Footy boss driving Eagles’ silverware restoration

A COMMITTED member of the East Geelong Football Netball Club has embarked on an ambitious task to restore nearly a quarter of a century of the club’s history before the start of the 2025 season.

The football season might be over for this year, but East Geelong football director Michael O’Leary said the club’s crowd funding initiative had just begun.

The initiative aims to raise enough funds to re-create 22 senior football premiership trophies, which were either lost or destroyed in a fire in the 1960s at the club’s old pavilion at Richmond Crescent.

Only the 1993 and 2009 premiership cups are still intact.

Funding the remaining 22 trophies won in the Geelong & District Football League and the Geelong District Football Association is expected to cost the club $16,000.

Mr O’Leary’s self-imposed end date to complete the cup restorations is the start of next season.

The Eagles are also motivated to get the restoration in a timely fashion, with the club’s 150th year fast approaching.

“That 150th year was a big reason for us deciding to launch this fundraiser, and once we started doing our Teams of the Decades, we consistently thought about doing something that allows our past players to properly celebrate their successes over the years,” Mr O’Leary said.

“With netball now performing at such a high level as well, having won two of the past three A Grade premierships, we’re running out of room quickly, which also played a factor in our timing to launch the initiative.

“I think showing our history and success from over the year is important.”

East Geelong Football Netball Club will celebrate its sesquicentennial in 2029 and will fully intend to have a full gallery of silverware by then.

Mr O’Leary, who has been at the club his whole life, added he feels a sense of duty to complete lead the fundraising efforts given he is the only person at the club to have played in both the 1993 and 2009 flag year.

Two new cabinets will also be constructed in the pavilion to cater for the extra space required.

“I can remember back to the ’80s when we were in a few grand finals, so I’m pretty wired when it comes to the club’s history,” Mr O’Leary said.

“I felt compelled to take this on as an initiative; you know, why not celebrate all of the other premierships as well?

“It’s a big wad of money, but we’re on the way. That’s the main thing. We’re off to a good start.”

The fundraiser has made good progress in its first two weeks, accumulating more than $3,000 and has received encouraging support from individuals at several other clubs.

All donations are welcome with donations greater than $400 warranting the donor’s name or names being placed on one of the replacement cups.

To make a donation, send any given amount to Acc: 110 618 675, BSB: 633 000 and email [email protected] to confirm the donation.