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On The Move, Merger or Coming Home
The theme for life for most of the 1990’s seemed to be “ change and more change” and if that didn’t work “ lets try some more change!” The Council that endorsed a book celebrating 100 years of Oakleigh Council, as well as the disposal of 27 asbestos-lined train carriages to the South Clayton tip in 1990, would not exist four years later due to local government restructures. Ironically by the end of the 1990’s the Kennett Liberal government that drove such drastic change across Victoria would also be disposed of – presumably the people of Victoria felt it was time to take the Kennett train to the political tip!
A restructure of metropolitan football at the senior level in the early 1990’s was the catalyst for quite drastic change closer to home with the OYCFC. A move of home ground to Scammell Reserve and the uncertainty about the formal relationship with the Oakleigh Amateur Football Club (OAFC) created some issues for the club. As a result much of the nineties was in stark contrast to the success of the eighties reaching its lowest ebb in 1991, 1996 and 1997 when the club could only manage to field four teams.
The Oakleigh Amateur Football Club was born out of a merger between two local clubs, the Sacred Heart Football Club whose home was Edwards Street and the Emmanuel Football Club who played at what would become the new home, Scammell Reserve on Guest Road. Sacred Heart and Emmanuel had developed a bitter rivalry over time that made the growth and development of the newly OAFC a somewhat complex task.
The decision for the OYCFC to join the newly formed senior club, the Oakleigh Amateur Football Club, as co-tenant at Scammell Reserve on Guest Road was taken in late 1991. Scammell Reserve had been the first base of the OYCFC when they used it for training on Wednesday and Thursday nights in 1965. Ray Chapman Jnr can also recall playing games there around that time, getting changed in a nearby garage. This would appear likely as the club had some trouble in the early years securing access to ovals and often had to play home games at rival grounds. Perhaps the great irony of this move for the Dragons was that they were moving home – and no one knew it!!
The nineties started on a positive note for the club with 1990 being a year of celebration with the OYCFC celebrating 25 years of junior football. Another medallion was struck to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of the club. It was identical to the 1985 medallion but this time in silver. 25th Anniversary carafes and wine glasses were also produced. The club had also adopted the catch cry, “ The Mighty Dragons are alive in 1990”
 | | 1990. Silver medallion struck to celebrate 25 years of the OYCFC |
The club had an extremely active social calendar in 1990. The main celebration event was the Silver Anniversary Dinner Dance held at Clayton Hall on July 28. A special birthday party for the club was also held on April 22 after the first game.
1990 also saw two important additions to the fabric of the club. Club Treasurer Cheryl Watson commenced the onerous task of compiling a club history from 1965 to 1990 and the club had decided to honour the memory of club stalwart, Jock Hepburn by awarding the Jock Hepburn Memorial Trophy for the person voted as best club person.
 | |  | 1990. Executive Committee.
25th year Dinner Dance | | Cheryl Watson |
On the field the club had little to report for 1990. None of the five teams made finals. Dale Perdikomatis won the under 12 best and fairest and his team represented Oakleigh VFA in the 1990 Quit Cup.
Hugh McLeod was elected unopposed as President at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 29 of August 1989 for the season 1990. At the 1990 Annual General Meeting Shaun Pearce was also elected unopposed to the position of President. The club had from 1989 to 1996 had seven different Presidents, a new one each year. They had had only 13 in total from 1965 to 1988.
General business at the 1990 Annual General Meeting gives the first indication of some of the major issues confronting the leaders of the OYCFC in the immediate years to come. On record is a request from Sacred Heart Football Club for a meeting with the OYCFC with a view to Sacred Heart becoming the Dragons senior club. It was anticipated that this would involve a change of names that suited both clubs (refer footnote-24).
The general feel from the meeting was to treat this approach with caution and that any major decision regarding, in this case a merger with, Sacred Heart Football Club be put to a special general meeting of the OYCFC. It is not recorded whether the meeting with Sacred Heart Football Club took place. Nor is the name or the proposed nature of the new club recorded.
