MEMORIES OF ST. BEDES O.C. FOOTBALL CLUB
By Greg Kelly
I recall my first year with St. Bedes Old Collegians and it was the second year for St. Bedes in the VAFA back in 1973. Some of the players involved that year include:
- 77GF SBOCFC Tony Vaughan – Club record holder with 250 games and now a member of the VAFA Independent Tribunal.
- Brian Irving – Played in excess of 150 games, ex-Committee member and Reserves coach for a number of years.
- John Bradbury – Played in excess of 100 games and Reserves coach for a number of years. (Currently has a son playing in the Under 16s.)
- Peter McCormack – A 200 game player. Ex-Committee member and past President.
- Tim Kurth – A 200 game player. Ex-captain and served on the Committee.
- Mick Callaghan – Played in excess of 150 games and served on the Committee.
- Geoff Terrell – Played in excess 150 games. Ex-captain and winner of Best and Fairest.
- Mick Roberts – First played in 1973. An ex-captain coach, he won six Best and Fairest awards – an achievement unlikely to be equalled.
- Dave Evans – Played in excess of 100 games and triple Best and Fairest winner.
- Paul Hulett – A stalwart both on and off the field. Ex-Committee member and past President.
- Tom Hynes – An ex-Swans player. Coach from 1973 to 1975.
- Gerry Shannan – Reserves coach from 1973 to 1974. Although his playing career was cut short by a serious shoulder injury he served as a Committee member for more than ten years, including several terms as President.
Most of these past achievers have been spotted at the Mentone Oval over the past two seasons. A few of them have attended on a regular basis, which is pleasing to see. The first game that season in 1973 was against Fawkner, which was their first game in the VAFA. Mick Callaghan was best on ground that day, a rare feat as Mick would become more accustomed to regular Saturday afternoon visits to Prince Henry’s hospital rather than gathering Best and Fairest votes. St. Bedes and Fawkner were also to play in the last game that same year in the F Grade Grand Final.
Just for the record, St. Bedes played Fawkner three times in 1973 (F Grade), twice in 1974 (E Grade) and twice in 1984 (D Grade), losing all encounters. In 1973 and 1974, Fawkner had a gruesome character named ‘Mad Max’ and as witnessed this season, nothing seems to have changed. Watching the first game at home this year it was interesting to hear John Bradbury remark, “You know, it’s taken twenty years to beat these b——s !”