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\u201cOur under 14s group played for CYC, then when we all went up to under 16, we became YCW; green and white.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all played together through under 16s and 17s, and now we\u2019re all still coming together at age 70,\u201d Mr Walsh said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019Loughlin, and Bernie Colbert, captained by John \u2018Jack\u2019 Austin.<\/p>\n
\u2018Captain Jack\u2019 celebrated his 70th birthday last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u2019s company and having a great time,\u201d Mr Austin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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\u2019ve been lifelong friends ever since.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WITH an average winning margin of ninety-four points, Ballarat YCW Football Club\u2019s junior third eighteen side became champions and premiers of the 1969 footy season. The team\u2019s rover, Michael Walsh, said the boys played together for years, and many went onto play senior football together. \u201cWe decided that we should have a reunion on the […]<\/p>\n