The club had a bad run over a couple of years, losing life members Jock Hepburn in 1989 and Ray Chapman in 1991. Popular Life member Graham “Sarge” Morna lost his mother and mother in law, all this within days of becoming a father. As well the much-respected Pauline Taylor passed away.
 | |  | Ray Chapman | | Jock Hepburn surrounded by wife Jan and family | |
Of the four teams that the club fielded in 1991 three of them made the finals. The under 16’s and 11’s finished third having both reached preliminary finals. The under 13’s coached by Craig Hutson, who took a mid season break to the USA, finished runners up to Mossgiel Park. They also won the leagues award for the best conducted club. Damien Foster added to that by winning the under 13 league best and fairest. Two other league best and fairest were won. Paul Heather won the under 11’s and Ashley Crosher the under 16 best and fairest.
The next mention of possible merger of OYCFC came at the General Committee meeting of August 21 1991. The committee of the OYCFC had had an approach via letter from representatives from Emmanuel and Sacred Heart Football Clubs concerning a move to Guest Road. Representatives from both clubs were in attendance at the meeting. Again general feeling from the OYCFC committee was one of caution but the OYCFC committee felt the move to Scammell Reserve would be beneficial for football in the area and make the club stronger (refer footnote-25).
That letter from the two clubs was a result of an earlier meting attended by Shaun Pierce, Jan McLeod and Rob Brien. The Emmanuel and Sacred Heart Football Clubs had met on August 7 to discuss their proposed amalgamation. The minutes of that meeting focus almost entirely on the issues confronting the two senior clubs. Only item 5 deals specifically with the OYCFC and in essence says that if the OYCFC want to join the amalgamation they could but the reasons for them do so must be made clear (refer footnote-26). Other items that mention the junior football club are about co-location at Scammell and not amalgamation. From this meeting it would appear that the two senior clubs were open to amalgamation but were either in no position to or didn’t particularly want to pursue the matter with any vigour.
Issues of concern were that the OYCFC wanted to keep its own colours and name, have financial assistance from the senior club, honour boards displayed in the new rooms and life members recognised. Some of the OYCFC committee wanted to resolve that matter immediately and others wanted to wait. The second had to be the option as both senior clubs were yet to hold their Annual General Meetings, as was the OYCFC.
The next mention of possible merger for the OYCFC came two minutes later at the Annual General meeting of August 21 1991. The general meeting had concluded at 9.20 pm and the AGM commenced two minutes later at 9.22 pm. Rob Brien was elected president of the OYCFC. The following motion was moved by John Van der Helm, seconded by Hugh McLeod and carried with a majority vote.
“That Oakleigh Youth Club Football Club joins in with a possible merger of Oakleigh Sacred Heart Football Club and Emmanuel Football Club in sharing the Guest Road, Scammal (sic) Reserve.
Guidelines to be followed:
1. Keep our own colours – green and gold
2. Keep our name O.Y.C.F.C
3. Keep our emblem – The Dynamic Dragon
4. Keep our song
5. Our Honour boards would get equal space as the two senior clubs.
6. Would have our own committee with 2 members on the senior committee
7. Support from senior club with regards to onfield and financial arrangements
8. Life members would be recognised with the New Senior Club.”
By the end of 1991 season the Emmanuel and Sacred Heart football Clubs had formally agreed to merge, and held their inaugural meeting on Wednesday the 20th of November at their new home at Scammell reserve. Paul Callery was announced as the new coach of what was now the Oakleigh Amateur Football Club. He unfortunately couldn’t take up this position due to family ill health.
The previous evening the OYCFC held its general meeting at the new clubrooms with comments from the committee being favourable to the new home. Barry Alexander representing the OAFC welcomed the committee as the “ Junior Club to the New Oakleigh Amateurs” and item 5 on the agenda recorded that three senior players would be the allocated to each junior side to help with coaching (refer footnote-27).
The move whilst being viewed by the committee as an important strategic move, beneficial for the OYCFC was causing some disquiet among youth club members. A letter was to be sent to life members of the OYCFC explaining rights and privileges at the new clubrooms and the Jan/Feb newsletter of 1992 reiterates the essence of the motion passed at the Dragons AGM in August. President Rob Brien strongly urged OYCFC members not to listen to rumours or idle chitchat. Rob was to be among a number of resignations from the committee during the season for various reasons.
