Arguably the best player to ever pull on a St Bedes / Mentone Tigers jumper, Luke Wintle this week play’s his 300th game for the Tigers, to become the first player to achieve this milestone for the club since amalgamation in 1993 of Mentone Football Club, St Bedes Old Collegians Football Club and Mentone Junior Football Club. Comprising 267 Senior and 33 Under 19 games, the big man has the honour of never having played a Reserves game. Space does not allow us room to list all of Luke’s achievements over such a long and illustrious career, but suffice to say there are many of them including, 2 Time Club Best & Fairest Winner, 4 times Runner up, many most consistent awards, best finals player, and a best first year player award.
Also known as Juice he is a Triple Premiership Captain through the Halycon years of 2006-2008. Luke also won the Jock Nelson and Ian Cordner Medals for BOG in the 08 AND 07 Grand Finals respectively. He was Club Captain from 2001-2008, was also named Captain of the best SBMT Team of the past 20 years, and was deservedly made a Life Member of the Club in 2009.
Besides his achievements at St Bedes / Mentone Tigers, Luke has been a Four Time VAFA State Representative, as well as being the Representative Captain in a stirring win over the VCFL at Shepparton in 2011. Luke was also named as the Captain of the VAFA Team of the Decade in 2010.
Outside of the above playing accolades, it is off the field and around the club where Luke has really left his mark on all of us. His affable demeanour and infectious nature, makes him a great leader, his knowledge of the game, coupled with a cool and level head, makes him popular amongst all his peers, – team mates and opponents alike.
His determination to come back from a “double groin” operation over the pre season to achieve this record breaking milestone just shows the make up of the man, his determination, his love for the game, the club, and his mates, totally shone through as he pounded the pavement for hours to get himself fit to make it, more importantly not totally for himself, but to help and contribute to the development of the younger players around him as we make an assault on our aim to go that one step further than 2013.
The family support for Luke has contributed greatly to his success, as it is a bit of a family affair at the Tigers. Lovely wife Kelly and his two young sons, both budding Tigers are his biggest fans, proud parents Margaret and Peter always there to lend and offer support, while brothers Paul and Michael both still playing have enjoyed the successes with Juice through this fantastic journey.
All at St Bedes / Mentone Tigers congratulate you Luke an achieving this wonderful milestone in your life, we wish you well in your endeavours today, we feel sure the boys will lift and win the game for you, you are indeed a “true club champion” and more importantly a “champion bloke”