Men's Program

Old Xavs Football Club 1927 Old Xaverians' Football Team

Old Xavs Football Club Old Xaverians Football Club, Season 1928

Old Xavs Football Club 1929 Old Xaverian Football team

Old Xavs Football Club 1933 Old Xaverian Football team

Old Xavs Football Club The 1948 smoke social

Old Xavs Football Club Jack Greenway led the boys out to Alphington Field in 1954.

Michael Fitzgerald The first-ever A Section Grand Final for the Old Xaverians resulted in a four point loss to Old Paradians. Skipper Peter Slattery, a perennial Big V selection, missed the game through illness.

Old Xavs Football Club IT WAS TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY The annual digital clock ticked over all four digits at once, for the second time in history and for the first and only time in our lives. The “Millennium Bug”, a rumoured computer virus on which governments and business wasted millions of dollars - just in case - didn’t fire a shot. People had been waiting for years for the New Year’s Party to end the century, and they celebrated . . . well, just like any other year, except in Sydney, of course, where they squandered a little bit extra on fireworks, which, according to city politicians, add something to any celebration. For Old Xaverians, the turn of the decade/century/millennium presented yet another challenge. After winning five LA Adamson Cups in five years, the Red ‘n’ Blacks prepared to go where no club had ever gone before: six flags in six years. University Blacks had won six consecutive premierships, but these were split by WWII - two before and four after. No small feat, but of course these were the days when many APS alumni, including Xavier’s, played under the spires wearing the Black and Blue. There was a new President, with Andrew McLean replacing a fourteen-year, very successful incumbent, Robbie Ralph. Ian Aitken and Terry Peters were additions to the match committee, joining Pat Hawkins and Chris Mortensen alongside two-time premiership coach Tim O’Shaughnessy. Michael Blood was again captain. O’Shaughnessy prepped his charges for the season, knowing that he had lost nearly half his premiership team of 1999. Just as challenging was the schedule – eighteen games without a bye and then straight into a three-week finals series, all in the cause of allowing Olympic mania and the ‘Cult of Cathy’ to build for September without any other sporting distractions. BACK ROW: PAT HAWKINS, ROBBIE DILLON, JAMIE KAY, ANDY GOWERS, JOHN BOWEN, AL MCQUEEN PARTON, DAN RICHARDSON, BEN CRANAGE, TIM FLEMING MIDDLE ROW: CHRIS MORTENSEN, CHRIS ELLIS, ADAM JONES, TIM GORDON, ANDREW BRUSHFIELD, JAMES HAWKINS, DAMIEN ORLANDO, LUCIEN DEANE-JOHNS, IAN ATKEN, TERRY PETERS FRONT ROW: LACHLAN FORD, DAVID LANDRIGAN, TIM O'SHAUGHNESSY, MICHAEL BLOOD, SIMON LETHLEAN, ANDREW DILLON, ADAM SASSI, ANDREW MCLEAN (PRESIDENT)

Old Xavs Football Club VAFA 2003 A Section GF Highlights Old Xaverians faced the red hot favourite St Bernard's at Elsternwick and overcame the odds to record its 8th A Section premiership. Tim Ockleshaw was judged the winner of the Jock Nelson Medal and Whispering Mike Sholly (coach) and Lachlan Ford (captain) hoisted the LA Adamson Cup.

