1983
E Section
President: Stuart Stockdale
Secretary: Andrew Birrell
Treasurer: Tony Scott
Coach: Mark Walters
Reserves coach: John Anderson
TEAM LEADERS
Firsts captain: Craig Robison. Craig was barely a third of the way through a playing career that would net him a staggering 308 games and three state representations.
Firsts vice-captain: Andrew Maizels
Firsts deputy vice-captain: Steve Adgemis
Reserves captain: John N Adgemis
Reserves vice-captain: not recorded
In 1982 we had held on in E Section, which was a significant “win” after the disastrous previous few years.
Norm Latchford who had taken on the Presidency when the Club faced extinction in 1981 retired after two years. Stuart Stockdale took on the role.
David O’Shaughessy was selected in the State CDEF team, and Darren Scott in the U18s.
1983 saw the Club move to the Trinity playing fields in Bulleen. While the drainage was not great in the early days, and the club had to move away for a few years in the late 80’s, it marked the first time the Club had a real home.
Finally, there were signs that the tide might be starting to turn. After nine rounds the Firsts were 3rd with 6 wins and 3 losses. The Reserves were 4th also with 6-3. The Firsts maintained their form and ended the season in 3rd position with 12 wins and 6 losses. The Reserves finished 4th with 12-6. Having both teams in the finals was a huge step forward.
The Firsts had to win two finals to escape E Section, and three to be premiers. They started in in convincing fashion.
FIRSTS FIRST SEMI-FINAL:
Old Trinity: 5.1 7.4 11.8 18.9.117
Peninsula O.B.: 3.2 7.2 12.5 13.7.85
Goals: Birrell 5, Brent 4, Scott 3, Heath 2, Karvela 2, O'Shaughnessy, Carroll
Best: Birrell, Borghesi, Maizels, Outen, Masters, Carroll
And then they also won the preliminary final to storm into the grand final, and more importantly up to D Section.
FIRSTS PRELIMINARY FINAL:
Old Trinity: 4.1 13.7 15.7 21.10.136
Balaclava: 2.7 5.8 13.12 16.15.111
Goals: Brent 6, Scott 4, Birrell 3, Karvela 3, Allibon 2, Borghesi, O'Shaughnessy, Wardrop
Best: Borghesi, Carroll, Wardrop, Allibon, Scott, Karvela
But sadly, the OTs lost the grand-final. Perhaps understandable, as Thomastown had not lost a game in 1983.
FIRSTS GRAND FINAL:
Thomastown: 8.5 12.6 17.9 21.12.138
Old Trinity: 2.1 6.2 9.5 14.9.93
Goals: Brent 3, Scott 3, D. Birrell 3, O’Shaughnessy 3, G. Heath, Maizels
Best: D. Birrell, Robison, Masters, Adgemis, Wardrop, Beer
But Old Trinity was out of E Section. Upwards!!!
In their first semi-final, the Reserves managed a very tight win over Heatherton.
RESERVES FIRST SEMI-FINAL;
Old Trinity: 7.10.52
Heatherton 7.8.50
Goals: Lewicki 4, Heath 2, Miller
Best: Purcell, Lumsden, Lewicki, Birrell, Stockdale, Galjar
But it was season over when they lost the preliminary final to Thomastown.
RESERVES PRELIMINARY FINAL;
Thomastown: 3.2 4.6 5.8 10.12.72
Old Trinity: 3.1 5.3 9.5 9.7.61
Goals: Miller 3, Heath 3, Tankey 2, Easton
Best: Moore, Lockwood, Adgemis, Heath, Birrell, Lumsden.
AWARD WINNERS 1983
Firsts best & fairest (E.J. Weatherson Trophy): Andrew Allibon
Runner-up: Steve Adgemis
Third: Dave O’Shaughnessy
Firsts coach’s award: not recorded
Reserves best & fairest: Andrew Birrell
Runner-up: Broughton Lumsden
Reserves coach’s award: not recorded
Best first year player: Bill Karvela
Best club person (Tony Lyons Trophy): John Anderson.
100 games: Peter Beer
100 games: Andrew Birrell
100 games: David Birrell
100 games: Craig Robison