Game 200 for O'Connor

KOLORA Noorat will celebrate its first 200 senior football games player this weekend.

Club stalwart Steve O’Connor will celebrate his special milestone when he lines up alongside his Power team-mates this Saturday for their round 16 clash against Dennington.

“Steve is a popular member of the club and really epitomises what the club is all about. He’s local born and bred and is a great contributor,” former team-mate and coach, Ben Walsh said.

“I was fortunate to play alongside Steve for about five years and also coached him in seasons 2020 and 2021.

“I think, from memory, he may have even kicked the club’s first ever goal in the juniors back when he was in the 13s or 14s.

“Nowadays he plays predominantly at half-back or in the back pocket. He’s a great asset to the club and I know all the boys really love having him out on the ground; he’s pretty entertaining and a real character out there.”

With a relatively young senior squad this season, Walsh believes O’Connor brings experience and knowledge to the team.

“The club is fortunate to have young talent coming up through the ranks and O’Connor is someone they can look to for guidance,” he said.

“His playing history includes two under 17 premierships and two senior premierships (seasons 2017 and 2019).”

Apart from a short stint with the Terang Mortlake Bloods, O’Connor has played the majority of his football with the Power.

His wife Hannah is also involved with the club, as are their three children.

“We plan on recognising and celebrating his special milestone at the clubrooms after Saturday’s game and invite everyone along,” Walsh said.

“I’m sure it will be a great night; it’s not every week a club gets to recognise a 200 senior-gamer.”

In other Power news, Kolora Noorat recently announced the re-appointment of Sam Uwland and Justin Wallace as the club’s senior football coaches for 2025.

They will be assisted by Shane Scanlon and Jake Evans.

The club has also announced Brad Holmes and Harry Stuart as the 2025 reserves football coaches.

Holmes has done a great job this season managing numbers and the club is thrilled to welcome Stuart on-board for next season.

Round 15 last weekend was a day for the club’s juniors, with the under 13 footballers bringing home their first four points of the season.

Wins also went to the 13 and under netballers, under 15 footballers and 17 and under netballers in some ‘wet and wild’ conditions.

Results from the day were as follows:

Netball

A grade – Nirranda defeated Kolora Noorat 46-30.

A reserve – Nirranda defeated Kolora Noorat 37-16.

B grade – Nirranda defeated Kolora Noorat41-28.

17 and under – Kolora Noorat defeated Nirranda 46-16.

15 and under – Noorat defeated Kolora Noorat 31-20.