Great Scot December 2019 Great Scot 158_December_ONLINE | Page 73

Football
CELEBRATING
ONE OF OLD
SCOTCH
FOOTBALL
CLUB’S BEST-
EVER YEARS
More than 350 Old Scotch Football Club
players and supporters packed into The Park
at Albert Park Lake on 4 October to enjoy the
club’s Gala Ball and Presentation Night, and to
celebrate one of the most successful years in
the club’s 98-year history.
Records suggest that the club had never
won more than one premiership in a calendar
year – until this year when three premierships
were secured (in Premier B Reserve, Under
19 Premier and Division 1 Women’s). All seven
of the club’s teams played finals, four of them
reaching grand finals, the club came second
in the VAFA club championship, and the senior
team earned promotion to Premier section.
Not only did the presentation night give the
club the opportunity to celebrate those who
delivered on-field success; it also enabled us
to thank the many people who so generously
serve the club as volunteers, as we strive to
create an inspirational environment for the
development of young people. Particular thanks
go to Sandra Dick for making the night the
success it was. Our MCs, Henry Dick (’09) and
Andrew Jelbart (’11), also did an excellent job.
Among the major awards, Tom Downie
won the men’s 1st XVIII best and fairest, from
James Sansom (’09) and Charlie Cormack
(’17). For the premiership-winning Old Scotch
Stars, Anna Hayes was best and fairest,
followed by Lily Goss and Mia Cowan. In the
men’s 2nd XVIII, Sam Neil (’11) was best and
fairest, from Ned Walmsley (’11) and Henry
Dick (’09). The men’s 3rd XVIII best and
fairest was Charlie Dixon (’12), ahead of Alex
Townsend (’14), second, and Julian Beard (’13)
and Will Strange (’07) who tied for third. Ben
Nicholls (’15) took out the top award in the
men’s under 23 team, with Sam Dawborn (’15)
second and David Zeitsman third.
ABOVE: OLD SCOTCH’S VICTORIOUS UNDER 19 PREMIER TEAM WITH THE PREMIERSHIP CUP.
BELOW: THE PREMIER B RESERVES CELBRATE AFER WINNING THE PREMIERSHIP
Best and fairest in the triumphant under 19
Premier team was James Tarrant (’17), ahead
of Hugh Longbottom (’17) and Cooper Lean
(equal second best and fairest). The under
19 (2) best and fairest was Ed Keith (’18),
with Angus Manson (’17) second and Charlie
Hocking (’18) third.
Callum McDonough (’10) and Angus
Harlock (’09) received awards for their 150
games with OSFC, and Ned Walmsley (’11),
Justin Nikolovski (’11), Jordan Clarke (’11) and
Sam Neil (’11) received 100-games awards.
The Bryan Gibbs Distinguished Service
Award went to Peter Edwards (’83), and the
Bill Pearson Most Valuable Person Award was
won by Gary Jackson.
In preparation for the 2020 season, the
club has appointed former player Mark Gnatt
as Senior Men’s Coach. Mark joined the club
in 2000 from VFL club Box Hill, debuting in
our men’s 1st XVIII and playing 84 games from
2000-06. In 2017 Mark was appointed coach
of our under 19 reserves team, taking over the
under 19 premier team during the season. In
2018 he coached our under 19 premier team
to a grand final, where we were runners-up.
This year Mark took the team to the VAFA
Under 19 Premier section premiership, our
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