Scotch College

Good Omens for OS Football

An energetic and enterprising year by the Old Scotch Football Club has paid dividends with the club making its first finals appearance in four years and causing a major upset with its fifty point victory over Marcellin in the first semi-final. Although the team lost to eventual runners-up Old Xaverians in the Preliminary Final, there were some encouraging signs which augur well for the future.

"Throughout the season our emphasis was on youth and it paid dividends. We had one of the youngest sides in the A Section competition," club President Geoff Speed commented at the club's Presentation Night sponsored by Stillwell BMW.

Honours that night in the club's prestigious Best and Fairest Award went to Brad Robinson who won from Steve Hume.

Other trophy winners included Matt Saunders and Tristan Beranger (Senior Coaches Award), James Ross (Ian McKinlay Wilson Encouragement Award). Nick Hooper won the Reserves Best and Fairest award for the fifth time. Nick will break a new Club games record in 2003 when he plays his 300th game in Round 2. Andrew Smith is the current games record holder with 299. Nick has been a terrific member of the Club and all supporters will be encouraged to come down and cheer Nick on his big day. Nick Addison was runner up and Mark Lipshut won the reserves coaches award.

Although the club's Under 19 team just failed on percentage in its quest for a finals berth, its form over the last weeks of the season was outstanding. Its final round victory over rivals Marcellin for fourth spot on the ladder was not quite big enough to bridge the percentage gap between the teams. Regrets are useless but mathematicians in the club calculated that if Old Scotch had kicked 26-10 instead of

15-21 then the team would have edged Marcellin out of fourth spot! The team's Best and Fairest Award was won by Captain Will Lewis ('00) and Nick Parkinson ('00) was runner-up. Luke Kitchen ('00) won the coaches award whilst Simon Dumaresq ('01) won the Manson Russel Most Promising Player award. Charles Logan ('01) was the Best and Fairest Old Scotch player with St Leo's Under 19 team.

The Boroondara Cardinals Best and Fairest was won by Andrew Tesdorpf from Will Pearce. Tim Locock won the Coaches Award whilst Tony McGlin won the Most Promising Player award in the Under 17s. David Hughes ('61) was awarded the prestigious Bryan Gibbs Award for Distinguished Service. David has had a long association with the Club in many different capacities and is an outstanding winner of this award.

The club has a very positive outlook for season 2003 with the reappointment of Dale Tapping as Senior Coach and considerable interest shown by boys leaving school. Pre-season training will commence on Monday 9th December at 6.00pm at Scotch College.

All current players and new players are encouraged to attend. Training will re-commence after Christmas on Monday 20th January. Serge D'Angelo has been appointed as Reserves Coach and Lachie Waterman will be the new coach of the Under 19s.

The Senior 1st XVIII trophy winners, L to R: James Ross ('98 Encouragement Award), Tristan Beranger (Coaches Award), Brad Robinson (Best & Fairest), Dale Tapping (Senior Coach), Tim Finochiaro (Best in Finals), Matthew Saunders (Coaches Award), Steve Hume ('91 B & F runner up, Andrew Smith (Assistant Coach).

Bruce Brown
Staff