This team was part of the OFCJFC program in 2023.*
However for a number of reasons we thought it worthwhile to include their story here.
Firstly we had no U/19s in 2023 and this was the "oldest under-age team" playing in the red and white.
Secondly many of these boys were selected in Senior teams during the season, including Ned Ford, Isaac Tonkin and Luca Smith who were automatic selections in the Firsts when available.
Menzie Jans McKirdy, Charlie Hooper and Zac Seal played games in the Reserves.
Finally , and most importantly.we thought it prudent to record the team's premiership season for posterity.
OFCJFC won two premierships under Presient Simon Gilson in 2023, the Under13s also saluted.
Given the large number of boys with Senior experience it's perhaps surprising to note on the ladder below that OFC finished fifth. But injury and other factors often prevented Coach Scott Tonkin from selecting his best team on a week to week basis.
One other player needs to be mentioned in the context of availability. Blair Wilson was injured while playing for the Eastern Ranges and only became available late in the season.
Blair was to play a major role in the finals series.
The major downside of finishing fifth in a six team finals series is that you most likely face the herculean task of defeating all four teams above you to secure the Premiership.
In our case it was a more daunting challenge because we faced Upwey-Tecoma in week one.
The Tigers had lowered our colours twice during the season and had the potential to snuff out our finals campaign before it barely started. In fact at half time in that opening finals game Upwey had kicked five goals straight to our one goal seven behinds.
As it transpired that was to be the biggest lead any team held over OFC during an intense and extraordinary month of finals footy.
Please click on the PDF at the bottom of this page to read Tim Scott's Grand Final Match Report
| Team |
Wins |
Losses |
| Healesville |
10 |
3 |
| MtEvelyn |
10 |
5 |
| Woori Yallock |
8 |
4 |
| Upwey-Tecoma |
8 |
4 |
| OFC |
8 |
4 |
| Wandin/Yarra G |
6 |
7 |
| Monbulk |
4 |
8 |
| Seville |
3 |
10 |
| Gembrook |
0 |
13 |
NB- the teams had differing numbers of byes.
Elimination Final- Woori Yallock Reserve Sunday 6 Aug.
| OFC |
1.5 |
1.7 |
2.11 |
6.15.51 |
| Upwey |
3.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
7.0.42 |
Semi Final- Queens Park Oval Sunday 13 Aug
| OFC |
2.3.15 |
6.4.40 |
8.6.54 |
10.9.69 |
| MtEvelyn |
2.2.14 |
2.6.18 |
3.6.24 |
4.9.33 |
Preliminary Final- Worrall Res Emerald, Sunday 20 Aug
| OFC |
3.0.18 |
7.4.46 |
11.5.71 |
14.7.91 |
| Healesville |
3.3.21 |
4.3.27 |
4.6.30 |
5.7.37 |
Grand Final- Yarra Junctin Reserve, Sunday 27 Aug
| OFC |
2.3.15 |
2.3.15 |
3.10.28 |
12.15.87 |
| Woori Yallock |
2.3.15 |
2.3.15 |
3.3.21 |
6.5.41 |
Coach- Scott Tonkin
Best and Fairest- Luca Smtih
