Growth, Expansion and Success

2000 saw the whole of Australia and the world fall in love with Sydney and the Olympic games. Which were deemed to be a “great success as a spectacle and for the spirit in which the games was held” (refer footnote-32) Queen Elizabeth toured Australia for the 13th time in March, the same month as Alan Bond was set free. Neither visited Oakleigh in that time, at least its not recorded whether they did or not!

President Kim Wooderson saw the club enter the 21st Century in good shape. In his Presidents’ report of the 2000/2001 combined yearbook Kim noted that the Committee was working hard on running the club and that the effort of the numerous volunteers was appreciated greatly.

From 2000 onwards, the club experienced an astonishing growth in players, teams, sponsors, volunteers and the number of families involved. Each new year, from 2000 onwards, has seen the OYCFC introduce new initiatives. These have included better marketing and promotion, more interaction with the community and local schools, building of stronger relationships with the OAFC, Oakleigh Auskick and the MSJFL, and enhancement of the necessary internal structures needed for a growing club to function efficiently.

Results on the field in the period 2000 –2005 has also seen growth, starting with the grand final appearance in 2000 by the under 11 team coached by Ken Brentwood. With ever-reliable Rod Lee as Team manager, the Oakleigh under 11’s lost by 10 points to Elsternwick. Final scores Elsternwick 3.5.23 to Oakleigh 1.7.13 were disappointing as bad kicking was a problem that cost Oakleigh the match. Tim Blackburn the only player to score a goal.

2000. Under 11 team coached by Ken Brentwood

Ken in his Grand Final match report forewarned of the success looming in 2001 when he finished with the words, “ beware the Dragon in 2001”. Unfortunately for Ken, the 2001 under 12 team couldn’t go one step further. Not only did the under 10 team coached by Peter Tunik get over the line for a 1 point Grand Final victory but the under 17 combined team and the under 13 team made their respective Grand Finals.

In addition, two new coaches Jamie Connellan and Rocky Calderone, under 14’s and under 9’s respectively, led their teams to the finals. Although they were only down by 8 points at half time in the preliminary final against St Pauls, the 14’s were soundly beaten both on the scoreboard and in the injury stakes with 6 players unable to complete the game. Robin Nahas and Mick Doyle the worst with Robin in hospital for a cut on his arm that exposed the bone, he wanted to go back on, and Mick Doyle tearing his hamstring with the first kick of the match that was a goal.

Rocky’s team had an equally heart breaking 4 point loss to Bentleigh in the 2001 under 9 west semi final. Lucas Walmsley kicked the only goal and was among the best along with Mitchell Bengough, Gabby Irons, Phillip Falvo and Tom Surace.

The Bentleigh/St Peters/Oakleigh (8.8.56) combined team was beaten by South Melbourne Districts (10.10.70) by 14 points which was a great effort given that two years previously as under 15’s they hadn’t won a game. Sean Earl kicked two goals and was in the best with Robert Whitehouse, Joe Sayers, Andrew Taranto and Chris Lamb.

2001. Under 11 runners up. Bentleigh/St Peters/ Oakleigh combined

The under 13 team (3.5.23) was well beaten by East Sandringham (7.9.51) with Troy Raglus kicking two of Oakleighs’ three goals. Stefan Krull (MSJFL medal for best Oakleigh player) Fabian Melican and William Katopau led the best players which included Matthew Tunik who was runner up in the 2001 League best and fairest for that age group. Matthew won the 2000 League best and fairest for the under 12 East Division.

In the under 10 premiership win of season 2001 Jake Pappon was best on the ground. Jake, Kyle Harber and Danny Tunik scored the goals in the 1 point win over Murrumbeena in the final of the Lightning Premiership held at King George Reserve in East Bentleigh.

2001. Under 10 premiership team coached by Peter Tunik

The club in 2002 had under 9’s through to under 15’s with most lists being quite strong. The under 14’s made it to the semi final and suffered at the hands of Ajax (8.17.65) by 20 points.  Ricky Watts kicked 2 goals for Oakleigh. Best players were Tunik, Fermanis, Rea and Tyler Price. Coach Marc Blundy, who was awarded the 2002 coaching award, pointed out that they had had to win every game against the top teams in a sustained run of five weeks to remain in finals contention. The effort took its toll in the end but a great effort non-the less.

In League honours in 2002, Tim Scott won the under 12 South Division with 22 votes and Matthew Tunik (14’s) and Robin Nahas (15’s) were runners up. Matthew was also captain of the under 14 MSJFL interleague team which included Paul Fermanis, William Katapau and Matthew Wilkie. They played the Central Districts team from Adelaide.  Robin Nahas, Josh Derks-Revere, Tom Risevski and Ben Wooderson made the under 15 team. Bad luck befell both Ben (broken elbow) and Matthew Wilkie (broken bone in the hand) and they had to withdraw from their respective teams.

