The Old Carey Football Club’s Annual General Meeting took place last Wednesday Evening (6 November 2024).

A most successful year on-field – was backed up by a sound year off-field.
Financially, the club’s position is slightly worse off (-$3k) – however; the club’s cash-at-hand position remains healthy.
The loss can be attributed to the significant costs associated with extending the season into September [Finals – $10-12,000] (umpires & trainer costs making up the most of this). The club bears no debts as it currently stands. Our operational costs for 2024 were $231k – Sponsors, Player Subs, Coterie & Raffles are our main contributors to revenue.

The election of officebearers [see here] for 2025 ran seamlessly with most significant executive positions retained.

The notable change is the transition of treasurer from Jim McDonald to Lachy Godden – the changeover commenced in the middle stages of 2024.

 

The President & Football Report have been shared below:

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President’s Report – AGM

Last year we said “2023 was a great success BUT it won’t necessarily be the year people speak about for years to come” & now we know that is because 2024 truly usurped it. Over summer we knew we were improving rapidly, but we projected great things to be 18months off. This view was validated when we were unceremoniously trounced in round 2.

The shift in belief began to crystalise with a character-building win at Trevor Barker Oval against Hampton – it was serendipitous for us to arrive at the same location against the same opponent 16weeks later – with the cup standing between us and them.

It’d be easy to talk all day about the senior men’s football program, but I won’t – the success there, is a by-product of getting lots of other little things right – below are just a few of these critical things that are building a strong club.

Positional Appointments – we are identifying and attracting good people into our positions of responsibility, from our office-bearers, our volunteers and then there is the paid ensemble, which takes in the coaches and support staff and the trainers. I’ve given Bails (Men’s Coach) and Dobbo (Women’s Coach) many plaudits, but perhaps their greatest strength has been identifying complementary people outside the program and bringing them in.

Partner Relationships – we’ve invested significant time and energy into making sure Old Carey Football Club is the club of choice for Carey students and then by extension that they are sufficiently proud enough to invite their ‘outside’ mates down to the club. Players aside key relationships include the Old Carey Grammarians Association, the School and its football program, the Facilities team, the VAFA and also VFL/Coates League as and when required.

Community Engagement – We ran Past Players, New (& Current) Parents, Ladies Day, Cookies Kitchen, Reverse Raffle, Coterie Dinner, a Season Launch and a Best & Fairest Events (plus our hastily arranged Grand Final Luncheon). There truly was an event for every demographic and we aim to raise the stakes again in 2025. We are committed to afternoon teas upstairs every Dunshea home game and will seek to run them at no cost next year – we need you up in the rooms for these as they’re a community builder.

Participation Costs – I’ve been at the club for 10 years and am proud to say that despite our operational costs rising significantly – the playing subs remain the same ($350-$450) and I’m certain this keeps players at our club. I’m aware of clubs shifting to north of $750 and here we are at Old Carey for a second season we delivered free women’s football.

Financial Backing – the above isn’t achievable without significant backing from a number of generous Sponsors and Donors – John Hands and Tim Harkness continued their Major Sponsorships this year (JH22 + Courtney & Patterson Ford) while we again had a flotilla of Gold and Silver Sponsors (St Andrews Hotel, The Rising Sun Hotel, Kay & Burton, Instinct Health, The Butcher Club, Imperial Wealth & OCGA. We welcomed Vic Sawing & Drilling, WaterBoy, 19^th on Putters and Bendigo Bank. Lastly; we had several very generous silent contributions. If you spend money in any of these industries and sectors – I’m implore you to choose them with your next purchase, as they are putting it straight back into our club.

Beyond our packaged sponsorships we again ran our Tax-Deductible Australian Sporting Foundation Fundraising, our Coterie Group and the improved contributor for 2024 was the Player Sponsorships ($900) which parents and local businesses embraced. Can I say, if you see your child(ren) enjoying their social connection through community sports and you can afford to – please find ways to contribute more toward it. Community sport is transformative, but it is also on life support in many areas, as volunteers dry up and operational costs rise.

Player Engagement – We have players who are seeking to be full time footballers right through to players who are filling in just to ensure their close mates get to have a game on the weekend. While the journeys and goals are different – the common denominator is that they need to enjoy it. This balance can be tricky and our coaches have danced this line really well in 2024.

