Clubs to play on to remember Billy Sullivan following his sudden death
Clubs in the Ballarat league will pay tribute on Saturday to a popular Melton footballer after his sudden death. Here is what will happen.
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Melton will “100 per cent” play after the sudden death of teammate Billy Sullivan earlier this week.
The Bloods will face Sunbury on Saturday in the Ballarat league as they prepare to honour Sullivan.
“We’ll have three teams to put out on the paddock tomorrow,” Melton president Matt Kerr said.
“100 per cent (we’ll be playing).”
All Ballarat league will have a minute’s silence to honour the former Melton, Darley and Melton South player.
“That’s a great initiative, we are appreciative of that,” Kerr said.
“We haven’t quite worked out what we are going to do but it will revolve around the number 13 and the 13 jumper (Billy’s number).”
Melton will also wear black armbands in the match with Melton South and Darley to do the same when both teams face each other.
The former clubs of Sullivan will pay their respects to him by getting in the centre circle before their match to have a minute’s silence.
The reserves and seniors of both teams will be involved.
The matches start at 2.15pm at Melton Recreation Reserve and Clarke Oval respectively.
EARLIER
Three Victorian local footy clubs are in mourning following the sudden death of a popular player.
Billy Sullivan has been remembered by his current and former clubs in response to his shock death on Tuesday.
Melton had become Sullivan’s footballing home in 2024 after he crossed from Darley where he spent the 2023 season, where an injury late in the season saw him miss out on Ballarat league premiership.
He developed his skills which saw him once part of the Western Jets program at Melton South.
South and Darley will pay tribute to Sullivan when the two sides play this weekend at Melton Recreation Reserve.
The seniors and reserves from both sides will come together before the senior game for a minute’s silence in the middle of the ground.
South president Matthew Collins remembered a young man who had an “infectious smile and cheeky sense of humour”.
“He was a great bloke,” he said.
“Life of the party every time, always happy. It’s not just a loss for the footy club but the community.”
A social media post from South remembered Sullivan for his “dashing player on the wing”.
“Covid and an ACL were costly for Billy and us as a club as we missed some of Billy’s best years,” the club’s post said.
“But it wasn’t just on the field that Billy was loved. He was always fun to be around. People were better for having Billy in their lives.
“Our club was the poorer when Billy decided to leave and it is even poorer today knowing we will not see his smiling face again.”
Melton president Matthew Kerr said Sullivan would be “sorely missed”.
“He was definitely a character, one of a kind,” he said.
“Infectious, seemed very happy all the time, always smiling. Loved a joke.”
While Sullivan might have only wore the black and white of Darley for one season, it’s clear he made a big impact in a short space of time.
“A very much loved part of our club, albeit he was here for the 12 months,” Darley president Mark Shelley said.
“He had a decorated career as a junior at Melton South. (He) came to play with us after 12 months away. He fitted in so well here last season.
“He got injured late in the season after playing some good footy and was unfortunately not part of our premiership winning team.
“It’s absolutely devastating. It brings back into perspective that there’s a lot more to life than what we think about with footy.”
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