Framed Jumper with Dragon Logo on front

After seven years on the committee and with five as President, Kim Wooderson handed the reins over to Peter Tunik at the end of 2002. Kim oversaw a period where the club strengthened and stabilized. The club formalised its requirements for coaching and appointed a coaches coordinator, introduced the dragon logo onto the jumper, and the Scammell Reserve building was extended to incorporate two new change rooms.

Other developments in 2002 saw the introduction of hot food into the canteen on training nights, and the OYCFC recognising Oakleigh Auskick by sponsoring trophies for Auskick.

In 2003 another 38 new players and 32 new families came to the OYCFC and an eighth team was added. Another solid year on the field saw the under 10’s, 11’s, 14’s and 16’s teams all making the finals. Tim Scott won the MSJFL best and fairest for the under 13 South Division and Robin Nahas was runner up in the under 16 competition. Yiani Rhodes (12’s) and Gabby Irons (11’s) received medals of excellence for finishing in the top four of their respective age groups.

The real highlight of 2003, apart from Sue Harber’s sterling effort in raising enough money ($703) for the purchase of a new BBQ (ironically via a meat raffle every Sunday), was the introduction of a range of gear featuring the Oakleigh Dragon logo.  Bags and baseball style caps were presented to the players and a new membership card and bumper sticker were produced. The clubs sponsors such as Watts Fencing and Better Torque Automotive supported much of this initiative.

2003. Dragon Membership Card		2003. Dragon Bumber Sticker

President Ken Brentwood hosted a Back to the Dragons day on Sunday August 1 2004. Ken was keen to recognise the efforts of parents in keeping community football alive with this day for the past players of the club and their parents. Over 50 people attended, some of whom hadn’t been to the club for some time, convincing the committee that it was important to hold this event annually.

The 2004 season finished on a high and was described as the most successful since 1987. The Under 12 team coached by Rocky Calderone won a premiership, defeating East Brighton by 37 points. A team effort was credited on the day with Gabby Irons (3) and Dean Balassis (2) the major goalkickers. James Morris was awarded the MSJFL medal for best on the ground on the day, having just missed out on the League best and fairest by 3 votes.

The club also fought out Grand Finals in the under 13 and 15 grades as well as a Preliminary Final appearance in the under 17 competition.

Two of the clubs’ favorite sons, Robin Nahas (Oakleigh Chargers) and Tim Edwards (Sandringham Dragons) performed well in the elite TAC cup competition with Robin finishing 12th in the Morrish medal.

Leo Lucas took over the helm as Club President in 2005 with a drive to focus on improving sportsmanship in the club and to continue the building of club participation both by players and parents.

Perhaps one of the most significant events of 2005 was the launch of the Umpires Appreciation Programme. Developed in consultation with Bill Dellar, CEO from the AFL Umpires Association, and supported by the Moorabbin Saints Junior Football League, the programme sets out to change the attitude of players towards umpires. Bill Dellar stated at the launch that he would “love to see this initiative taken up at every club and league in Australia”. Such an endorsement scheme would not be dissimilar to the concept of the Heart Foundation tick for healthy food.

The Umpires Appreciation Programme was launched officially at the Scammell Reserve clubrooms on April 5 with assistance from AFL St Kilda player Nick Dal Santo and AFL umpire Hayden Kennedy (refer footnote-33).  The programme is a pilot, which sees the players and coaches from each team setting targets for behavioural improvements towards umpires. The real power of this initiative according to Bill Dellar is that the change comes from within clubs.

On a much more practical level time for parents and families spent in a junior sporting environment is too precious to be wasted on abuse of officials and umpires, most of whom are volunteers and at least for junior football are also trying to learn and improve.

2005. Umpires Appreciation Programme launch

2005 has also seen the club providing more players to the TAC competition with Tim Edwards continuing with the Sandringham Dragons and Matthew Tunik and Paul Fermanis joining Robin Nahas in the final Oakleigh Chargers squads. Robin made it all the way through to the Victorian Metropolitan TAC under 18 team.

The club also held its second past parents, life members and players day on 29 May which was another success capped off by the under 16 and 17 team both producing solid wins and the 17’s singing a rousing version of the club song afterwards in the social rooms for the life members and past players. Sydney Swans and former OYCFC player Stuart Maxfield addressed both teams before their respective games.

If the growth and excitement generated in the first fours years of this decade continues in 2005 and beyond we can expect many more successes.

Related

footnote-32
Keesing’s Record of World Events Vol. 46. No. 9. p 43754

footnote-33
AFL Record. Round 3. April 8-10, 2005. P19