Registration day on the 23 February 1992 incorporated the official launch of the Oakleigh Amateur Football Club and featured a spit roast. The OYCFC had announced its catch cry for 1992 as, “Remember: For OYCFC. Second wont do in ‘92’”
On the field the 1992 season saw 5 teams compete under the Oakleigh Dragon banner, although the under 10 team coached by Craig Taylor was a combined team with Clayton. The under 9’s competed in a lighting premiership at Parkmore Football Ground on the 9th of August and although they didn’t win the commitment couldn’t be faulted. Craig’s team and the under 12 team both made the finals. The undermanned under 12 team lost to St Gerards in the 1st semi final with four players out. Cameron Apelgren was awarded best player on the ground.
One more move would happen in 1992. The club received a clearance from the Dandenong and District Junior Football League to play in the Moorabbin Saints Junior Football League. Although the club was pleased and considered the clearance an early Christmas present, it was another unsettling event. New and more paperwork to be done, new systems had to be learnt, new relationships made and built and a whole new set of opposition teams had to be met. Situations that co-tenant the Oakleigh Amateur Football Club also had to deal with. Both clubs met many times both formally and informally to work out and work on the arrangements for sharing the new facilities at Scammell Reserve, with a clear commitment to make the new arrangements work for both. This in itself was a time-consuming exercise.
In hindsight the move was important for the OYCFC as it located the club in a much more visible location. Strategically it was important to remain linked to the new senior club for support and growth reasons. It was also in a better location for recruiting, as Scammell Reserve was located between two of the areas’ main primary schools, Sacred Heart and Oakleigh South Primary. It was also closer to Oakleigh South High School, another potential recruiting ground. The only real downside of the move was the loss of two ovals that Edwards Street offered.
For the OYCFC the issue of adopting formal rules for the running of the club under the requirements of the then Department of Corporate Affairs occupied a lot of time and debate at the committee table of 1993. Aligned with this was a proposed restructure of the club.
Five teams represented the OYCFC in 1993. General manager of the OAFC Jim Podesta took up the role of under 15’s coach, and another senior player Craig Taylor took on the under 11 team in his second year as a junior coach. Again it was an Oakleigh team merged with a group of boys from another club, this time with the Moorabbin Bears. The 9’s and 10’s didn’t win a game in their respective Lightning Premierships.
In 1993 the focus of the club was clearly off the field. Another mention of a possible merger emerged when Ian Storey and Allan Wood at the 14 July meeting moved that a joint working party be established with the OAFC to investigate the possibility of amalgamation (refer footnote-28). The motion was defeated, however it does reveal that the issue of moving in as a co-tenant of Scammell Reserve was beginning to blur into an issue of possible or perceived amalgamation.
Pat Torpey Assistant General Manager of the OAFC addressed the August 4 general meeting of the OYCFC and discussed among other things the issue of possible amalgamation of the OAFC and the OYCFC. It is clear from the minutes of that meeting that both clubs realised that the relationship was important and that amalgamation could be beneficial. It is also clear that there was much confusion about how, if they were to amalgamate, they would achieve this (refer footnote-29). Pat, as a representative of the OAFC, did speak about a long-term process that involved joint committees working together over a period of a few years with a view to eventually amalgamate.
The debate for the OYCFC began to reach its zenith not long after the October 6 1993 Annual General meeting of the club. A motion was moved and seconded by Brian Moulang and Neil Nicholas respectively stating the following:
“That the O.Y.C.F.C Inc. as a matter of urgency makes arrangements to:
A) Change the club colours to match Oakleigh Amateurs Football Club following confirmation and approval of the Moorabbin Saints Junior Football League and the O.A.F.C. B) Initiates a special summer fund raising program to raise the necessary finance to ensure that new jumpers are available for the 1994 season. C) Participates in a joint working party with the O.A.F.C. to discuss future joint arrangements for the mutual benefits of both clubs.” (refer footnote-30)
The minutes of that Annual General Meeting record that a lengthy debate ensued, and the decision was taken for the newly installed committee of the OYCFC to hold a special general meeting as soon as possible, so that all members of the Dragons would have sufficient opportunity to air their opinions.
