Learning about the history of the VAFA thanks to Holmesglen

Geoff Reilley

5 YEARS AGO – 2015

U19 PREMIER TEAM OF THE YEAR
FB:	J.Curnow (U.Blues)	M. Ongrato (OX)	A.Batarilo (U.Blues)
HB:	A. McFarlane(OM)	M.Zagni (Beau)	A.Webb (STK)
C:	J. Kelliher (OX)	T. Delzoppo (C) (STB)	D.Marchese (DELA)
HF:	J.Ring (STK)	S. Cleeve (OX)	E. Sibbald (STB)
FF:	C. Vague(STB)	A. Padbury (OS)	S.Gibbins (Beau)
R:	M. Smith (OX)	S. Vawser (VC)	J.Jess (U.Blues)
INTER:	J.Hargreaves(OT)	G. Osti (U.Blues)	C.Kennedy(OX)
	H.Kerr (STK)	Coach: Peter Callinan (OXFC)

10 YEARS AGO – 2010

AJAX (third) had a great win over Beaumaris (second) In C Section and with a greater percentage than the Sharks, would hope to take their second spot in the coming rounds. The ‘Jackas’ had gone into the game as underdogs given their loss to Beauy in round 6 and their poor form of late. They were also trailing at half time (3.9 to 5.8) but their third quarter was a beauty (6.3 to 0.2) and their final, winning score 12.14 to 7.10. AJAX coach, Bernie Sheehy, had provided a ‘stinging’ rebuke at half time and a typical goal from Gary Blieden early in the third term started the onslaught in that quarter. Best – White, Lew (6), Lewski, Blieden, Routman, Jankie (AJAX) and Coote, Ensor, Catlin, Bennett, Carroll, Blain (Beauy).

In Division 1 Peninsula Old Boys stopped Williamstown CYMS barnstorming run of late with a huge win, 24.12 to 5.4 and in doing so held on to their second place and made it very hard for ‘Willy’ to make the finals. If it wasn’t all over at quarter time (8.2 to 1.1) it certainly was by half time with a lead of almost 12 goals. Best – Payze (5), W Coghlan, J Coghlan (7), Rees, Clarke, Ashdown (Peninsula) and Taylor, Olarenshaw, Elliott, Read, Long, Walsh (Williamstown).

Division 1 senior coaches were Steve Box (Aquinas), Harry Harisiou (Bulleen Temp), Tim Powell (Monash Blues), Richard Peoples (North Old Boys/St Pats), Andrew Hayes (Old Mentonians), Mark Glenn (Peninsula Old Boys), Gerard Jess (Sth Melbourne Districts), Kirk Norton (Werribee), Greg Feutrill (Whitefriars OC) and Alan Elliott (Williamstown CYMS).

15 YEARS AGO – 2005

In C Section, Old Camberwell stayed in touch with the top four with a big win over Therry Penola, 25.10 to 11.15, leaving them only 4 points behind. It was a strong all-round performance by the “Wellers”. Best – Whelan, Horgan, D Mitchell (3), Howard, Perryman, Goodale (OV) and R Bannister, Faroldi, Forster-Knight, Callegari, C Bannister, Fenton (TP).

In D1 Section, Old Carey needed to win to secure a spot in the finals but at half time, versus Yarra Valley Old boys, they trailed by nearly 5 goals. Whatever was used to enthuse them in the second half, it worked as they kicked 7.4 to 1.1 in the third term and a further 7 goals to 2 in the last. Best –Evans (3), Unkles, Williams, Kent, Thompson (4), Remmers (OC) and Clark, Middlin, Stevenson, Drew, R Valoppi, Hale (YV).

Swinburne University’s Brett O’Mara became the fifth Swinburne player to record 150 games. A long-time member of the club committee, Bretto’s awkward kicking style did not stop him working hard on his game in this season, especially in the gym. As a hard-running rover, Bretto’s added strength enabled him to break tackles more frequently and the club was looking forward to many more games from this great clubman.

U19 Junior Section 3 coaches were Michael Konsky (AJAX), Mick Lee (Bentleigh), Zoran Collavic (La Trobe Uni), Brad James (MHSOB), Bruce Waldron (Monash Blues), Mick Holden (Oakleigh), Ben Covelli (Old Ivanhoe), Mark Spinoso (Old Paradians), Owen Lalor (StBedes MT) and Justin Gray (Uni Blacks).

25 YEARS AGO – 1995

The final four in A Section was all but decided – Old Xaverians, Ormond, Old Scotch, University Blues with only De La Salle an outside chance.  De La scored an excellent win against Old Xavs in this round at the Waverley Road ‘bog-heap’; Their 6.2 to 2.0 in the first quarter was the difference as only 5 more goals were scored in the remaining three quarters! Xavs simply could not make up the difference and were now only on top of the ladder by percentage over an improving Ormond. Best – Betheras, Grant, O’Callaghan, Chun, Brasher, Phillips (DLS) and Tuddenham, Keyhoe, Landrigan, Dunn, Holmes, Leoncelli (Xavs).

