Ormond legend to play 450th game

52 year-old Damien Cleary continues to defy Father Time, preparing to play his 450th game of open-age amateur footy when he runs out for Ormond in Round 1 this Saturday.

Having played junior footy at St Peter’s East Bentleigh (including a cherished Under 17 premiership), he headed to Oakleigh in the VFA, where he played in an Under 19 Grand Final.

But when the Devils were wound up at the end of 1994 as part of a league restructure, 21-year-old Damien needed to find a new footballing home.

“I played in that final Oakleigh game and wanted to keep playing. I felt like I still had plenty of footy left in me,” he told VAFA Media in 2024, when he broke the VAFA’s all-time Open-Age Games Record of 430 held by Old Peninsula legend, Shaun Payze.

“I looked around my area and knew that Ormond was one of the best local clubs. They were in A-Grade, so I headed down for a game.”

More than three decades later, Damien is still lacing up his boots for the Monders.

A two-time Reserves best and fairest winner in 1996 and 1999, Damien’s 450 games consist of 39 Senior games, 190 Reserves games and 221 Thirds/Club 18 games over a mind-blowing 32 seasons.

He told VAFA Media in 2024, “I see it as a privilege to have been able to play for that long. I still love the game, and it keeps me active.

“The club has always been good to me. It’s provided me with the chance to play footy, and with good people to be around. Ormond do a lot of things well, like the Thursday night dinners. It becomes a way of life.”

Damien has always been good to the club as well.

He has contributed in almost every way possible on both sides of the fence – as a Player, Coach, VAFA Delegate, Club Registrar, and he still serves as the Thirds Team Manager and as a Committee member – a position he has held for more than two decades.

He’s also been a regular fixture on match days as an umpire and a raffle ticket seller, bringing in tens of thousands of dollars for the club’s coffers over the years. If there’s been a job to be done, the chances are Damien has done it.

His remarkable contribution to his club and the competition was celebrated with a VAFA Certificate of Merit in 2019.

Damien’s selflessness was inspired by others who generously gave their time and energy at Ormond, sparking his inner desire to give back.

He’s been giving back ever since.

“I saw how much people behind the scenes were putting in to let others like me play each week. And that inspired me to get more involved. The more you put in, the more you get back. It’s a pleasure doing work for the club and making a contribution. You get a sense of camaraderie, belonging and achievement. You become part of the furniture.”

Ormond Secretary, Malcom Roach, spoke of Damien in glowing terms when recognising his record-breaking achievement in 2024.

“Damien is a stalwart, gentleman and legend of the Ormond Amateur Football club. He is often the first to arrive on a Saturday and the last to leave.”

On-field success has been elusive for Damien, who won a Reserves premiership in 1998 but has also played in six losing Grand Finals.

“I’ve played in plenty of good teams, but it always seemed like there was one just a little bit better,” he said, philosophically.

“But as you get older, you realise there’s more to it than winning and losing. It’s also a wellbeing thing. It’s good to have those long-term friendships, especially the bonds with other players who have been around for a long time.

“Singing the song after a win. The fifteen minutes afterwards having a beer and a chat about the game. You think you might miss that when you retire. I’d miss being around the club three times a week. I’ve been living that way since I was 8 years old!”

Renowned for his elite fitness, which has partly stemmed from riding his bike everywhere over the years, Damien’s body continues to hold up its end of the bargain, and as he prepares for the physical rigours of his 32nd season, he’s still enjoying playing as much as ever.

“My body is still feeling good at this stage, and I pulled up well after the weekend’s practice match. I still look forward to my game on the weekend.

“I’ve been pretty fortunate with injury over the years. A couple of four-week shoulders and a couple of hammys. Apart from that, no long-term injuries, thankfully. Having Thirds & Club 18 footy has been great – it’s helped me keep playing.

“As you get older, it takes longer to recover and to get used to playing again at the start of the season. It takes a bit of time to harden up the body. Often, once you get into it, you’re ok.”

A humble character, Damien is rightly proud of his incredible milestone.

“Playing 450 games is a special moment for me, as playing football has been a big part of my life. I still do not have a retirement timeline. I still take it one year at a time.”

As he said in 2024, “I’ve always just taken it as it comes. I just sort of kept going because I was never forced to stop!”

Damien has met thousands of people through his association with the Monders and VAFA, and he’s grateful for everything that the game has given him.

“I would like to thank my family, friends, teammates, coaches, committees, support staff, sponsors, the Ormond AFC, and the VAFA.”

And we would like to thank you too, Damien. The entire VAFA community congratulates you on your 450th game, and thanks you for your remarkable contribution to your club, the league and suburban footy more broadly.

You are the very epitome of our mantra ‘For the Love of the Game,’ and we look forward to celebrating your 500th game in a couple of seasons’ time!