It is interesting to ponder how the amalgamation issue had moved from an evolutionary process for the OAFC to a matter of urgency for the OYCFC. One interpretation of the push to amalgamate is that it was coming largely from within the junior football club and not the OAFC, and that at this time the junior club had been sufficiently unsettled by the move to have momentarily lost a sense of its own purpose.
The minutes of the AGM meeting support this view and reveal just how unsettled the club was. The positions of President, Secretary, Treasurer and the two Vice Presidents were all contested and decided by election. In a stable club with clear direction it is rare for any position to be contested. For the top five positions that year to be contested, indicates that the club was having some real identity issues.
The Special General Meeting was held on 24 November 1993 and commenced at 7:50 pm. It took just over an hour for everyone to conclude that the meeting couldn’t vote on the motion (which hadn’t changed from the AGM) as there was lack of clarity around who exactly could vote. Newly elected President Neil Nicholas decided to defer this meeting and refer the matters to the next committee meeting. The issue of amalgamation effectively moved into the background.
In reality both clubs were struggling with the issue of what sort of relationship they should have, should they become one, should they stay separate, was there some hybrid model that could work, did it in fact matter either way. While this debate raised tempers in some, it caused others to contemplate what the future might be like and excited possibilities in the rest. It is obvious that all involved had the best intentions at heart – which is how to make football in Oakleigh successful. Looking back it has been a vital and important debate for both clubs to partake in.
The focus in 1994 began to move slowly back to the players and the teams of the OYCFC. The half way report from the June newsletter gives an indication that the teams were struggling. The under 10’s had won three games and the under 9’s two. Jamie Briggs winning play of the day in the second win over Hampton Rovers by kicking the winning goal.
The fun had at the 1994 trivia night was mentioned in the June round up next, and a few pages later the news that Matthew Cash, Simon Conway and Robert Jenkins were playing well for the 11’s who hadn’t won a game. The 14’s and 16’s were faring much worse, copping some big losses. The under 14’s had losses to Hampton by 34 goals, Ormond (12 goals), Bentleigh (16 goals) and 18 goals against Cheltenham. Leigh Head, Mark Lanagan, Sean Mortimer, Adam Wood formed the nucleus of a team that one week had only 11 players and had to field four under 12 players to avoid forfeiture. On the up side, Mark Lanagan and Leigh Head made the interleague squad with Mark getting a game against South Australia Central Districts and Leigh playing against the Knox league.
The under 16 team had it even worse. Losing to Bayside by 42 goals, Ajax by 26 goals, St Bedes by 17 goals and Cheltenham by 30. They unfortunately went through the season without a win, while the under 14’s managed only one win, beating Bayside by 3 points.
Brian Moulang was elected President for 1995 and set about trying to build the club, which in 1995 would have five teams playing. In his report to the members on Presentation Day he did indicate that the road ahead was uncertain (refer footnote-31). Brian remained President for three years. While the team numbers did drop for 1996 and 1997 to four teams, each year saw the club regain its a sense of identity. The committee had new members, new jumpers and safety headgear was introduced to the under 9 and 10 age groups as well as new jackets in green and gold. David Rhys-Jones returned to the club to help with the launch in 1997.
The club had six teams in 1996, 9’s through to 12’s and under 14’s and 16’s. Scott Maddocks and Marcus Wood both passed the magic 150 game mark and Matthew Schilling made it to 100.Highlights of 1996 included Jamie Maddocks winning the 1996 MSJFL under 11 best and fairest, and Jack Malcomson passing the 400 game mark as a coach.
 | |  | | Marcus Wood (150 Games), Matthew Schilling (100 Games), Scott Maddocks (150 Games) | | 1996. Jack Malcomson, coach of the Under 10 team |
The Dragons were on the up in 1997 as the under 12 team coached by OAFC senior player Graeme Redford with Shane Kitts as Assistant Coach made the Grand Final. They went down to Bayside 13 points on a wet and windy day, one of those days that was just a bit too wet for good football and clearly a washout day for cricket. They got to within two points of Bayside in the last quarter but couldn’t get that vital goal. Jamie Maddocks won the MSJFL medal for Oakleigh’s best player with Stephen Insall, Michael Jordan, Gino Torcasio and Caolan Vaughan being named as best players. Jon Bredyk kicked two goals with Jordan and Dean Jones kicking one apiece.
 | | 1997. Graeme Redford (coach) and Shane Kitts (Assistant Coach) with the Under 12 runners up. |
The under 10 team of 1997, it shouldn’t be forgotten, had an undefeated home and away record but couldn’t keep that record intact on Lightning Premiership day. The under 14’s coached by former Hawthorn player Rob Osborne made the finals as well.
