Triple Premiership treat: A historic day in Carey sport

Peter Robson Director of Positive Education and Wellbeing

Saturday 3 August 2019 was a day of premiership hopes. The Carey Sports Complex was rife with orange socks and laces, signifying the annual James Macready-Bryan Foundation fixture between Carey and Caulfield Grammar, raising awareness for young people with an acquired brain injury. The presence of orange was a cause for pause, but the Carey colours were being waved early in anticipation for the first of five potential premiership fixtures. Perhaps a foretaste of the day was the banner draped across the front of the Wilcox stand, displaying the words ‘The Fortress’ in menacing Carey black and blue. It stared ominously down at visitors, but it represented the formidable winning streak of Carey Soccer and provided a warm welcome for the premiership team of 2014 as they enthusiastically greeted Coach Koutroulis. On a bench next to the Wilcox pathway sat avid supporter Julie Raftopoulos with Boys Soccer Manager Revd Riviere, nervous despite knowing prayers had been done and dusted at the team’s Friday dinner. All of this provided the prologue to the opening fixture, the Girls Soccer. Although starting as underdogs, the girls quickly found the net. Suddenly the scoreboard showed 3–nil and the Girls First Soccer Premiership Cup had landed for Carey! Meanwhile the Girls First Netball Team remained in a tight wrestle in the Cramer Gym, and despite a gallant effort, came in second. Their tears of defeat were a reminder of how brutal sport can sometimes be. The crowds continued to pour in as the Boys First Soccer Team shared a brief celebration with the Girls Team, knowing it was their turn next. Caulfield came into the game having kicked 11 goals in their past two fixtures, and the first five minutes threatened a close game. But this is Wilcox, The Fortress, and a premiership with a 4–nil scoreline was an apt result for a near-faultless season. Shortly after, news from Hawthorn came through that a 1–0 flying start for our Girls Hockey had ended in a 4–2 defeat and they, like the netballers, came in a brilliant second. The final battle of the day saw the Boys First Football Team take on the undefeated Caulfield Grammar football juggernaut for the APS Premiership. Former Head of the Carey Sports Complex, David (Rimo) Rimington, said it was the biggest school crowd he’d seen at Bulleen as numbers swelled into the thousands. This was evident at the end of each quarter as hundreds of student spectators re-enacted a scene from Braveheart, moving from one end to the other. The feeling was tribal. A 15-point lead to Caulfield soon evened up and by mid-last quarter we had a one-point lead that had the horde behind the Bulleen Road goals counting down the clock. A late flurry of Carey goals caused the ecstatic community to erupt in celebration – our first APS Football Premiership in 20 years! It was a day not readily scripted. To isolate one fixture, one gender or one

‘To isolate one fixture, one gender or one sport is not part of the fabric of Carey. It is an inclusivity experienced rather than taught.’

sport is not part of the fabric of Carey. It is an inclusivity experienced rather than taught. The exclamation point for this brilliant day was the moment when, after a 20-year wait for a second Football Premiership, Head of Sport, Paul Jepson, embraced his son who had just played for the winning team. And the full stop was in the Gadsden Pavilion as James Macready-Bryan sat with his mum, Robyn, soaking up the excitement. This special day is an annual reminder of the strength of our community and the good fortune to be able to play sport. For those who were a part of the ride, the full gamut of life’s emotions was felt that Saturday. Carey community – we love it.