Old Xavs Football Club 2005 First Semi Final - VAFA A Section

Old Xavs Football Club Where are they now? Rhys Ryan. A gifted player, who at any other club would have played 100 plus senior games. ‘Mirrors’ as he was known of the field, due to his hairstyle and not the size of his biceps as he suggests below, is now settled in New York with this family, but keeps a close eye on the Xavs. Where Are They Now? This week we catch up with one of the great characters of the Old Xavs, Rhys Ryan. A gifted player, who at any other club would have played 100 plus senior games. ‘Mirrors’ as he was known of the field, due to his hairstyle and not the size of his biceps as he suggests below, is now settled in New York with this family, but keeps a close eye on the Xavs. I started with Old Xavs '95 in the under 19s, where we lost the Grand Final to Uni Blues. We won the flag the next year against Uni Blues. I was playing full back and my statistics were as follows: Kicks: 0, Handballs: 0, Marks: 0, Single-fisters: 0, Double-fisters: 47, Encouraging Comments: 284 (Rhys has been the finest exponent of the ‘double-fisted’ spoil in the clubs 87 year history). Then played twos for about 4 years. Given my nickname in early 96 due to my substantial pipes. Brett Kirk-esque durability: Hold the record for consecutive weeks [77] in the senior training squad without ever having achieved a senior home and away game. I frustrated the more talented members of the club with my floaters and ankle-height handballs during Hanna's drill. I once played 7 consecutive quarters in 30-degree heat in the seconds and then firsts in Feb 98. Airlifted to Wodonga hospital soon after. Was told I could be in the senior training squad on the strength of my efforts. See above. Won three more flags in the twos, 97, 98, 99 I think? (the 2’s won in 97 and 98, but not 99) Played in a West Coast-esque back six with Tuddenham, Lechte, Jr Bourke, Nordberg and another one I can't remember. Played two years on and off with the Menages somewhere around 2002-2005. My best playing days were behind me but was privileged to be coached by "playing" coach Paul Peos. In 2005-06 I played a couple of seasons with the New York Magpies. Broke my arm in USAFL Grand Final in Vegas. Switched beer to left hand. Played a year with the Crocs, won the 07 flag and was gifted a charity B&F by Large and Ben Perry, then promptly retired. Favourite memory: the infamous Paul Peos "Sweet Dreams" incident. Also, beating St Bernard's at the Snakepit in 96. They went the knuckle, we won by 181 points. Two of them ended up in the Alfred overnight. Golden memories. Current involvement: Regular unsolicited, uninformed advice to Ted Woodruff. Standing on the hill at Elsternwick occasionally. Job: one of many "Vice-Presidents" working in corporate affairs for Edelman in New York. [It's a PR company].

Old Xavs Football Club DILES DO IT AGAIN TO DITCH THREE YEAR DROUGHT. Old Xavs: 11-12-78 OM's: 6-6-42 What a great day, and what a fantastic performance by the Crocs on Sunday. The boys showed the spirit and determination that the boys with the green socks have always shown over the last 25 years! Kicking with the wind in the first quarter our boys were a little wasteful in front of the big sticks and came in at the first break with six behinds and no goals. To make matters worse, the AllStars were able to kick 2 valuable goals into the wind. Fair to say that the OM’s came out with a bit of confidence in the second term and the Crocs defence was put under immense pressure. The Dark Blues added another three goals, but kicking two goals into the wind gave the Lime Hose a lot of confidence going into the major break. The third quarter is often called the premiership quarter and it was critical that we put on some scoreboard pressure, and build a decent three- quarter time gap. Four goals four to no score was a great effort, but would it be enough to hold the Grammarians? Into the last, and the Crocs kicked an early goal, then another. Their confidence was up across the ground, with forwards firing and defence determined. Corcs kicked a snapped goal, and when Silky ran into an open goal and pumped it through, it was all over. A five goal to one last quarter, kicking into the wind, was the stuff of legend. How much of an effect did Roo Nolen’s bombshell have on his troops, and was it the difference? No-one will ever know. What will be known for evermore is that the Crocs are the 2010 Club XVIII Premiers! Goal Kickers: T. Byrne 2, T. Silk 2, J. Arnold 2, M. Davies, W. Martin, N. Corcoran, W. Ireland, D. Parry Best Players: M. Davies, N. Hulett, S. Montgomery, N. Silk, N. Larkins, W. Martin

Old Xavs Football Club After three long, arduous, starving, flagless seasons, the mighty Diles saluted again, scoring the Norm Nugent Cup

Old Xavs Football Club New OXFC Life Members At the 2011 Presentation Night held last September at the Caulfield Racecourse the club inducted 7 new Life Members. Jack Bowen, a Life Member himself announced each of the new inductees and spoke briefly of their contribution to the club. A function is planned for later in the year to honour the new Life Members. Above from left to right: Stephen Curtain, Luke Hannebery, Andrew Ralph, Jack Bowen, Davina Connors-Calhaem, John Noonan, Robert Ralph, and President Simon Hunt (absent Barry Richardson and David King)

