A victorious team continues to achieve

First XVIII Football, APS Premiers 2013. Back row, from left: Mr Michael Ford (Coach), David Cuningham, Tom Wilkinson, Harrison Lane, Harry Stephens, Will Paine, Connor Lappin, Fraser Hawkins, Hugh Goddard, Ed Vickers-Willis, Will McFarlane, Seb Clarke, Sam Kelly, Sandy McFarlane, Kade Alexander. Ms Jess Rottura (Assistant Coach) Front row, from left: Tom Fuller, Gus Borthwick, Tristan Davies, Adrian Karatzas, Nathan Drummond, Will Hayes, Zach Merrett (Vice-Captain), JD Hayes (Captain), Cody Mance (Vice-Captain), Owinda Weerawardena, Charlie Hawkins, Ed Manton, Ed Langdon, Theodore Rosenthal

The 2013 First XVIII was a remarkable team. The first football team from Melbourne Grammar to remain undefeated during the season (in the current APS format), they won both the premiership and the Cordner-Eggleston Cup.

And, since their time at Melbourne Grammar, eight members of the team have been drafted into the AFL. These Old Melburnians are:

  • David Cuningham (OM 2015) – Carlton
  • Nathan Drummond (OM 2013) – Richmond (recently delisted)
  • Hugh Goddard (OM 2014) – St Kilda (now Carlton)
  • Will Hayes (OM 2013) – Western Bulldogs
  • Ed Langdon (OM 2014) – Fremantle
  • Zach Merrett (OM 2013) – Essendon
  • Ed Vickers-Willis (OM 2014) – North Melbourne
  • Tom Wilkinson (OM  2014) –  North Melbourne

“lt was very much a great team performance to win the 2013 football premiership, as every player who represented the School in the First XVIII this year was needed to achieve what we have achieved,” wrote Captain JD Hayes (OM 2013) in the 2013 Melburnian. “We were a disciplined team, with every player knowing and playing their role, working for each and every one of their mates, hunting the ball and giving every ounce of effort for us to become victorious.”

The group was fortunate to have Michael Ford as their coach, according to Vice-Captain of the team, and current Vice-Captain at Essendon FC, Zach Merrett (OM  2013). “He demanded a pretty high standard in everything we did. He was a great role model for footy and for life.”

Zach remembers the team as a cohesive unit. “Looking back, that year was probably the most fun I have ever had on a footy field,” he says. “The group was really tight from the start, even though there were boys from Years 10 through to 12 in the team. We all just loved playing football.”

And the camaraderie has continued through to today. “When you win a premiership at any level, you have a connection to your team mates,” says Zach. “Now when we, as Old Melburnians, play each other at AFL level, we all know what we achieved during that 2013 season so, regardless of win, lose or draw, we always chat to each other after the game. I don’t think that bond is breakable.”

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