OIGFC Newsletter

January 8, 2024

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** OIGFC Newsletter #1
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** Goodbye VAFA Football Season 2023 & Hello VAFA Season 2024
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Dear Members, Players, and Supporters,

As President of the Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club, I am delighted to be wishing you a Happy New Year. Football Season 2023, a historic year filled with unprecedented achievements and remarkable moments. As we reflect on the past season, it’s crucial to acknowledge and express our gratitude to the dedicated individuals who played pivotal roles in making it a success.

** Committee Acknowledgments
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I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the entire committee for their unwavering commitment and hard work throughout the season. The collaborative efforts of this group have been instrumental in the overall success of our club.

A special thank you goes out to our Vice President, Sienna Whiteman, for her exceptional leadership and dedication. Sienna’s passion for the club has been evident in every decision she’s made and every action she’s taken.

Football Operations is a crucial aspect of our club’s success, and we owe a debt of gratitude to Brett Jensen for his tireless efforts in this role. His strategic mindset and attention to detail have significantly contributed to the smooth running of our football operations.

Our Secretary, Lawrence Tutton, has been the backbone of our administrative functions. His organizational skills and commitment to ensuring everything runs seamlessly behind the scenes are truly commendable.

Events Co-Ordinator Denise Bradley and Marketing & Communication head James Kandiliotis deserve special thanks for enhancing our club’s public presence. Their creativity and hard work have been vital in creating memorable experiences for our members and supporters.

Volunteers Appreciation

A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who generously dedicated their time and skills to the club. Your selflessness does not go unnoticed, and without your support, our club wouldn’t be the thriving community it is today.

Special recognition goes to Volunteers Coordinator David Veal for his outstanding efforts in mobilizing and organizing our dedicated team of volunteers. David’s commitment to ensuring that every role is filled with enthusiastic individuals has been integral to our success.

Coaching Team Congratulations

Congratulations to our coaching team for their outstanding efforts throughout the season. Senior Coach Jarrod Gieschen, Director of Coaching Jeff Gieschen, Reserves Coach Darren Toll, and U/19 Coach Brad Shadbolt have shown exemplary leadership, guidance, and dedication to our players’ development.

Playing Group Appreciation

A sincere thank you to our playing group for their hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship throughout the season. Your commitment to excellence on the field has been truly inspiring.

Special mention and gratitude to our club leaders, Harry Frazer, Nick Reeve-Smyth, and Anthony Stenta, for their exemplary leadership both on and off the field. Your commitment to the values of our club and your ability to inspire and motivate your teammates have been crucial to our success.
Historic Premierships

In a historic achievement, our club clinched premierships in every competition entered, securing the U/19, Reserves, and Seniors titles. This remarkable feat makes us the first VAFA club to achieve such success across all levels, a testament to the talent, dedication, and unity within our club.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of the past season, let us look forward to building on this success in the seasons to come. Together, we can continue to grow and strengthen our club as a united and passionate community.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the success of the VAFA Football Season 2023. Your dedication and commitment have not only made this season historic but have also set the foundation for a bright future for our beloved club.

If you wish to relive that magnificent sunny day in Sandringham, then make sure that you, like me, have the following YouTube links saved to the bookmarks on your desktop! Thanks to Club Legend Nick Butler for organizing and producing the array of videos available to celebrate that magnificent day.

Watch Now! (https://www.youtube.com/@OIGFC)

** Sponsor Appreciation & Call for Support
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A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, whose generous support directly contributes to the success of our playing group. We extend our deepest gratitude to our major sponsors: Jowett Motor Group, Terminus Hotel North Fitzroy, and Floridia Cheese. Their commitment as major sponsors have not only facilitated the education and development of our playing group but has also helped keep the costs associated with playing as minimal as possible.

As we express our thanks, we also want to inform our community that Jowett Motor Group will not be continuing as a sponsor in 2024. We are immensely grateful for their past support and encourage our community to explore potential sponsorship opportunities. Your support directly impacts the success and sustainability of our club.

We invite businesses and individuals to join us on this exciting journey and become valued partners in our club’s success. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact our Vice President, Sienna Whiteman, at siennawhiteman@y7mail.com (mailto:siennawhiteman@y7mail.com) .

** Playing Recruitment & Retention
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Looking ahead to the 2024 season, we face both departures and exciting new arrivals. Unfortunately, our Best and Fairest, Patrick Naish, will be taking his talents to the Wangaratta Magpies due to strong family connections. Despite this loss, most players from our three premiership teams are committed to returning in 2024, bringing with them the experience and camaraderie that defined our successful 2023 season.

In a notable recruitment move, we are thrilled to welcome Bulldogs Premiership player Toby McLean to our club. Toby comes highly recommended by his player agent, Nick Gieschen, brother of Jarrod and son of Jeff. Toby’s addition to our playing group adds a wealth of experience and skill, and we extend a huge welcome to him.

In addition to recruiting Toby, the Club is still working hard to secure as many of the Class of ’23 to our 2024 playing ranks. This group won the school’s first AGSV premiership in 60 years. As many of you are aware though, player recruitment is a very competitive space and we have many ruthless clubs in very near proximity to Chelsworth Park, which makes the task evermore challenging. One of the key challenges is finding attractive part-time employment for the young people of our club. If you can assist, please reach out to me at chris.branigan@ivanhoe.com.au (mailto:chris.branigan@ivanhoe.com.au) .

Despite our numbers looking strong for 2024 we always encourage new players to join the Club. In 2023 we only fielded a seniors, reserves and U/19. In 2024 we are hoping to re-instate a senior thirds team and of course a women’s team. Pre-season training for the women’s team will commence in the new year and at this moment we have 12 women who have expressed a keen interest in playing for the Club in 2024. If you are keen to join the Club, or know someone who is, please keep an eye on Instagram for further information (#oigfc).

** Awards
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In early October many involved with the Club gathered at the Panama Dining Room, Collingwood, for the Club Awards night. It was an incredibly enjoyable evening and significant thanks is owed to our Vice-President for organizing and shaping the evening in such a way.

** Season 2024
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Our pre-season block prior to Christmas was very successful with more than 60 individual players taking to the track during the 6-session program. It has been terrific to see the enthusiasm of our recently graduated U/19 players along with the five U/19 players who played in the Senior Premiership team. These players are showing great growth which should hold us in good stead for the step up to Premier B and our journey to Premier A.

Earlier this month the VAFA released the 2024 Premier B fixture. The fixture can be found at the link below:

2024 Premier B Men’s Fixture

Round 1 will see the Club unveiling two premiership flags when we take on our vanquished opponent, Old Camberwell, at Chelsworth Park. It will be an afternoon not to be missed, so lock it into your calendar’s now! While you are at it, lock in our other home game dates and do your best to attend the Chelsworth Club lunch held during every senior home match.

As we navigate these changes, we remain focused on fostering a strong and united playing group, ensuring the continued success and growth of our club. At the same time, we are determined to stay true to our club values:

– Community

– Healthy

– Supportive

– Inclusive

Sincerely,

Chris Branigan President, Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club

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