Old Boys in the News – March 2025

It’s great to see our Old Boys in the spotlight, including:

• This great story here on Richmond midfielder Sam Lalor (SPC 2019-22, PY2024), pictured above, and the long line of Tigers who have also hailed from SPC, dating back to Maurie Sheahan, the club’s star full-back in the 1930.

• It was exciting to see Harry Sharp (SPC 2016-19, PY2021) being presented with his no. 30 jumper for the Melbourne Demons recently. We’ll be cheering for all our Old Boys this season, irrespective of who we individually barrack for!

  

• In other AFL news, congratulations to James McDonald (SPC 1989-94) who, in being described as being “the living embodiment of our club values” has entered the Melbourne Demons’ prestigious Hall of Fame. Well done James!

• Well done to Cooper Sherman (SPC 2017-22) who recorded a 400m personal best at the Perth Classic at the weekend. This follows winning back-to-back state men’s 200m titles at the Victorian Track and Field Championships late last month. To read more, click here

• Congratulations to Old Collegian Brenton Ryan (SPC 2012-17) who finished 20th in the Melbourne to Warrnambool Pro Velo Cycling Race over a distance of 267km recently.

  

• Great to see Dom Gnoato (SPC 2000-05) involved in the renovation of the iconic former Crossroads music building in Ballarat’s Skipton Street, click here to read more.
• Congratulations to Rory O’Keefe (SPC 2016-2020, PY2021) who was shortlisted in the 2025 Master Builders Victoria Ballarat Apprentice of the Year Awards. Luke Wilson (SPC 2008-13) also received the Regional Glenn Jones Award at the 2025 awards and well done to James Liston (SPC 2016-2021) on receiving an excellence award in the cabinet making section.
• It was great to hear from College Legend and Olympian Tony Benson (SPC 1957-61) recently who is currently in Laoag City, Philippines, assisting former student and runner Michael Keon (SPC 1969-71, PY1973), now Mayor of the city, to prepare his track and field team for regional competition. This fabulous connection began in 1979, when Tony and his family, joined Michael in the Philippines as the national T&F coach when he directed the national sports program known as Gintong Alay under his uncle Ferdinand Marcos.

  

• Not only did he compete, but Darcy Coutts (SPC 2012-16, PY2017), one of Australia’s best mountain bike riders, also helped test some of the jumps, including a new 75-foot jump, at the Red Bull Hardline event in Tasmania last month. You can read more here and check out this great video showcasing Darcy’s talents here

• Old Collegians Paul Ballinger (SPC 1977-83) and Allister Morrison (SPC 1990-95) were in the spotlight talking about Ballarat’s housing market amid interest rate cuts in this story here

  

• Midlands Golf Club course manager Tony Liston (SPC 1987-90) was captured in this photo showing the effects of this season’s bone-dry summer on Ballarat golf courses. To read the story, click here

  

• Well done to Matthew Aikman (SPC 2013-18) who hit a memorable six on the third last ball of the innings to crown Ballarat as the Division 2 Country Week champions in mid-February. Matt was the star from start to finish, taking six wickets on the opening day. Josh Pegg (SPC 2015-19, PY2020) was also in the winning side. To read more, click here
• Congratulations to Joseph Connellan (SPC 1972-75) who was released the radioplay podcast of his first book Jimmy’s Run. Jimmy’s Run is a yarn about Australian bush politics, community and football based on a book he wrote of the same name (available on Amazon). Jimmy’s Run is available on podcast apps, including Spotify and Apple Podcast and Joseph is encouraging old Boys to listen, add a review and share it with friends. Check it out here

• Four-time Olympian & Commonwealth Games gold medalist Steve Moneghetti (SPC 1975-80) says Ballarat’s reputation as a leader in long-distance athletics will only be enhanced by the announcement of it to host for the National Cross Country Championships for the next three years, read more here
• Australian cricketer Matt Short (SPC 2008-13) missed out on back-to-back titles in the Ballarat Sportsmen’s Club’s Sportsperson of the Year awards, which was won by rower Katrina Werry.

  

• Sebastopol’s Bailey Medwell (SPC 2012-17) has signed with VFL club, Footscray, adding to a long list of Ballarat FNL offered contracts in season 2025, read more here while North Ballarat’s Hugh Trigg (SPC 2018, PY2022) is heading to Port Melbourne in this story here
• Ned Renfree (SPC 2019-24) missed out progressing in the Victorian Under-20 Basketball Championships in early February after his side lost in the third-placed play-off. Read more here
• Ballarat-Redan players paid special tribute in their BCA Twenty20 grand final win over Bacchus Marsh earlier this year by wearing black arm bands in memory of team-mate Jayden Hayes (SPC 2007-12) who passed away suddenly last year. Brother Michael Hayes (SPC 2013-18) fired up in the bowling and fellow Old Boy James Doherty (SPC 2015-20) set the team on the way to victory with a 97 start. Matt Aikman (SPC 2013-18), Max Riding (SPC 2015-19, PY2020), Riley Fisher (SPC 2016-21) and Ryan Aikman (SPC 2015-19, PY2020) were also part of the winning team, read more here

  

• Congratulations to James Herbertson (SPC 2014-15) who won the Ballarat Pacing Cup, 2710m on Bulletproof Boy earlier this year. It was emotional for the 24-year-old, who is closing in on 1500 career wins, and had missed out on the hometown cup success until now. It also completed a rare hat-trick of wins in the Bendigo, Shepparton and Ballarat Cups. To read more, click here
• It was great to hear from College Legend and Olympian Tony Benson (SPC 1957-61) recently who is currently in Laoag City, Philippines, assisting former student and runner Michael Keon (SPC 1969-71, PY1973), now Mayor of the city, to prepare his track and field team for regional competition. This fabulous connection began in 1979, when Tony and his family, joined Michael in the Philippines as the national T&F coach when he directed the national sports program known as Gintong Alay under his uncle Ferdinand Marcos.

• Police sergeant Joel Dash (SPC 1995-2000) urged owners to store firearms correctly in this story here as firearm offices increased across the state late last year.

  

  If you have any Old Boy news, please contact the College’s Alumni and Foundation Officer Lorrie Liston on (03) 5322 4442 or via email at lliston@stpats.vic.edu.au