now than we ever were. Horrible circumstances brought out the best in all of us, making us better people and ensuring the loss of Holly and Bianca is not forgotten. It’s indelibly ingrained in us all forever.

“We need to live our lives the way they wanted to live theirs. Everything we do now, both consciously and subconsciously, pays tribute to them.

“We’ll do our annual ‘Shining Bright’ Holly and Bianca lunch every year.”

Josh’s attention has turned to season 2026 and the challenge ahead.

“We quickly flowed into planning mode. We’re so motivated and driven to ensure the next piece of success. We know first-hand how competitive B-Grade is, and if we don’t improve, we’ll be in big strife. There are some super strong sides. No B-grade coaches will be excited about playing Collegians this year – they’re going to come down breathing fire.

“Cool things are happening in B-Grade, like Willy improving and pushing for finals last season. The whole comp will continue to get better. So, we need to be doing the same.

“The agenda we’ve firmly set over pre-season is to become fitter and stronger and tweak some things in our game plan. There won’t be wholesale changes, but we’ve had some good chats around stoppage and contest, so we’ll dive into work around that, and that will be a key part of Ben Meredith’s role.

“We’ve lost a few players, unfortunately – Riley Mihailovic, Cal Heath, Tommy Spencer, Joel Cusack, Liam Hayes, and Damian Johns, plus Matt Harms has gone over to the SANFL.

“So, with those movements comes opportunity, and it’s a bit of a ‘changing of the guard,’ which is exciting, given we’ve had such a strong Under 19s group.

“We’ve picked up OIlie Griffin, Keanu Nadji, Nat Khan, James Georgiou, Callum Irish and Max Hoult, plus we’re really pleased with the retention of our Under 19s and 17s boys, a number of whom are Sandy Dragons or VFL-listed. We might have upwards of a dozen VFL players. We’ve also added Ben Meredith from the Dragons to our coaching panel.

“The key thing for us is to realign our goals. We went down to C-Grade with a clear mandate of bouncing back up to B-Grade. Long-term, as I mentioned, the club is really aspirational – we’re trying to be up in A-Grade – that’s the reality.

“I’m not being ignorant of the work that needs to happen, but we’re also brave enough to say that’s what we’re aspiring to, which is really important. That’s where my head goes when talking to our players.

“We’ve got to walk before we run, so we’ve got to compete, win games and push up to be a finals chance.”