First XVIII Senior Football The long awaited 2017 First XVIII campaign got underway in brilliant fashion. We welcomed newcomers St Joseph’s Ferntree Gully to the ACC with a big 100 point win with best and fairest winner Sam Torpy playing a superb game. The winning form continued in second game with another big win against De La Salle, giving the boys a lot of confidence in the early part of the season. Round three saw us travel to Whitefriar’s College where we were totally out classed by a spirited Whitefriar’s outfit who delivered our young side somewhat of a football lesson. We knew we could beat them with a full strength side but had to lick our wounds and move on to the next game, and that we did with a much talked about game against our rivals St Bede’s who famously beat us in a controversial Year 10 Grand Final in 2015. With history in the back of our minds, we delivered a solid four-quarter performance and welcomed the inclusion of Vic Country stars Matthew Ling and David Handley. Our next opponent was an improving Mazenod College which we were able to overcome to the tune of 10 goals. Then we had one of our bigger challenges of the year with an undermanned team against a red-hot St Bernard’s. The game was a good learning experience for the group as we looked to improve in the coming weeks. After the home and away season, we finished in 3rd place and had to travel to St Bede’s for a do or die semi-final. St Bede’s were aided by the inclusion of several of their stars, which we didn’t confront earlier in the season. It was a very brave and noble effort from the 24 boys who represented the College
leading all day with the exception of the last two minutes, to go down by nine points and ending our 2017 campaign. Obviously this was a disappointing result, but as Captain I was very proud of the team’s effort. With the season completed, focus then turned to acknowledging the individual efforts of our players. Future star Sam Torpy, Year 11, took home the Best and Fairest, leading goal kicker and the Greg Vaughan Most Courageous Player Award to cap off an amazing season. Another Year 11 student, Doyle Madigan, finished runner-up Best and Fairest which was a brilliant effort from the Torquay and Geelong Falcons star. Jack Purcell and Patrick Kelly took out the Coaches Award and Most Exemplary Player Award respectively. Further congratulations must go to Matthew Ling, Bayley Cockerill and Sam Torpy who were selected in the ACC Team of the Year, which is an amazing effort. On behalf of the players we would like to thank Mr Jonathan Holt and Mr Matthew Walsh. Their effort and dedication to the program is outstanding and the players really appreciate it. They have created such a strong tradition at our College which will hold us in good stead for many years to come. To everyone who helped behind the scenes, Ian Durran, Len Alford, Greg Vaughan, Mark Kennedy, Shane Dawson and Bryson Milverton, we greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into the team on a weekly basis. Although 2017 didn’t pan out as we had hoped, I have no doubt the First XVIII will come out bigger and better in 2018. - Bayley Cockerill, First XVIII Captain
First XVIII Football
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Back Row: Logan Mitchell, Thomas Ford, Patrick Kelly, Liam Dumont, Thomas McCartin, Benjamin Thomas, Tom O’Callaghan, Ayden Gras, Hayden Spiller, Zachary Walter, Colm O’Connor Third Row: Brayden Ham, David Handley, Louis Clifton, Carl Daffy, Tanner Sadler, Samuel Walsh, Jack Henderson, Lachlan Handley Second Row: Baxter Mensch, Sheldon Ham, Harrison Ling, Zachary Knights, Jack Purcell, Charlie Lang, Fletcher Wilson, Declan Fenton, Doyle Madigan Front Row: Jack Hodgson, Maxwell Kelly, Jack Brogden, Zack Mongelli, Bayley Cockerill, Matthew Ling, Andrew McNeel, Harley Pearce, Rory Cogan, Samual Torpy Coaches: Jonathan Holt, Matthew Walsh Assistant Coaches: Mark Kennedy, Ian Durran (absent) Manager: Greg Vaughan Trainers: Shane Dawson, Len Alford Water Boy: Michael Di Russo
