27 August - Victorian Amateur Football Association

Darren DawsonFTLOTGMILESTONESElsternwick’s Aaron Foster joined the club as a mature aged played in 1999 and is one of themost accurate goal kicker in recent years. After starting at Full Forward for the Seniors in thetwilight of his playing life has filled that position for the Reserves kicking almost 400 goals todate. Aaron has qualified for Life Membership of the club and has been a tremendous clubmaneach year.200150St.Bernards Chris Mitchell has been a popular and regular senior player since his debut as an 18year old in 1999(172 seniors, 25 reserves, 3 U/19s). Chris was a member of the 2002 “A” GradePremiership as well as playing in the 2000,03,04 losing “A” Grade grand final teams. He wasone of only 3 players at the club to play in all 4 grand finals. His father Gavin was an “A” Gradepremiership player, who started his career as a tough back pocket who rarely lost the one onone contest. Chris has since been a lively small forward who has been a regular goalkicker atsenior level. Loves a goal along with attempting and occasionally taking a goal square hanger.Rarely leaves the goal square these days and is quite often heard saying “just kick it to me” and“leave me one out”.Collegians Shura Taft has become one of the most important players at the Club and hasmanaged to play in a Premiership and has represented the VAFA with distinction. On manyoccasions Shura has been our key forward which is quite an achievement for his size. Shura’sability to kick big bags of goals on occasions has been amazing and a game last year againstOld Melburnian’s where he bagged 8 comes to mind. It has been a credit to Shura that he hasbeen able to manage his career whilst playing at the highest level with Collegians. Such is hiscommitment on many occasions over recent years he would get to the game after the gamehad already commenced, run onto the ground and do the business.MHSOB’s Simon Anderson has been a mainstay of the senior midfield. Simon was a keymember of the 2009 premiership side. Renowned for his hardness and ability to run all day,Simon’s booming kick took him to North America where he played college football as a punter.In 2006 Simon won the club’s Albon-Betheras Award for best senior player under 21 years ofage, and in 2010 was named at half-forward in the MHSOB first XVIII team of the decade.100MHSOB’s Jamie Anderson has been a club stalwart and is always the first bloke to welcomenew players to the club, including forging a relationship between the club and the Swedishnational side. During his first few seasons at the club Jamie was renowned for his speed,endurance and skill. As injuries began to catch up with him and his speed diminished, hisfooty smarts and exceptional left foot kick have served him well and he still rebounds the ballfrom defence with devastating effect.44 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2011