2025 Flag Feature – Tonner time at last!

Old Brighton entered the 2025 Premier Men’s competition as both the hunter AND the hunted.

Externally, the club was widely seen as the clear premiership favourite, yet internally, the Tonners were a team on the hunt, hellbent on overcoming the disappointment of two Grand Final failures in three years.

Coach Marcel Bruin faced the challenge of healing those scars and navigating that last tricky step to the premiership podium.

“We had retained most of our playing list from 2024 and added a few significant extras,” the man affectionately known as ‘Soup’ reflects.

“We refined what we were doing, with a focus on creating more scoring opportunities. Defensively, we had been good – that side of the game had come easier to our group. At times in 2024, we’d won games but didn’t play our best, so we just eked out wins. So, we wanted to work on our ability to score, as we know that’s where the game is progressing more generally.”

Entering his second season as coach, Marcel knew he now had the chance to add a few layers to his game plan while staying focused on the game’s fundamentals.

“We’ve always tried to help our game style by retaining the ball, so we primarily spend 70-80% of our training time on fundamentals. You’ve got to be able to win contests before you even think about your offence. Win your fair share of contested ball around the ground, and you’ll move it forward. Then you can look at scoring.

“We focused a lot last year on our ball movement from half-back and our defensive exits, be it from transition or turnover. As a group, we’ve always naturally wanted to go fast when we have the footy. But we also needed to learn patience. You have to retain the ball in order to move it.

“So, we incorporated a lot of education into retaining possession by identifying the right option and putting speed on the ball when appropriate, then added the final piece, which is the slow play when we’re held up outside the forward 50. What do we do then? We filtered in different scenarios via match-sim at training to teach it and be able to execute under pressure on gameday.”

The Tonners burst out of the blocks with three hefty wins by a combined 197 points to confirm their early favouritism, before needing to come from behind to grind out a gutsy 7-point victory over St Kevin’s in Round 4. It demonstrated the gritty edge of a team not afraid to scrap for four quarters if necessary.

Huge statement-making wins over fellow contenders Old Scotch (45 points) and Old Xaverians (61 points) were followed by handsome victories over the struggling Collegians and De La Salle.

They arrived at Round 9 undefeated, with an impressive percentage of 196.5%.

But – as had been the case so many times before – the middle of the year is when Old Brighton’s season hits a familiar snag: the dreaded ‘Tullamarine Flu,’ as players head off for European summer holidays.

“Our group is incredibly cognisant of the broader picture and used to riding the emotional wave through a season. We knew that the four-week block between the bye and double bye would again be THE key period of our entire year,” said Marcel.

“We were at our most depleted and had three or four Under-19 players filling in for us. I felt that if we could win 2 of our next 4 across that period, I’d be pretty happy.”

Suddenly, the indomitable Tonners were vulnerable, and the opposition pounced.

Two late goals to Tom St. Clair saw Uni Blacks hand Old Brighton their first loss in Round 9 – a 3-point defeat that made the competition sit up and take notice.

Then Old Haileybury served it up to the flag favourites in Round 10, leading by a goal at three-quarter time before a couple of late behinds in the closing minutes saw the Tonners sneak home by a point.

In Round 11, Uni Blues led Old Brighton entering time-on in the final term before two late goals got the league-leaders home for a hard-fought 12-point win.

Round 12 saw Marcel’s team head to TH King to visit St Kevin’s in one of the most eagerly anticipated matchups of the season, given their Round 4 thriller.

“We debuted another two guys against St Kevin’s. It was one of those days when you learn whether what you’ve been preaching in your education and coaching has come to the fore.”

Leading by 11 points at three-quarter time, the Tonners were ultimately overrun in the final term, as SKOB powered away with 7 goals to 1 to run out 27-point winners. But despite that result, Marcel walked away content.

“We pushed SKOB into the last quarter with our least experienced side of the year. That gave us belief, knowing that we were about to receive a re-injection of talent. The experience of grinding that month out only made us better.

“We were able to deal with so much talent leaving to go overseas and were still able to win some games against quality opposition, despite being undermanned. We needed that period to be successful while those guys were away.

