First XVIII Senior Football _______________________Page

In 2014, 40 of the most talented Year 10 footballers stood in a circle on Carey Oval holding a heavy rope in the air for 5 minutes straight. We were together, united, each doing our bit to contribute. Three years later, many of those boys stood in a circle on the home of football, the MCG, and belted out ‘Ad Alta Virtute’ having just won the Herald Sun Shield by a point. It was a surreal moment and one that we will remember for the rest of our lives. The story of the 2016 First XVIII Football team is one that featured mateship, comradery, buy-in and good old fashioned hard work. For the Year 12s, it was to be our last chance to pull on the St Joseph’s jumper that had seen us win Year 10 and Year 11 ACC premierships. 50 players would go on to represent the school from 14 local clubs from around the Geelong region, all of them contributing and standing up when needed. In round one versus St Bede’s, 13 boys pulled on the First XVIII jumper for the first time, but it was captain Darby Schilder who starred with a 3-goal best on ground performance to get us over the line by 15 points. Round two was the 2015 ACC Grand Final replay versus Whitefriars and was set to be a nail biter from the very first bounce. However, with the healthy inclusions of Paddy Dowling (5 goals), Jack Henry and Mitch Diamond, we never looked like dropping off, defeating the school rivals by 42 points. However, over the next three weeks our depth would be hugely tested with 40 players being called upon. Despite pulling off a 108-point victory against Mazenod, Parade were too good for us and we just held on versus De La Salle. The final round was an iconic one, with the first night game under lights in ACC history down at Geelong West. With tough, wet conditions facing a near full strength Joey’s army, the renowned Reconciliation Match was a battle against St Bernard’s College. An unusual pre-game dance from Jack Blood and Aadyn Sleep-Dalton committed in the spirit of the game, the contested presence and display of “The Juice” proved far too much from the top team to handle. Going home with a 27-point defeat to dissect. Jack Blood was also a worthy recipiant of the Reconciliation Medal for his best-on-ground performance. Finals footy was a goal, and the boys managed to squeeze through to the ACC premiership for a second time in a row after a tough battle against Whitefriars. The ACC premiership was another stepping stone to the MCG, however it did not come easy and fullback Josh Jaska may have felt the physicality of the game more than anyone, stopping a potential game changing sure goal with one of the most courageous tackles the ACC has ever seen. The come from behind 9-point win was led by best on grounder Jack Rice and was the start of the tough games to come. The Herald Sun Shield semi-final was another tight contest, with an Essendon Keilor player shooting in the dying seconds to secure the win, the rapid come back caught St Joseph’s off guard. However, it was going to be the Joey’s boys that were going to the MCG to battle St Patrick’s College who were in their seventh straight Herald Sun Shield Grand Final.

- Jack Blood & Darby Schilder, First XVIII Co-captains

First XVIII Football

Back Row: Wade McSparron, Joshua Jokic, Caleb Whitley, Xavier Blackley, Tom O’Callaghan, Joshua Jaska, Benjamin Thomas, Spiro Alesios, Liam Higgins, Peterson Kol, Thomas Ford, Manvir Nagra Third Row: Thomas Foley, Zachary Walter, Patrick Dowling, Jack Walters, Johnathon Arcoraci, Jack Rice, Aadyn Sleep-Dalton, Charles Francis, Carl Daffy, Andrew McNeel Second Row: Fraser Toohey, Jack Brogden, Brayden Ham, David Handley, Xandar Harrison, Jack Purcell, Jack Quinn, Samuel Walsh, William Cann, Zack Mongelli, Harley Pearce Front Row: Darby Edwards, Charlie Lang, Matthew Ling, Bayley Cockerill, Darby Schilder, Jack Blood, Mitchell Diamond, Samuel Simpson, Ned Harris, Jack Hodgson Absent: Keegan Cuolahan, Mackenzie Heard, Jack Henry, Harrison Ling, Riley Maloney, Logan Mitchell, Thomas Saunders, Aaron Stone Director of Sport: Bryson Milverton Coaches: Chris Lynch, Jonathan Holt Trainers: Shane Dawson, Len Alford Team Manager: Greg Vaughan Runner: Mark Kennedy