TROPHY TITLES RECOGNISE CLUB GIANTS

OXFC President Matt Cosgrave has announced that the names of club greats have been affixed to some of the club’s significant trophies.

“This is something we have been pondering for several years, and we have made a start this year by electing to honour some of those who have been instrumental in the growth and success of our club,” he said.

“I am pleased to announce the following list.”

The senior men’s best and fairest will become the Bowen-Ralph Medal, in recognition of the enormous contribution of the Bowen andRalph families have made, and continue to make to the OXFC.”

THE BOWENS:

Jack Bowen arrived at the club in 1963, and became a star player, representing the Big V before a knee injury ended his career prematurely. He served as club president 1970-73, is a Life Member and has provided enormous financial support through his business. His generosity is the stuff of legend, and he has assisted countless Old Xavs off the field with advice and other help.

His elder son John played in seven senior premierships in a career that spanned nearly 200 games, represented the Big V and won a Best and Fairest. He served on the committee for several years and is still active as a supporter and the club’s link with Bowens as a Premier Partner has continued under his management of the family business.

Andrew, younger son of Jack and Meg, played alongside his brother in the 2003 flag and went on to play in three more senior premierships (2005, 2007, 2009).

Hamish Bowen, John’s eldest boy, is a current senior player who has quickly established a role in defence.

His brother Will Bowen is an U19 premiership player and best and fairest with a huge future.

Jack, John, Andy and Hamish are all synonymous with the number 12 guernsey.

THE RALPHS:

Jim Ralph was an exceptional player in the 1950s with the club. He played 132 games, was captain in 1957 and regarded by the brass of the Richmond Football Club as one of the finest players never to play league football. He coached the club in 1972-73.

His eldest son Robert Ralph served a record 14seasons as president between 1986 and 1999. He was the driving force behind theOld Xaverians move to Toorak Park, which brought immediate success and drove the expansion of the club. Before he took the chair, the club had won 10premierships in 57 seasons, with one just A Section flag. Before he vacated the seat, the OXFC had added another five Premier cups, three Reserves flags, its first six U19 premierships and eight Crocodiles flags, more than trebling the previous tally. Rob remained on the committee for many years after handing over the reins. Through the family company Wagstaff, Robert and Andrew have been generous sponsors for more than 30 years and remains a Platinum partner today.

His son Robbie was a fine 100 game player for the Xavs in the last decade. Rob’s older son Will also played 100 games, mainly with the Under 23s and Menages.

Robert’s two brothers have also made a significant impact.

Chris Ralph, was another 100 gamer who is now a long-serving committeeman. He has made a particularly strong contribution to the U19 program.

His sons are Sam, a current day senior player and Harry has played too, most recently with the Crocs

Andrew Ralph played over 100 games, coached an U19 premiership, served on the committee for many years and is a Life Member. His son Charlie was an U19 player this year after winning the 2023 Under 19 premiership.

Robbie and Sam wore/wear the number 17 guernsey made famous by Jim Ralph.

In the true Xaverian tradition, there is a link between theRalph and Bowen families: The wives of Andy Ralph and John Bowen are sisters.

The senior men’s Coaches Trophy will become the Peter Rhoden Medal.

Peter Rhoden was an outstanding footballer at Xavier and at the Old Xaverians before his playing career ended suddenly through injury. He became coach of the club in 1962 and finished in 1968, taking the seniors to the club’s first A Section Grand Final in 1964. He later was coach of the Big V, served on the VAFA tribunal and is aLife Member of the VAFA as well as the OXFC.

Peter worked at Xavier College for many years, fostering closer relationships between the club and the college. His grandchildren James,Eliza and Pat Forrest are current players, and Matt Forrest is the current U19Reserves coach. Another grandson Pat Bourke played for the Old Xavs.

‘Porky’ has watched their careers closely, as well as encouraging hundreds of others at Xavier to have a kick with the Red ‘n’ Blacks beyond their days at Barkers Road. He has suffered ill-health in recent years, but his appearances at games – as recently as last Friday’s Grand Final - have been greeted with great affection and respect.

He remains the club’s longest serving coach and it is entirely fitting that this award be made in his honour.

The award for the Seniors Best in Finals will be known as the Michael Blood Medal.

Michael Blood played in six consecutive A Section premierships between 1995 and 2000. Twice in 1995 and1997, he won the Jock Nelson Medal for the Best on Ground in the Grand Final, the only dual winner in the thirty-year history of the award. He was a four-time Best and Fairest winner at the Old Xavs, captain for five seasons and won the Woodrow Medal in 1997. A true colossus, the giant ruckman led from the front and was always high in the best when it counted in September. He is aLife Member of the Old Xavs.

The award for the Seniors’ Rising Star will be known asthe O’Shaughnessy Medal, recognising the contributions and efforts of theO’Shaughnessy Family to Old Xaverians football.

Tim O’Shaughnessy was coach of the seniors between 1998 and 2002, taking the team to three A Section premierships in hist first three years and finals’ appearances in his final two seasons. He is a Life Member of the club.

Kevin O’Shaughnessy was a highly decorated coach of the Xavier College XVIII. He was a dashing player for the Old Xavs and later a long-serving Secretary and GM of the club, as well as an assistant coach.

Michael (Ralph) O’Shaughnessy was a player, committeeman, and an assistant coach, as well as a Reserves’ premiership coach, who has more recently served as a forward scout, recruiter and player sponsor. He is a Life Member of the Club.

The recipient of the U19 Premier Best and Fairest will receive the Brendan O’Sullivan Medal.

Brendan O’Sullivan was a premiership player for the Old Xaverians in the 1970s before a short career with Carlton before injury ended his playing days. Over the past decade and a half, ‘Bos’ has guided the careers of many young Old Xavs through the Under 19s, bringing a period of unparalled success to that program, and developing players to represent the Club at senior level. He is a Life Member of the Club.

The Best and Fairest in the Crocodiles will receive the King-Landrigan Medal.

David King and Tony Landrigan both represented the Old Xavs with distinction, playing together in more than a dozen Crocodiles’ premierships, including the nine-peat between1996 and 2004. The VAFA’s former Club XVIII grand final medal was named in their honour, recognising their brilliance and omnipresence on the grand final dais.

The Seniors’ MVP is a unique new award in 2024 that will be known as the Terry Landrigan Medal.

Each week, each of the 22 players in both the Seniors andReserves vote on a 3-2-1 basis for those teammates whom they consider theirmost valuable on the day. The votes are collected and tallied and the top vote-getter each week is assigned six votes, the next highest five votes, and then four, three, two, one.

Combining the two teams enables players to poll in either team throughout the year. Senior coach Dan Donati instituted this award, but reworked it to include the Twos on the suggestion of multi-Reserves premiership player Joe Tobin, giving it a special touch that is much appreciated by the players. The first award was presented last Sunday at a function that is likely to become a big highlight of the post-season in the years ahead. The inaugural winner will be announced on Friday night.

The award recognises the contribution to the Club, particularly the Seniors and Reserves, of Terry Landrigan, who was along-serving mentor, interchange steward, and team manager for players in our two senior men’s teams. Terry is a much-loved Life Member, and sons David and Tony have also made massive contributions to the Old Xavs over many years.

“In future years, we will consider naming other trophies to appropriately recognise those who have made significant contributions to our teams,” Cosgrave said.

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The awards will be presented the winners on Friday night at Presentation Night. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.ticketebo.com.au/old-xaverians-football-club/2024-oxfc-presentation-night

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