Old Xavs Football Club 2013 was a record season for the Old Xavs with 6 of our 7 teams making Grand Final, and 4 teams winning Premierships

Old Xavs Football Club Xavs versus St Bernards

Old Xavs Football Club The Old Xavs Thirds Premiership song in the rooms at Elsternwick Park

Old Xavs Football Club Old Xavs v DLS - Final Quarter, 2017 Round 1 Reigning premier Old Xavs trailed at the final break in R1, but came home with a wet sail, booting seven goals without reply in the final stanza.

Old Xavs Football Club Old Xaverians Football Club Distinguished Number 1s By Leslie Steeves | Published January 30, 2018 The Old Xavs red and black jumper has been worn by over 2,100 players. Some of the players had short stints, while other players and coaches delivered many years of service, on the field and sometimes off the field. They have kept the spirit of the Old Xavs burning throughout the years. Of course, the club had a rocky start. But, in the last 30 decades, the Old Xavs have flourished immensely. Here, you will learn about players, coaches, and officials who made noteworthy contributions to the Old Xavs. Some like the first captain-coach Alan Keane, have been made life members. You can learn more about the following Old Xavs on their THE LOCKER ROOM page; https://www.oldxavs.com.au/locker1 Alan Keane Alan Keane was a member of the first team that represented the Old Xavs in 1923. He had played in Xavier’s College XVIII team that clinched the 1917’s APS premiership. In 1924, he earned the maiden “best and fairest.” The “best and fairest,” also called the “fairest and best” is a recognition afforded to a player with the best performance over a season or game. Sometimes the player should not have any suspension for misconduct during the entire season. Michael Blood At (6 ft. 4 in), Michael Blood traumatised opponents on the field with his aggression and became one of the most feared Old Xavs player to face. During his many goals for the team, he would drag teammates along with him. His unconquerable will, helped the Old Xaverians to clinch A Section flags consecutively for six years. Some of his other achievements: Premiership player (1995-2000) Premiership Captain (1997, 98, 99, 2000) The Clubs Four Best and Fairest winner Won the Jock Nelson Medal Twice (1995, 97) Clinched the Woodrow Medal in 1997 212 Games for the Old Xavs Old Xavs Life Member Michael Blood also captained the Big V on five occasions. In 2014, he was made a Big V Club Champion. Anthony Fox took over the number one jumper from Blood. His first assignment was to shrink the Guernsey jumper Blood wore. However, most of his time was spend in injury. Michael Rush Michael Rush was a superb Old Xav. He came to the Old Xavs in 1975, before the club ever won any premiership flag. He played in the club’s Premier C section team who had last won a trophy in the section in 1938 –the club’s first win in the VAFA. After 58 games, Michael suffered a knee injury that ended his career. Despite this change of fortunes, he assumed various roles off the field as a recruiter, advocate, and committee member. He guided the senior team back to the premiership in the year 1990. The Old Xavs second win after winning the 1981 premiership, would come five years later in 1995. He is also remembered for being very vocal. Michael died in 2004 after a battle with brain cancer. Currently, outstanding life members have been awarded the Michael Rush Perpetual Trophy since the year 2006. Other players to have won the number one red and black jumper include Cas Keogh (best and fairest 1955), Phil Callil (73 games), Nick Bye (72 games) and among others. Clay Johnston is the current number one.

Old Xavs Football Club A tribute to Jack Bowen's life and contributions to Old Xaverians Football Club achievements was held last June 1, 2018.

Old Xavs Football Club Best Goals of 2019

Old Xavs Football Club Which hit was bigger, Anderson or Morris?