It was a quagmire out at Bundoora where Old Paradians (5th) in B Section were making an attempt to make the top four but they needed to defeat Therry (2nd) to have a chance. It was tough in the heavy going and both teams had only 2 behinds on the scoreboard at quarter time. Therry managed 3 goals in the second quarter, the score 3.3 to 0.3 at half time. Paradians could only score 4 behinds in the third term while Therry only managed 1 behind. The game was still up for grabs at the final break, but Therry were too committed and too strong, finishing 6.11 to 1.7.

Peter Riley broke the senior games played record at Mazenod when he played his 259th game.  This figure surpassed the previous record held by Adrian Green. Jeremy Rae played his 150th game for Old Haileybury.

Senior field umpires in the B Section games in this round were P Gersch, G Gioras, P Keogh, P Callil, J Garrett, H Little, W Hinton, G Ridd, P Simpson andT Tingiri.

35 YEARS AGO – 1985

Top team in C Section, Fawkner, although undefeated, had some difficulty with Therry early in the game but eventually broke clear to win comfortably 19.20 to 10.4. It was hard to see at this stage as to who could defeat this well-balanced team with a multitude of goal-scorers. Best – Busst, Hills, Weir, Buckley, O’Leary, Mitchell (Fawk) and Wrigglesworth (4), Cerini, Ratcliffe, Matton, Whyley (Therry).

In D Section, top team Old Trinity kicked poorly in their match, 9.24, but that score was good enough to beat the fifth side Balaclava 2.7 and as a result Balaclava would now struggle to make the finals, being two games plus percentage outside the four. Best – Allibon, Brent, Mravlek, Wallace, Adgemis, Dobson (OT) and Palmer, Angwin, Breslin, Rafferty, Monaghan, Withers (Bala).

45 YEARS AGO – 1975

22-year-old Uni Blues player, Chris Maxwell was selected as Victorian Rhodes Scholar for 1975 and at the completion of the season would be leaving for Oxford. Chris was to go on and finish 4th in the VAFA’s B Section best and fairest for the season.

50 YEARS AGO – 1970

Ormond kicked 3 goals against the strong wind in the last quarter to defeat Melbourne High School Old Boys by 26 points. It was MHSOB’s third successive defeat, but they held on to their fourth position due to Monash’s loss.

The VAFA Umpires Association welcomed Jack Fox, Les Bohen, David Doherty, Bill Mason, Norman Sharpe and Ron Saunder as life members.

Milton Beattie, who led Hampton Rovers Reserves to three successive premierships, played his 250th game.

UHSOB full forward Davis kicked 15 of his team’s 25 goals against Hampton Rovers.

55 YEARS AGO – 1965

In E Section, St Pats Old Collegians made sure of their second place by defeating ES&A Bank 14.13 to 6.8. St Pats had it pretty well sewn up by half time leading by over 5 goals and they cruised home and even switched a few players around. Best – Seaburgh (4), Labb, Sierakowski, Gartlan, M Murrihy, Martin (St Pats) and Robinson, Jackson, Kirby, Whelan, Auhl, Ryan (ES&A).

It was an interesting result in the ‘top of the table’ clash in F Section. The powerful Reservoir Old Boys team took on second placed Old Ivanhoe in what was expected to be a preview of both the section second semi final and grand final. Reservoir had won 16 on end and Ivanhoe had lost only 2 but were 3 games ahead of the next best. Reservoir missed a number of opportunities in the first quarter kicking 1.5 to Old Ivanhoe’s 2.0. Scores were level at half time but Reservoir led narrowly at three quarter time in a battle of the defences 6.8 to 5.2. Old Ivanhoe came back strongly in the last term but just failed as Reservoir finished ahead, 7.9 to 7.4. The final series could yet prove to be not one sided!

St Kevin’s ruckman Denis Davies played his 100th game having joined the club in 1960. All but two of his games had been in the senior team.

Tony Johnson played his 100th game for Caulfield Grammarians and had struggled through the last 10 games with a knee injury. Tony was also busy off the field as Club Secretary.

History was made at the Ormond Past and Present Players’ Dinner in so much as at least 3 members were present from every team since the club’s inception in 1932.

There were plenty of club social events around this time of the season – Footscray Tech Old Boys (final Bar-B-Que), Hampton Rovers (End of Season Fancy Dress), Parkside (Dinner Dance), Ivanhoe (Card Night), Paradians (Pleasant Sunday Morning), Old Carey (Progressive Dinner), Power House (End of Season Party) and North Old Boys (Presentation Night and Dinner Dance).

65 YEARS AGO – 1955

The B Section final four was already settled but who could stop Coburg, undefeated after 17 games and four games clear of second place.  Fifth side Old Xaverians made no impact on Coburg although the final score of 11.19 to 7.10 in Coburg’s favour was not too bad from the Xavs point of view. Best – Park (7), P Rockow, A Roberts, R Dugdale (Cob) and Mills, O’Brien, Greenway, Donovan, Corby (Xavs).

The tribunal were their usual tough self when they handed out 6 matches to one player for ‘filthy’ language and 4 matches to another for disputing the umpire’s decision on a number of occasions. That player had also been ordered from the ground in the last quarter!