“We had also added guys to fulfil specific roles, and we don’t win without the likes of Felix Flockart and Louis Butler. We had guys step up into roles or come in and make significant contributions to make us better. That’s what you need to ultimately be successful.”

With six rounds remaining, Marcel and his coaching staff drew on lessons from past Grand Final heartbreaks as players returned from Europe to rejoin those who had been grinding away through the depths of winter.

“We realised that we hadn’t been as fresh entering the finals in 2024. We had expended more effort to get there. So, part of the plan last season was to change up our training program. Not necessarily training every Tuesday and Thursday. Sometimes we’d do an alternative night.

“We knew the guys would have done a significant amount of work by the end of the season, so this was more about keeping them fresh mentally. We spent time away from the footy club and away from regular footy training.

“We did a couple of boxing sessions, a running and cycling session. Some nights we just did a recovery session with hot-cold baths, steam and sauna.

“The season can get pretty draining. The players knew what they had ahead of them – we were well-positioned to play finals, so that was something in the distance to look forward to. We just needed them to get there in the best physical and mental shape, because we also knew that we were only a few players away from being in strife.”

Talls had become Old Brighton’s vulnerability after losing Sam Flockart and Max Benier to season-ending injuries.

“I cannot understate the importance and influence Felix Flockart had for us last year,” says Marcel, with a serious tone in his voice.

“He was so impactful for our team, just like Sam Grant was in the Cardinals’ 2024 premiership.”

Old Brighton returned from the double bye close to full strength and peeled off six straight wins to claim the minor premiership with a 16-2 record, a game clear of Old Xaverians.

Their Second Semi-Final clash hung in the balance through the first three quarters, with the Tonners clinging to a 1-point lead at the final change before storming away with 6 goals to 1 in the last term to record a 33-point win that qualified them for their third Grand Final in four seasons.

Xavs were then eliminated by Old Scotch in one of the all-time great VAFA Preliminary Finals – the Cards keeping their back-to-back dream alive with an unforgettable 1-point win, thanks to Angus Jones’ fifth goal with the last kick of the day.

The stage was set for a mouth-watering second consecutive Old Scotch-Old Brighton Grand Final, with the reigning premiers defending their title against the minor premiers, hunting their first top-flight title in club history.

Old Brighton had made it to Grand Final Day three times previously, with all of them ending in heartbreak:

• 2007: lost to Old Xaverians by 47pts
• 2022: lost to St Kevin’s by 22pts
• 2024: lost to Old Scotch by 18pts

Marcel knew that history could weigh heavily on his players, so he addressed it early.

“We wanted to take selection anxiety off the table, so we named our team early in Grand Final week, which allowed guys to relax and discuss their roles openly at greater length.”

But the coach had his own challenges to deal with.

“I was as crook as a dog. I had Influenza A all week. But thanks to the footy Gods, Grand Final Friday was as good as I got that week. Even then, I got to my final pre-game address and coughed up half a lung midway through it!” he laughs.

The opening term was a typical Grand Final – tight and tense in blustery conditions, with just a single goal scored when Will Clark slotted a goal from a free kick 4 minutes in to give the Cardinals a 7-point quarter-time lead. However, they lost dynamic duo Ollie Badr and Angus Symons to hamstring injuries and would need to play the rest of the afternoon two men short.

Will Lewis (who was coming off a VFL premiership with Footscray just 5 days earlier) booted two quick goals to open the second term, and the Tonners settled into the contest, flexing their muscle on the inside and adding 4 unanswered majors to lead by 22 points at the main break.

But Old Scotch kicked again with the breeze at their back in the third term, surging back into the game before the Tonners managed to dig in and halt their momentum. It would prove critical, allowing the minor premiers to turn for home with a 23-point advantage, despite the Cards’ early dominance.

The reigning champs made one last push to defend their crown early in the final term, before Old Brighton steadied again as best afield Will Lewis booted the sealer early in time-on.

“I commend Scotch so much. Their ability to stick around and keep playing the way they wanted, despite being two guys down, was incredible. Then the rain started to come down, and that benefited us a bit, being in front,” Marcel recalls.

“About three or four minutes after it started, I remember looking at the scoreboard and thinking that we had the right pieces of the puzzle in place. We didn’t need to score any more. Suddenly, I realised that we’ve probably got it. It was a pretty amazing thought.

