Legendary Avenel goal-kicker Bill Hannam returned for the Red & White Royalty Reunion. He and 1984-95 premiership coach Lindsay Hall were among the stars to wear the number 14 guernsey in a winning grand final.
Century goal-kickers Bill Hannam and Daniel Cleary were among the celebrated guests to return for Avenel Football Netball Club’s Red and White Royalty Reunion at the club on Saturday.
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The third star forward, Arnie Ruscoe, was a late withdrawal from the celebrations due to illness.
Hannam’s 100-goal season was during the back-to-back success of Lindsay Hall’s 1984-85 premiership team, while Cleary kicked his triple-figure tally in the grand final-winning under-18 season of 1994.
Enthralled by the many names that were part of the panel are 1984 best-and-fairest Brendan Dignam, Darren Brock and Rod Williams.
Reserves goal-kicking legend Ruscoe kicked four goals in the final game of the season to reach the milestone for the first and only time in his career.
The full-forwards were among several panellists to address Friday night and Saturday lunchtime crowds at the club.
Three of the four O’Connor brothers, Mick, Bill and Terry — Paul was unavailable due to work commitments — were at the event and the Kelly family was equally well represented.
Nora Kelly, along with daughters Terry and Helen, were part of the early Avenel netball teams and Nora’s son Peter was also a premiership player.
Rob Brooks was pleased to hear the Avenel song at the end of the reunion game, having been responsible for adapting the Essendon VFL theme song in the early 1980s to the current Swans version.
While the 1984 and 1994 senior football premierships took most of the focus, also celebrated were the 1984 under-16 netball and under-18 football grand final.
In 1994, Avenel also won the A-grade netball title and the under-18 football team was unbeaten.
Among the other panellists to attend the event were hard men Rob Brooks, Brett McDonald, Gavin Gardiner, Kevin Macdowell and Jeff Wheeler.
Unfortunately five-time best-and-fairest Damien Willox could not attend the event, but his on-field legacy of determination and fierce competitiveness was a focal point of discussion.
Apart from premiership coaches Darren Meek, Lindsay Hall, Kelly Andrea, Peter O’Keefe and Ash Pedder, there were also a number of best-and-fairests in attendance.
Premiership coaches Lindsay Hall and Peter O’Keefe attended the reunion with other grand final-winning coaches Kelly Andrea, Ash Pedder and Darren Meek.
McNamara medallist Peter Thorpe, 1984 premiership best-and-fairest Brendan Dignam, Hall (the club’s inaugural 1976 best-and-fairest) and several of the club’s best ever netballers were also at the event.
Club captain Jack Myers and reigning best-and-fairest Braydon Avola, who kicked four goals on Saturday, were also on a Friday evening panel.