Old Xavs Football Club Old Xaverians Football Club is one of the most successful clubs in the history of the VAFA, although it hasn’t always been that way. The club has won the most premierships of all clubs, however in the 1970s Old Xaverians found themselves at their lowest ebb, spending a couple of seasons in D Section. However, by the end of the decade the club was on the way up. They won four senior premierships in a six-year period, D (1976), C (1978), B (1980) and their first ever A Section (1981) premiership. Whilst this explosion of success stagnated for another 14 years, the introduction of the Club XVIII competition and the now famous Crocodiles meant Xavs seemingly always had something to celebrate. The winning culture of the club has to be admired by every other VAFA club. This is highlighted by the club claiming an unprecedented 12 of the last 23 Premier Section (A Section) premierships, the glory period was the six A Section flags they won in a row from 1995-2000. On top of this the club has dominated the Club XVIII and Thirds competitions since their inception and have also won their fair share of reserves and U19 pennants too. In 2017, they formed part of the eight-team Premier Section in the first-ever VAFA women’s competition

Old Xavs Football Club Sadly season 2020 did not eventuate due to the severe impact of COVID and Melbourne's lockdowns.

Old Xavs Football Club The Old Xaverians Football Club has lost one of its esteemed and beloved lifetime member, William Caroll. Thank you Bill for all your service for almost seven decades. You will be surely missed.

Old Xavs Football Club Since 1923 the Old Xav’s have been part of the VAFA. After years of underperforming, they started to put the wheels in motion with a Division pennant in 1976. The flag of 1981 became the first of the 14 A-section flags that sit proudly in the club’s home base of Toorak Park. Arguably, the best performing team in VAFA history came from Old Xav’s from 1995 – 2000 winning 6 A-Section premierships in a row! Enjoy the history of Old Xaverians Football Club through the eyes of former President Jack Bowen, current President Matt Cosgrave, club games record holder David Landrigan & 3x Premiership coach of Xav’s Barry “Bones” Richardson.

Old Xavs Football Club Vale Dick Stanley The Old Xaverians Football Club mourns the passing of Dick Stanley, who died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday at the age of 78.

Old Xavs Football Club THE LONG RED 'N' BLACK LINE September 07, 2020 Year Rank 1923 10 1924 15 1925 15 1926 15 1927 16 1928 14 1929 19 1930 23 1931 25 1932 23 1933 14 1934 19 1935 24 1936 25 1937 28 1938 21 1939 18 WWII 1946 15 1947 18 1948 11 1949 7 1950 10 1951 20 1952 27 1953 27 1954 22 1955 15 1956 17 1957 12 1958 3 1959 3 1960 5 1961 9 1962 11 1963 4 1964 2 1965 6 1966 8 1967 9 1968 16 1969 16 1970 17 1971 19 1972 25 1973 29 1974 34 1975 34 1976 31 1977 23 1978 21 1979 13 1980 11 1981 1 1982 6 1983 8 1984 7 1985 10 1986 12 1987 2 1988 2 1989 7 1990 9 1991 12 1992 8 1993 3 1994 3 1995 1 1996 1 1997 1 1998 1 1999 1 2000 1 2001 4 2002 2 2003 1 2004 6 2005 1 2006 2 2007 1 2008 3 2009 1 2010 1 2011 3 2012 2 2013 1 2014 6 2015 6 2016 1 2017 5 2018 7 2019 3

Old Xavs Football Club Ten years after winning back-to-back!

Old Xavs Football Club Who can ever forget this momentous event 10 years ago?

Old Xavs Football Club Vale Greg Gibson We are saddened to learn of the passing of Greg Gibson, who died on Wednesday just days short of his 80th birthday. Greg played with both the Old Xaverians Football and Cricket Clubs in the 1960s after starring at both sports at Xavier, where he had the rare distinction of captaining both the XVIII and the XI. He was a mainstay of the Red ‘n’ Blacks, playing 136 games, often turning out alongside younger brothers John and Bede. He was a member of the 1962 B Section premiership team, lining on grand final day on a half-forward flank. Under instruction, he played as wide as possible, so wide that he became almost a loose man in attack, as his opponent went chasing kicks. Gibson was vice-captain of the 1964 team under Peter Rhoden that went very close to winning the club’s first A Section premiership.

Old Xavs Football Club Some 2021 action from 1st bounce into the season, again interrupted by COVID