1999
B Section
President: Andrew Kennedy
Secretary: Ian Jervis
Treasurer: Tim Phillips
Firsts coach: Leigh Carlson
Reserves coach: Craig Neave
U19s coach (Section 2): Steve Maus
TEAM LEADERS
Firsts captain: Rob Phillips
Firsts vice-captain: Sam Kennedy, David Balazsy & Andrew Ramsden
Reserves captain: Fraser Cameron
Reserves vice-captain: Damien Glass
Reserves deputy vice-captain: Tim Cade
U19s captain: Christopher Russell
U19s vice-captain: Andrew Beever, Scott Dann & Michael Canzoneri
After the disappointing loss in the 1998 preliminary final, it was another year for us in B Section.
And change was afoot! In October 1998, Box Hill (VFL) wanted Leigh Carlson (ex-Collingwood and Fitzroy) as senior coach. And so did we. Thankfully, he chose us. And like Alec Gardiner in the 1970s, success was immediate. Carlson had previously coached Collegians to A Section premierships in 1993 & 1994 and as club stalwart Graeme Alford will remember on that very sunny day in the Cohen Room in late November 1998, Carlson told some of us very bluntly what we needed to do to stay in A Section. And no-one demurred. Thereafter, the 1999 B Section premiership always seemed a given though, in reality, it was never quite that easy.
In fact, in a very even competition, things were looking precarious at the halfway mark with the Firsts in 5th position on 5 wins and 4 losses, though just 3% behind third. But that was the time to get serious, and at the end of the year the Firsts were a clear game on top of the ladder, having won 12 games and lost 6. The Reserves after 9 matches were 7th on 3-6 but had a much better second half of the season and finished 5th on 9-9. At the halfway mark the U19s were languishing in 10th position with just 1 win and 8 losses. They too had a better second half but still finished 10th with four wins and fourteen losses.
In the second semi-final, the Firsts came from a goal down at three quarter time, to account for MHSOB and win promotion to A Section.
FIRSTS SECOND SEMI-FINAL:
Old Trinity: 2.4 3.9 6.9 8.14.62
MHSOB: 0.4 1.7 7.9 7.11.53
Goals: Stickland 4, C Phillips 2, Andrews, Frost
Best: C Phillips, Hatfield , Sutcliffe, Stickland, Stephens, L Kennedy
MHSOB won their way back into the grand final, and this time we were more emphatic. In addition to being back in A Section, we had a much savoured premiership.
FIRSTS GRAND FINAL:
Old Trinity: 13.9-87
MHSOB: 7.12-54
Goals: J Stickland 6, J Arrowsmith 2, C Frost 2, C Phillips 2, T Stephens
Best: S Kennedy, R Phillips, J Stickland, D Burrows, T Stephens, G Hatfield
Andrew Ramsden won the VAFA B Section best & fairest. He and Glenn Hatfield were selected in the senior state team, Scott Dann in the U19s and Andrew Hine in the U18s. Jamie Stickland topped the Club’s goal kicking for the fifth time with 85 goals.
AWARD WINNERS 1999
Firsts best & fairest (E.J. Weatherson Trophy): Andrew Ramsden
Runner-up: Rob Phillips & Travis Stephens
Firsts coach’s award (Trevor Norman Trophy): Colin Phillips
Firsts goalkicking: Jamie Stickland (85)
Reserves best & fairest: Tim Cade
Runner-up: Rod Heath
Reserves coach’s award: Simon Lauletta
U19s best & fairest: Andrew Hine
Runner-up: Jeremy Best
U19s coach’s award: Christopher Russell
U19s award for endeavour & commitment (John & Peter Quarterman Trophy): James Cornell
Best first year player: Christopher Frost
Best club person (Tony Lyons Trophy): Dean Peters
Life member: Graeme Alford
Life member: Doug Frood
150 games: Dave Balazsy
100 games: Damien Glass
100 games: Andrew Ramsden
100 games: James Stickland