“I got to turn and look at my assistants, who had done as much as I had throughout the year, and bask in that moment.”

The siren would sound soon after to deliver Old Brighton their first-ever Premier Men’s title, some 68 long years after joining the VAFA.

The Tonners were finally at the top of the mountain.

“My strongest memory is seeing my two little girls and my wife post-game,” Marcel reflects, with joy in his voice.

“They are such a significant part of my coaching journey, given how much time I’m away from them to be at and around the club.”

“I remember giving the President Tommy Clarke a massive hug. He was a massive part of our cultural evolution. He helped create a terrific environment that people want to be part of. Players, family, friends, and the broader Old Brighton community all enjoy being around the club.”

“Then watching the players get their medals around their necks and getting that cup. Having it presented by Bobby McClelland was something special, given his contribution to the football club. He just loves it and wants the club to be as successful as it can.”

“In a way, receiving those awards was counterintuitive to our theme for the season, and maybe that’s why it felt so surreal.

“Our overall theme was that ‘the goal is never the end.’ That took form in different ways and in different spaces, but essentially, we had created an opportunity for each other to win the flag in 2024, but losing that Grand Final wasn’t actually the end of that opportunity.

“We knew we still needed to improve in areas, and as I mentioned earlier, we took quite a holistic approach, and part of it was recognising that we as coaches and players can always keep improving individually in various different ways.

“So, winning the 2025 Grand Final isn’t the end of it either. We have Under 19 kids coming through that are capable of playing meaningful footy in the seasons ahead. Even a guy like Harry Hill, who has won every individual accolade and now has the team success he’s worked his whole career for – he still has areas he wants to improve.

“The goal is never the end.”

Marcel and his team headed into the rooms to savour the moment.

“I didn’t address the players after the game, which was unusual, but everyone was already so thrilled. What could I possibly have said that would be prophetic enough, so I didn’t say anything to the group. I just enjoyed everyone’s excitement.”

The history-makers then headed back to Brighton Beach Oval for a night that none of them will ever forget.

“It still felt quite surreal by the time we got there,” Marcel reflects, with a smile. “Maybe my brain told me it hadn’t happened.

“We were greeted by so many familiar faces – old team-mates, parents of team-mates, other supporters, the women’s team, our sponsors – and many of them had tears in their eyes.

“Emotionally, the club had strived for this for so long, and to do it in the same year that our women’s team and Under 19’s team had both also won the flag made it even more special. We’re a small club with significant talent.”

“Our Under 19’s fundamentally fill out our men’s program. Previously, we never had that talent coming through, so we got old quickly before we knew it and became too reliant on the same group. But they’ve won back-to-back Under 19 Premier flags, and these guys will create their own opportunities to become the future of our footy club if they want to.

“And our women’s team has been incredible. They are up into Premier Women’s in 2026, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. They were struggling with numbers compared to 2024, so winning in the finals series so well was impressive. We have a bunch of sisters in the team, and so many in this group know each other from school or via genuine close associations.

“The challenges our women have overcome over the years have given our male playing group great perspective. Don’t ever take playing footy for granted.”

“We went to Lamarro’s on the Sunday. ‘Dimma’ (Paul Dimattina) put food on for us, and some old boys sponsored some kegs. We’d finally relaxed enough to start talking about the Grand Final a bit more and share our memories of the day.

“I asked the playing group ‘What does this premiership mean to you?’ because in hindsight it will mean even more. We’ve got something that ties us all together, regardless of time. We have a reason to catch up every decade, and we’re fortunate to be the first group of Old Brighton A-grade players to have that reason to get back together & talk.

“You can tell the quality of a relationship by whether you would cross the road to say g’day to someone you spotted in daily life. Well, we’ve got the best reason to cross the road now. We’re intrinsically tied to each other through this shared experience, and that’s amazing.

“I asked the players how they were feeling, and it told the story of the different generations we have in our playing group. Micky Karayannis was so thrilled, even though he didn’t play. But he was just as much a part of it, given everything he’s given us to help us get there.”

