Greskie humbled by GDFL Life Membership

LONG-time Winchelsea president and club life member Daniel Greskie attended the GDFL presentation night to propose a toast to outgoing league president Neville Whitley.

But little did he know he would be announced as a GDFL life member after a decorated journey at the helm of the Blues.

“I was honoured to get that responsibility [of proposing a toast], so I was nervous about doing that, and then it got thrown on me just as I was going up,” Greskie admitted.

“There was a little bit of shock, because I was there for another reason, which I was very humbled about anyway. They stitched me up!

“I was actually nervous enough going up there to talk about Neville, because I know how much he’s done for our league, and football and netball in general.”

Greskie joined Winchelsea as a player in 2004, where he won multiple best and fairest and club awards before taking over as president in 2011, a role he will step down from at the end of the month.

He was also awarded the John Ensall Outstanding Service Award from AFL Barwon in 2018.

“It’s something I’ll reflect on later in life, just to be recognised for my contributions to our club and our league,” he said. “Just very humbling.”

Greskie reflected on the ups and downs in his tenure as president with the Blues.

“It’s probably the difficult times you look back on and be very fond of,” he explained.

“To get though the COVID period, not knowing what the future was going to hold for our club and not know what was going to happen.

“And more recently, tragically losing Ed Smith was something that I’ll look back on pretty fondly, that I was able to lead the club through a really difficult time.

“They’re two difficult times, but then there’s positives and when we won our first final at senior level in 2013, that was a very, very happy time.

“And even this year, getting the reserves into the finals for the first time in 20 odd years and seeing them win a final was also rewarding to see that.”

After 21 years at Eastern Reserve, Greskie said the club will always be a large part of his world, and he will continue to help out around the club. He will now prioritise his son, Hugh, and his first years playing football.

“It’s everything, it’s my life,” he said.

“It’s somewhere I’ve been going for over 20 years, I met my wife at the club, so it means a lot. I’ve made all my lifelong friends through the club and that’s the main part you treasure – all the memories and friendships you made in that time. So that’s something I’m very proud of.”

Greskie also thanked both the club and the league for their roles in his tenure.

“To the league executives that recognised my contributions, and always Neville Whitley who’s done 41 years of amazing service,” he said.

“As a president, I wonder where our league would be without his leadership.

“I’m very lucky and very fortunate to be involved in such a wonderful organisation. And the friendships you make with other clubs as well.

“It’s such a tight-knit football and netball league, and I’m very grateful for all the support that you get from the other club presidents.”