The OGs Club

JON ANDERSON (OGC 1970)

The Old Geelong Football Club connection retains very strong ties with Geelong College through both women’s and men’s programs in 2024.

The bond was highlighted at the club’s 70th Anniversary dinner held at The Park in Albert Park on Saturday 18 May, as emphasised by one of the guest speakers Phil Marendez (OGC 1964).

Phil spoke eloquently about his playing days at a club then known as Old Geelong Grammarians, before explaining how the presence of Old Collegians such as Stuart Anderson (OGC 1963), Andrew Jenkins (OGC 1963), Richard Hobday (OGC 1964), Peter Holland (OGC 1964), Stephen Anderson (OGC 1967), and Graeme Dickson (OGC 1967) saw a name change to the Old Geelong Football Club in 1973 and a jumper change from the pale blue and gold of Geelong Grammar to blue and white hoops.

That bond is very much alive in 2024 with the men’s vice-captain Jack Sheridan (OGC 2015) taking out the Premier B competition best and fairest in 2023, while Jacob Jess (OGC 2013) notched up his 100th game after joining the club from University Blues in 2017.

Jacob is believed to have laid the most tackles of any OG in history given he regularly records 10-12 in a game.

Matt Bird (OGC 2015) is enjoying a career-best season playing out of defence where his precise delivery on both sides continues to be a feature of his game, while the much-loved pair of Will “Wink” Simson (OGC 2014) and Nick “Pies”

Morwood (OGC 2014) are regular senior players.

Harry Graham (OGC 2013) and Tim Hosking (OGC 2014) remain stalwarts of the club while Will Eggins, Jimmy Adams and Ted O’Malley (all OGC 2023), have made very favourable impressions, Will having already played senior football with Jimmy very close to doing so and Ted showing promising signs. The OGs greatly appreciate those three young men joining us given we typically lose Melbourne University students to University Blues, a club that claims it has no feeder schools but one that has fed off Geelong Grammar and Geelong College for the past 60 years. The same applies to Sam Jess (OGC 2016), Geordie Whittakers (OGC 2020) and Ben Batarilo (OGC 2016).

Charlotte Kay and Katie-Rose Campbell (both OGC 2015) continue to be integral members of the club, with Charlotte providing insight from her perspective:

“Despite one of us (me) still being utterly traumatised by our dramatic 2018 Grand Final loss, at least KatieRose can still relish the glorious moments of winning the 2019 Grand Final.

“We both confidently agree that our love for OGs extends much further than our beloved Lady Como Park. Both having stuck around for 108 games between us (give or take), the amazing friendships, memories and connections made off the field are what keep us coming back year after year.

“Being a part of the evolving world of women’s AFL has been an exciting couple of years, with the Old Geelong Football Club providing a home for all genders, ages and abilities. We always love to see Old Collegians coming down to the club and look forward to many more years of involvement. Plus we are totally driven to bring home Premierships this year. Go OGs.”