“For guys like Harry Hill and Tom Fisher, the overwhelming emotion was relief. There had been so much expectation, and you can’t help but think of the headlines if it goes the other way. And it probably makes it harder to climb that mountain again if you lose.

“Then the young guys, like Luke Travers, who was successful at school, won the Reserves Best & Fairest despite playing just 7 games, and played in the Under 19s Grand Final. All he knows is flags & success. There was no weight on him. He was just thrilled to get a game, because he thought he was going to be dropped for the Second Semi if Will Lewis returned.

“So, he had a totally different experience and perspective from the older guys.”

A great reminder of how winning a flag means different things to different people in that moment.

“You don’t get a huge amount of downtime to soak in it. Two weeks later, we were already thinking about where we needed to improve. We know everyone’s going to be chasing us in 2026, but we go into every season expecting to challenge.

“We have the cattle, the gameplan and the ability to create opportunities for ourselves. We won’t put a ceiling or a limbo bar on it. Our expectation is that by getting ourselves into the best physical condition we can, moving the ball our way, and defending well by the time the season starts, we can compete.”

“We also know that what we look like in Round 1 isn’t what we’ll look like by the final game of the season. Our main development focus has been on integrating the group of players from our successful Under 19’s program and helping those who haven’t yet had a taste of senior football to adapt as quickly as possible.

“It’s a fine line when you have success. Do fringe guys see genuine opportunities to break into the senior team, or do they look at outside opportunities? I’d like to think that if they do the work to give themselves that opportunity with us, their time will come.

“But I’ve seen both scenarios – some players give up quickly and go elsewhere for more immediate opportunities, while others stick around and want to prove they’re capable of getting a go. I’m conscious of that.”

Tactically, Marcel has spent the summer looking to make tweaks to the game plan that help keep them ahead of the curve.

“It’s an evolving game plan – we can’t stay stagnant. We realise that opposition teams will have been looking at ways to beat us, so we’re continuing to refine how we play with and without the ball.

“We have a strong focus on contest within our training program, but have spent time working on our ball movement, hoping to stay ahead of the different concepts that opposition defences will look to employ against us.”

In terms of list management, Old Brighton’s crop of prodigious Under-19s talent might get senior opportunities sooner rather than later.

“We’ve lost a few senior players, including Fraser Gregson, Alfie Jarnestrom, Angus Edgar, Kai Dimattina and, of course, Will Lewis and Tom Blamires, who are both now on AFL lists, which is fantastic for our club. I’m not sure whether I can claim Tom as an ‘out,’ but he was attached to us as his local club, so I will!”

“We see so many areas in which we can do better. We’ll look for different voices to provide fresh perspectives and make sure the message still gets across and the players don’t get bored. We’ll incorporate some specialist training and craft stuff to help guys develop in their individual roles, and we’ll also look to develop secondary positions for players so we can throw the magnets around at times.

“But health is the biggest thing. It’s a combat sport. Keeping guys healthy is the primary key to success.”

As Marcel and his troops prepare to defend their crown, they are well aware of the opportunity that remains in front of them.

“Winning a premiership felt very different as a coach than it did to me as a player. As a coach, it felt like vindication for all the work that everyone puts in. As a player, it can be more about the work that you’ve put in yourself to help the team.

“From a big-picture perspective, as a club, your first challenge is to get to A-Grade and then be good enough to stay there. Then get to Grand Finals and give yourself a chance. We’d done all of that, but hadn’t taken that final step, which is to win it.

“For years, there was a question as to whether a club like ours could compete with the bigger schools. Now we’ve proved we can. We can do it with a home-grown coach and do it our way. We have the opportunity to create a legacy for this group and for our club into the future.

“That was a big part of me coming back to Brighton. I experienced the lows of being relegated to B-Grade and not being competitive enough from time to time. Periods of dominance when you’re capable of being up there and challenging year after year don’t just come along.

“For so long, we looked at other clubs with envy. It was Xavier in my time, then SKOB as I finished. They are the best modern example of it. They took their time getting back up to A-Grade, but they built a program that has allowed them to contend season after season.

“That’s what I want for our club. When I finish up my time as a coach, I want to come back and watch an Old Brighton program that’s challenging year after year.”

The goal is never the end, indeed.