Overall – In 2024 we introduced an additional team – a men’s thirds – they made the grand final in their first try and it takes us up to 5 teams. Our two most successful sides from 2023 (Under 19 and Womens) stepped up a level and finished 4^th and 5^th respectively. The Reserves played finals after a challenging 2023. From this, you can see all five sides experienced growth. When the dust settled at the end of 2024 – 231 players  participated in games for the club. The school accommodate us wonderfully and usually host 3 games for us and occasionally 4 – we work in well with the soccer club too and change facilities is the biggest challenge at Bulleen, we appreciate getting access to Ford Park in Ivanhoe (YJFL Headquarters to spread the load a bit and thank Bulleen JFC for allowing us some overflow training space two nights a week. We are growing significantly and have a lot of strategic planning and projects to work through over the next 24months.

We hope you enjoyed 2024 as much as we have.

Michael Tarrant  – Club President

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Coaching | Football Report

Our 70^th year was a year to celebrate and one of the most successful in the club’s history, with four of the five senior sides making finals, two grand final appearances and the clubs sixth Senior Premiership. The year will be remembered for the seniors stunning Grand Final performance and season, but it is the development of a strong, young senior core and the building of an inclusive, welcoming and connected culture that will set our club up for the years ahead.

Season 2024 saw the return of the Men’s thirds, and what a successful return it was as well. Led by Michael Mitchell, the 3’s made it all the way to the Division 3 North Grand Final, narrowly missing out on pulling off one of the upsets of the year in the VAFA, losing to the formidable Old Xavierian “Crocs”.

Whilst they didn’t take home the ultimate prize, the return of this group for the club was significant, providing a reconnection for many of our old boys to return to the club and to footy. This team is vital for the club’s long-term goal of providing opportunity to play for the breadth of our community, from those looking to play at the highest level possible, to those looking for social and less time commitment around school, work and travel.

The Threes also provided strong support for our development and Under 19 programs, allowing players who missed selection a game or in the case of the development team, helped fill that team during the colder winter months. Mitch and Chris Angus are congratulated on their efforts with the threes, and we look forward to this program growing over the coming years with strong numbers coming out of the school.

Adam “Lefty” Wright took the helm of the Development program in 2024, replacing Zac “Fridge” Lisle. Lefty, who has been a long time Senior Assistant at the club was selfless when asked to fill the role, with the club identifying the need for an experienced Senior Coach to fast track the development of our young list and compliment the senior program.

Fourteen wins and a finals appearance marked a significant improvement for our development group, though they will lament a wasted opportunity, with the group losing a thriller to Hampton Rovers in the first semi. Often playing with 18 or 19 each week, inconsistent commitment and travel commitments hindered what was otherwise an excellent season. The Away win against Hampton Rovers and excellent win against Ajax in round 18 highlighted what the group was capable of.

With a significant number of 19s transitioning to the senior group and the growth of our 3’s and senior groups, 2025 looks to be a very positive opportunity for our development group. With application and consistency, they have an opportunity to be very competitive in Prem B reserve in 2025.

Our Under 19 group was promoted following their premiership in 2023 and acquitted themselves well in Division 1, Fourteen Under 19 players played senior football in 2024, including between 8-10 each week. To make the finals in Division 1, of a very strong VAFA Under 19 competitions highlights the strength of our squad. 50 players representing the club is also hugely positive, with a significant number of our 19s group making up our senior premiership side.

Carey Grammar had four (4) Year 11/12 teams in 2024, which bodes well for the program and our club. 2024 was Keith “KP” Pereira’s 7^th and final season with our 19 group. We thank KP for his tireless efforts in our 19’s program. His commitment to the 19’s program and willingness to push forward players to play higher levels has left the club in a very strong position. It was wonderful to see him rewarded with premiership success in 2025.

Our senior women, following a grand final appearance in 2023, were promoted, and following a slow start, acquitted themselves well up a grade, winning more games than they lost. Bar for dropping a couple of games they would have started favourites in, they may have snuck into finals. Wins against several of the top four, a huge win against Preston and two wins against De La Salle were the highlight in what was a very positive year of growth for our women’s program.

As with our Development squad though, inconsistency in numbers game day was probably what cost the girls a finals appearance in the end, but Ryan Dobson and his team will take great confidence into next year, with strong transition from our Year 12 cohort during the year a highlight. With 8 school leavers already committed for 2025, next season shapes as an exciting one for our women.