Other highlights for 1997 included Stephen Insall as runner up in the league best and fairest for the under 12’s and James Chapple leading the voting for the Dragons in the under 11 league best and fairest. Peter and David Ciavarella and Christopher West past the 100 games mark.
 | | 1999. Kim Wooderson and Committee With John Barnes at the launch of the new jackets. |
Kim Wooderson took over as President in 1998 and concentrated on trying to build up the numbers of players. Kim was also keen to develop a strong relationship with the Auskick group that used the ground on Saturday mornings. The club fielded 6 teams in 1998 and although flags weren’t on the agenda, a growing player list was.
Grant Pitts won the under 15 best and fairest and Robin Nahas finished third in the under 11 league best and fairest. Adam Ciavarella joined his brothers as a 100 game player.
The club lost secretary Irene Bourke in 1998 and immediately introduced an award in her honour to recognise the person who is involved and committed to the club but not on committee. Greg Doyle was the first recipient.
 | | Irene Bourke. |
1999 saw much of the same with five teams (9’s, 10’s, 11’s, 12’s and 14’s) playing strictly under the Oakleigh Dragons banner and another two (15’s and 16’s) as combined teams.
This growth was significant with the need to build new change rooms, or at least add on another two and an umpire’s room as an extension to the Scammell Reserves’ rooms.
The under 11 team made a Grand Final going down by three points to East Sandy, Joel Costigan, Matthew Tunik and David Forsyth providing the goal kicking highlights. Christian Anderson-Blundy won the MSJFL medal for best player in a game where Oakleigh got off to a slow start.
 | |  | | 1999. Under 12 Finalists coached by Adam Moulang. | | 1999. Under 11 Runners Up coached by Marc Blundy. |
Other highlights included Michael Doyle, Sean Earl, Stephen White and Robert Whitehouse all passing 100 games played for the club. The list of boys playing 50 including Darcy and Jackson Bray, Matthew Bell, Paul West, Ricky Watts and Tom Ristevski. Robin Nahas won the league best and fairest for the under 12’s with 32 votes while Michael Jordan, also with 32 votes, managed to come 4th in the under 14’s. Wayne Plaukovits represented the club at league level in Adelaide in the under 15 MSJFL inter league team in June.
By the close of the decade the club was on an upward growth curve again. The leaders of the club and the OAFC for that matter had negotiated some very difficult times. With incorporation and formal rules, formal facilities management arrangements and finance and resource sharing agreements, both clubs had successfully and effectively transformed into small business operations.
Perhaps the most difficult issue for both clubs to deal with in the nineties was that of identity. Brian President for three of those years, felt the move to Scammell Reserve needed five years to settle and that expectations from both clubs were much higher than they should have been.
The OYCFC/OAFC relationship was in fact the best thing to come out of the nineties for the junior club. A number of OYCFC former players such as Pat Heverin, Ali Khodr, Bruce Nicholas, Simon Kilner, Leigh Head, Rowan and Konrad Marshall performed at the highest level for the club. While the OYCFC had no flags to show for the 1990’s the OAFC to their great credit had, with these players involved, managed to win a number of premierships during this period which both clubs took some joy in celebrating.
Related
footnote-24
OYCFC Minute Book. AGM 14/8/90. footnote-25
OYCFC Minute Book. General meeting 21 August 1991. footnote-26
Minutes of Proposed Amalgamation between Emmanuel FC and Sacred Heart FC. 7 August 1991. footnote-27
OYCFC Minute Book. General meeting 19 November 1991. footnote-28
OYCFC Minute Book. General Meeting 14 July 1993. footnote-29
OYCFC Minute Book. General Meeting 4 August 1993. footnote-30
OYCFC Minute Book. Annual General Meeting. 6 October 1993. footnote-31
Oakleigh Youth Club Football Club. Presentation Day Booklet. 17 September 1995
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