YOUNG OLD BOYS IMPRESS IN A SUMMER FOOTBALL CARNIVAL

ABOVE : SCOTCH AND MELBOURNE GRAMMAR TEAMS LINE UP AT THE HANGAR . BELOW : SCOTCH ’ S TEAM FOR THE MATCH AGAINST MELBOURNE GRAMMAR AT THE HANGAR .

In an effort to make up for some of what had been lost for the footballers from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 , a football carnival was held at ‘ The Hangar ’, Essendon Football Club ’ s new elite training and administration facility at Tullamarine on Sunday 12 December 2021 . While the sound of body on body , of umpire ’ s whistle and ringing bell on a warm summer ’ s day seemed a bit incongruous , an amazing day was had by all .

The young Old Scotch Collegians took on an Old Melburnians ’ team chosen from that school ’ s young Old Boys from 2020 and 2021 . Kicking with the aid of a slight breeze in the first term Old Scotch was out of the blocks quickly , kicking four goals to two . This lead was built on the back of a terrific attack on the ball and some outstanding ball movement . We consolidated our position with a strong second quarter , where we outscored our opponents into the breeze to go in at half-time leading by 22 points .

The boys were urged to keep up their work rate in the premiership quarter , and they put an emphatic full stop on the game with a seven-goal quarter , while keeping Old Melburnians scoreless . The boys continued to play with great energy in the final quarter and ran out 69-point winners . It should be noted that Old Melburnians were missing four AFL draftees , while we were missing Sam Darcy (’ 21 ).

Chance Daltry was adjudged best for Old Melburnians , while Angus Symons (’ 21 ) was best for Old Scotch .

The game was in many ways secondary to the occasion , and it was terrific to see the great camaraderie that existed between the two schools , which played the first recorded game of football on 7 August 1858 . I take this opportunity to thank the organising committee , comprising representatives from both Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College .

TIM SHEARER (’ 85 ) – PRESIDENT , OLD SCOTCH FOOTBALL CLUB

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