The number of Old Xaverians Life Members swelled by six on Thursday night, with another half-a-dozen luminaries accorded the club’s most prestigious award.

The six new inductees (in alpha order) are:

John Bongiorno

• 1980s Boundary Umpire for Seniors & Reserves

• 1987-2002 (16 years) Committee

• Introduced idea of Sponsorship to the club

• Introduced the Sponsor’s Night (later to become Presidents Dinner)

• OXA Committee member in 1990-2000’s helped forge closer ties with Xavier College

• Helped secure Toorak Park for the club

• Financial Sponsor of the club (31 years)

Matthew Bourke

• Played 1992-1999 in 147 games

• Club Captain – 1993, 1994

• Senior Premiership Player: 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999

• Jock Nelson Medal (BOG) 1999 Grand Final

• VAFA Rep Player 8 times

• Chairman of Selectors: 2000-2002

Andrew Brushfield

• Played 1995-2003 in 150 games

• Senior Premiership Player: 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003

• Reserve Premiership Player 1995

• Seniors Assistant Coach: 2009-2010 premierships

• VAFA Representative Player - 1996, 1999

Bill Denton

• Played 2 games with club in 1978 (while in Year 11 at Xavier College)

• Played 3 games with club in 1979 (while Captain 1st XVIII at Xavier College)

• Member of first ‘A’ Section Premiership Team (3rd in Best & Fairest) 1981

• 1981-1991 played in 207 Seniors games

• 1985 & 1991 Club Captain

• 1992 & 1993 Crocodiles (2 premierships)

• Committee Member: 2010-2014

• Financial Sponsor since 1987 (31 years)

• Club President in 2015-2017

Terry Landrigan

• Became supporter/assistant to the Club 1989

• 1993 Interchange steward (Reserves)
• 1994-2006 Interchange Steward (Seniors)

• 2006-2010 Reserves Goal Umpire

• 2013-2018 Seniors & Reserves Team Manager

• Assistant to the Under 19 Teams

• Scoreboard (manual), time-keeping, general duties

• Recipient William Denton Memorial Trophy in 2000

• VAFA Award for Outstanding and Meritorious Service in 2017

Ted Woodruff

• Played 1995-2009 in 231 games

• Senior Premiership Player in 1998, 1999, 2007

• Captain Under 19 1996 Premiership team

• Reserves Premiership Player in 1997 (B&F), 2000

• VAFA U19 Representative Player 1995

• Seniors Assistant Coach 5 years including Premierships - 2009, 2010, 2013

• Seniors Co-coach in 2015 and 2016 (Premiership)

• Michael Rush Trophy 2009

Congratulations to all six, five of whom were present on the occasion. The sixth, Matthew Bourke, is overseas.

‍