There was much optimism for the senior men heading into 2025, with the return of several ex-Carey students returning from higher levels, our VFL group committing full time, new recruits and a very promising group of 18-20 years old’s. With the Europe exodus behind us, our aim at the beginning of the season was to push for a top 4 spot and win 9-11 games.

After a strong pre-season against good opposition, we started with a come from behind win against Monash Blues away. Round 2 away against AJAX was a reality check, losing by 75. We were resoundingly beaten in every key facet, and it was a very strong reminder of how far we had to go.

After responding in emphatic fashion with a 121-point win against finals aspirant Mazenod, the senior men grew in confidence every week, going on a 9 game winning streak, that included fantastic away wins against Hampton Rovers and Parkdale. Our young group was growing by the week, and we entered the two-week mid-year bye on top.

Our second defeat of the season came at the hands of Hampton Rovers at home. As the year unfolded, it became evident that there was a clear top four in Prem C. We were able to respond quickly winning the next four, before facing key match ups in the final two rounds hosting top four sides Parkdale and AJAX at home.

Despite entering the home stretch in the top 2 with a 14-2 record and a percentage of over 200, we faced the unique situation with that record of having to keep winning to keep the double chance.

Round 17’s win against Parkdale, with several key players rested, was one of our best of the year. Challenged at half time, the boys responded for a fantastic 7 goal win. Round 18 saw us play top side AJAX, who had hammered us Round 2. The equation was simple, win and finish on top and a double chance, lose finish third and face an elimination final and difficult run to the grand final. Our growth and development over the season was shown to full affect, kicking the first 5 goals and winning by 46 points, sealing top spot and entering the finals with genuine momentum.

In the 2^nd Semi we faced a very strong Hampton Rover side. Once again, as became a pattern from early in the season, we raced out of the blocks early and led well at half time. After missing some gilt-edge chances to put the contest away early in the third, Hampton started to whittle away at our lead, getting on top around the contest. After being up by 29 points early in the third, we took the narrowest of leads into the final break. Most looking on would have felt we were in trouble, but the group responded with great courage and grit in the last quarter, kicking the last three goals for a wonderful win, one of the best in the club’s history, earning promotion to Prem B and a chance at our sixth premiership.

Grand Final day, simply put, was the culmination of the year, with the senior men saving their best performance, for the most important day of the season. They were magnificent. Defensively, pressure, with ball in hand, it was our best performance of what was a wonderful season, winning the grand Final and premiership by 89 points. Every player contributed in what will be remembered as one of the best performances in the club’s history.

After the challenges of the covid years, 9 wins in five years and the depths the club had fallen, this was a win and season to be remembered and celebrated. For our leaders, particularly Zander Adam and Harry Hill, who had stuck fat during dark times, this was fitting reward for their loyalty, commitment and resilience. For our committee, led by Michael Tarrant, Sam Hasset and John Hands, they should be commended on their tireless efforts to lead the club through such a dark period, to a premiership and an extraordinarily bright future.

Thank you to our medical team, led by Physio (Matt Pallozzi) and Head Trainer (Jen Han). Instinct Health continue to be a fantastic support for our group and were a key part of our success this year, particularly in the Grand Finals where they were able to get a couple of our boys up who looked unlikely with Injury.

Our Senior coaching group this year, Luke Giles, George Cotsonis and Marc Lock played a vital role in the season we had as a club. They fast tracked the development of our young group, created an environment of care and support, whilst providing high performance training and coaching. In 2025, Luke will move into the role of Senior Coach, one he is ready for and is the right choice to take the club into its next phase as we tackle Prem B. Thank you to Marc, a long time Carey person who has given fabulous service to our club. It was terrific that he was able to taste that premiership success he had long craved with our club. George has been a breath of fresh air. His care and compassion for our players and their growth as people cannot be understated.

Our 70^th season, by every measure, can be considered a resounding success. Not only on field, but also off it. We have created an environment and culture built on care and compassion for each other as individuals, with the growth as people considered as much as the growth as players. The club enters 2025 with excitement and optimism about what we are becoming and can be. As we reflect on one of our greatest years on field, it is where we our positioning ourselves off it that should excite the entire Old Carey community. This is a new era of Old Carey football, one we should all be excited to be a part of.

Aaron Bailey (Head Coach | Footy Ops)