Success in footy, friendship and life

WITH an average winning margin of ninety-four points, Ballarat YCW Football Club’s junior third eighteen side became champions and premiers of the 1969 footy season.

The team’s rover, Michael Walsh, said the boys played together for years, and many went onto play senior football together.

“We decided that we should have a reunion on the third Sunday of every May, until the last man is standing,” he said.

Fourteen of the 1969 premiership team players got back together this month, also celebrating milestone birthdays. Each man is turning, or would have turned 70 in 2021.

“Our under 14s group played for CYC, then when we all went up to under 16, we became YCW; green and white.

“We all played together through under 16s and 17s, and now we’re all still coming together at age 70,” Mr Walsh said.

Coached by Pat Collier, the under 18 YCW team printed in the 1969 grand final record also included Garry Forbes, Frank Segrave, Ray Boyd, Brendan Britt, Bernie Cummins, John Quick, Kevin Robinson, Paul Smith, Mick Dowd, Greg Jolly, Phillip Callahan, Kevin Kirby, Colin Kelly, Dennis Haintz, Gerard Sheehan, Jim Rinaldi, Gerard Fogarty, John Crowe, Vin Lang, Shane Moore, Leo O’Loughlin, and Bernie Colbert, captained by John ‘Jack’ Austin.

‘Captain Jack’ celebrated his 70th birthday last week.

“I went to YCW in under 16s. We happened to have a really crackerjack side of all terrific young guys who were brilliant footballers and kids, enjoying each other’s company and having a great time,” Mr Austin said.

“We had two years of under 16s and under 18, winning a couple of premierships, but the comradery and the bonds we forged were just fantastic, and we’ve been lifelong friends ever since.

“It was a lucky time in our lives where we were successful in football, but the main thing is our success as friends, and in later life, looking after each other. I look forward to coming to the reunion every year.”