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 www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot 73