Old Boys in the News – September 2022

Our Old Boys have been busy, including:

Ryan Maher, second from right, with his brothers. Photo: Adam Trafford

• Good luck to Ryan Maher (SPC 2017-20, PY2022), who is lining up alongside his five brothers across all three grand final-bound teams tomorrow with the Springbank Football Netball Club. Ryan will be lining up in the under 18s match for the Central Highlands FL. To read more on this great story, click here

Rhys Brasser. Photo: Lachlan Bence

• Great to see Rhys Brasser (SPC 2014-15) helping in the local community as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Ballarat organisation, which aims to match young ones with an adult who can act as a positive role model. To read more, click here
• Darley captain Brett Bewley (SPC 2008-13) had to sit in the coaches box after failing to recover from a calf complaint and was forced to watch as the Devils won over East Point in a one-point thriller in the Ballarat FL elimination final, to read more, click here and here
  

  Will Hynes in action for the Miners. Photo: Adam Trafford

• Congratulations to Old Collegian Will Hynes (SPC 2015-2020) who has landed in Borger, Texas to play College Basketball for Frank Phillips College. Good luck Will! To read more, click here
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  Josh Ballinger.

  Great story on Old Collegian Josh Ballinger (SPC 2016-18, PY2021) who is living his dream with the Australian Ballet School. To read more, click here

• Well done to mixed martial arts fighter Michael Alsop (SPC 2008-13) who was recently named the Australian bantamweight title-holder, to read more, click here
• Melbourne’s Tom McDonald (SPC 2010) ran out of time to be part of the AFL squad for the recent AFL qualifying final against Sydney, for more, click here
• Bad news for Dunnstown ruckman Khyle Forde (SPC 2011-16), who suffered a season-ending injury to his hamstring despite the Towners marching into the Central Highlands FL preliminary final, to read more, click here The Dunnstown ruckman had a great night at the recent Central Highlands FL senior best and fairest awards, coming in third, as well as placing third in the CHFL player of the year awards.
  

  Sam Willian. Photo: The Courier

• The main gong of the night though went to Old Collegian Sam Willian (SPC 2008-13) who was crowned senior best and fairest player at the Central Highlands FL awards night. The midfielder has been joint coach for Skipton, but recently announced he would be stepping down from the coaching role next season, but will continue to play for the Emus. To read more, click here and here
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  Michael Trigger is a happy man. Photo: Luke Hemer

  Well done also to Michael Trigger (SPC 2006-11) who scored a hattrick in Ballarat City FC’s season-defining win recently, to save them from relegation in the last round of the season. In a must-win affair, Michael scored all three goals in Ballarat’s 3-nil victory, notching up their best win all season. Well done Michael! To read more, click here

• A Coroner’s report has provided insight into the tragic death of Old Collegian Greg Roberts (SPC 1994-98, PY1999), who was killed after being electrocuted while working on a house in Portarlington in 2019. Following Greg’s passing, a large group of Ballarat tradespeople banded together to complete construction of two houses Greg had been working on in Portarlington. To read more, click here
• Great to see Ben Dimond (SPC 2002-07) involved in the revitalisation of the Newlyn Cricket Club in this story here
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  Jack Jenkins.

  Well done and good luck to SPC Old Collegian Jack Jenkins (SPC 2006-11) who has won a place on Dana White’s Contender Series in Las Vegas. Read about his journey so far in this story here

• Congratulations to three-time premiership player Daniel Rioli (SPC 2012-15) who has signed a five-year contract which will see him remain at Richmond until the end of the 2027 season, effectively making Dan, who has played 135 games for Richmond since 2016, a Tiger for life. To read more, click here
• Old Collegian Ryan Waight (SPC 1998-2003) is extending his stay as senior coach at Bungaree in the Central Highlands FL into a fourth season, to read more, click here
  

  Tyler Donaldson-Aitken recently competed in the longest horse ride in the world. Photo: Luke Hemer

• Fantastic effort to Old Collegian Tyler Donaldson-Aitken (SPC 2004-07) who finished sixth recently in the longest horse race in the world – the 1000km Mongol derby. The Coghills Creek horse trainer rode semi-wild Mongolian horses for 11 hours a day, covering up to 130km. To read more about Tyler’s huge adventure, find what were the toughest parts of the journey for Tyler and see some of his amazing photos along the way, click here

• Another newly re-appointed Buninyong coach Shaun O’Loughlin (SPC 1990-95) has a few tough decisions to make at the selection table during this season’s football finals, to read more, click here

  If you have any news on our Old Collegians, please contact Alumni and Foundation Officer Lorrie Liston via email at lliston@stpats.vic.edu.au